Following is the chronology of events that took place during and after the Mumbai triple blasts in 2002 and 2003.
1. The first blast took place on December 6, 2002 at a market place in suburban Mumbai, Vile Parle.
2. Second blast happened on January 27, 2003 – a bomb exploded at McDonald’s outlet near Mumbai Central station. Nearly 27 persons were reportedly injured.
3. March 13, 2003, Mumbai local train was targeted with a train blast at Mulund.
The powerful bomb exploded a boggie (first class ladies compartment) of a Karjat-bound local train at about 8.40 pm in Mumbai at Mulund railway station.
According to reports, this was the most significant blast, in which 11 persons were killed and more than 65 injured. Following the blast, former secretary of SIMI Saquib Nachan was accused and more than 20 suspects were arrested under Prevention of Terrorism Act.
4. First arrest was done on April 10, 2003. Saquib Nachan was arrested the Mumbai Crime Branch. A total 13 accused were identified: Saquib Nachan, Ateef Mulla, Hasib Zubeir Mulla, Mohammed Kamil,Noor Ansari, Anwar Khan, Muzammil Ansari, Gulam Khotal, Wahib Ansari, Farhaan Khot, Nadeem Paloba, Haroon Rashid, Adnan Mulla.
5. A chargesheet of approximately 5000 pages was filed on April 19, 2003.
6. During the course of the trail, the Prevention of Terrorism (POTA) Charge was applied on July 7, 2014. The arguments in the trial finally concluded on February 25, 2016 – more than 13 years after the first blast took place.
7. On March 29, 2016 the POTA court convicted the accused under the following charges.
– Saquib Nachan, Ateef Mulla, Hasib Zubeir Mulla charges underThe Prevention of Terrorism Act, The Arms Act
– Mohammed Kamil, Noor Ansari, Anwar Khan charges underThe Arms Act
– Gulam Khotal Charges under The Prevention of Terrorism Act
– Muzammil Ansari Charges under The Prevention of Terrorism Act, The Explosives Substances Act
– Wahib Ansari Charges under The Prevention of Terrorism Act, The Arms Act, The Indian Penal Code, The Explosives Substances Act
– Farhaan Khot Charges under The Prevention of Terrorism Act, The Explosives Substances Act, The Arms Act
– Nadeem Paloba, Haroon Rashid, Adnan Mulla Charge in all Act The Arms Act, The Indian Penal Code, The Indian Railways Act, Prevention of Damages of Property Act
8. Today April 6, 2016: A Mumbai Special Court awarded life sentence to three of the accused for the 2002-03 triple bombings. The three include the prime accused Muzammil Ansari, Farhaan Khot and Dr Wahid Ansari. Six others were awarded various jail terms ranging from 2-10 years,
including Saquib Nachan, the general secretary of the outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).
The court also directed DLSA, Mumbai to decide the quantum of compensation to be awarded to the victims and dependents and accordingly pay it.
