Mumbai: The prosecution on Friday sought the death penalty for convicts Tahir Merchant and Karimullah Khan and life sentence for Riyaz Siddhiqui for their roles in 1993 blasts.
Karimullah Osan Khan alias Karimullah Hussain Habib Shaikh knew about the deadly effects of the RDX, arms and ammunitions, and facilitated their movement for the conspiracy which resulted in the blasts, Special Public Prosecutor Deepak Salvi told the Special TADA Court.
The evidence on record proves the anguish, agitation and frustration by Taher Merchant alias Taher Taklya, who organised and actively participated in several conspirational meetings held in Dubai. Riyaz Ahmed Siddiqui was working closely with the main conspirators, he said.
On May 16, Judge G.A. Sanap convicted Abu Salem, Mustafa Dossa, Karimulla Khan, Taher Taklya, Riyaz Siddhiqui and Firoz Khan for punishment of terrorist acts, possession of certain unauthorized arms and enhanced penalties. All six have also been convicted for criminal conspiracy. The court held that all those convicted wanted to take revenge for the Babri Masjid demolition and the riots in Mumbai that followed, hence they conspired to kill Hindus and Hindu leaders.
