In 1993 Mumbai blasts case, real closure will come when Dawood is effectively dealt with
Now that six people including gangster Abu Salem have ben held guilty of conspiring and carrying out the 1993 Mumbai blasts that left 257 persons dead, all eyes are on the quantum of punishment that Salem and others will receive from the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act Court, which has convicted them. Although all the accused were acquitted of the charge of waging war against the nation, they still attract the maximum punishment of death. While we have to see what the court delivers, it's clear that Salem will escape the noose because he had been extradited from Portugal under the condition that he would not get capital punishment. This is unfortunate but New Delhi has to honour its commitment to Portugal and maintain its credibility in the international arena. Nonetheless, it is hoped that the other five are given the maximum punishment possible for the heinous crime they committed. The Central Bureau of Investigation, which successfully probed the terror attack, is likely to seek the death penalty for at least three of the five convicts (with Salem escaping the gallows) who have been convicted of grave charges. After all, more than two decades have gone by, while the country waited for justice. The conviction is just one step towards that deliverance; the other has to be the strict punishment, and if that has to be death penalty, so be it. The message has to go loud and clear that, while there may be a delay, justice is eventually done. Maximum punishment possible should be given also because the convicts are certain to approach the higher courts, seeking to either whittle down the quantum of punishment or even getf the conviction quashed — the harshest punishment will at least reduce the chances of the six terrorists getting a meaningful reprieve (assuming they get one). The investigation agencies and Mumbai Police must be complimented for their competence in cracking the crime and building a foolproof case, more so when the incident had international linkages. Besides, the charges brought against the accused were complex and varied, making the task of both the investigators and the prosecution additionally complicated. For instance, Mustafa Dossa was convicted for conspiracy and murder, under the Arms Act and the Explosives Act. He had planned the landing of explosives in Mumbai and despatched some men to Pakistan to be trained in handling explosives. Salem was found guilty of transporting weapons from Gujarat to Mumbai ahead of the blasts. This high-profile terrorist would have faced more serious charges but for the extradition treaty India shares with Portugal.
The latest set of convictions brings us nearer to the closure of the 1993 blasts case. Three years ago, the Supreme Court had confirmed the death sentence of Yakub Memon in connections with the bombings. After a great deal of drama, he was hanged in mid-2015 after his last-ditch attempt at the apex court to stay the punishment failed. Full closure can, however, come only after the two key conspirators and masterminds — Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon — are punished. This will be India's next challenge.