By IANS
Mumbai : A special court trying the 1993 Mumbai bombings cases Wednesday sentenced five more accused to terms ranging from six to 14 years for their role in transporting explosives in the terror strike.
Special judge Pramod Kode pronounced the sentences under the Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA).
Uttam Podar, named the main landing agent at Dighi in Raigard where most of the RDX explosives and weapons used in the blasts landed by sea, was sentenced on two counts to 14 and 10 years rigorous imprisonment.
The sentences will run concurrently. He was also fined Rs.100,000 and Rs.50,000 respectively.
Another landing agent, Mohammad Lalpuria alias Mechanic Chacha, was sentenced on two counts to two terms of 10 years in prison and fines Rs.50,000. These sentences will also run concurrently.
Tulsi Ram, a guard at a microwave tower where the perpetrators had hidden the RDX and weapons, was handed a nine year prison sentence and fines Rs.50,000.
He was awarded an additional six month sentence and fines Rs.50,000 more for not disclosing this to the police. The sentences will run concurrently.
Abdul Aziz Gharatkar, who carried the explosives in an auto rickshaw from the landing area to trucks, was handed a six-year prison sentence considering his age. He was also fined Rs.50,000.
Sajad Alam was sentenced to seven years in jail and fined Rs.50,000 on a similar charge.
Five policemen have so far been sentenced in the case.
The court Monday sentenced four constables to six years rigorous imprisonment and fined them Rs.25,000 each for aiding and abetting in the transportation of smuggled arms and weapons used in the bombings.
On Tuesday, a sub-inspector was sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiracy and abetment in terrorist acts.