Mumbai: Twelve people were convicted and one acquitted yesterday by a special court here in the 7/11 serial bombings that ripped through Mumbai trains and left 189 dead.

“The long-awaited decision on the July 7 2006 serial blasts has been given out. Twelve of the 13 accused have been convicted” Special Public Prosecutor Raja Thakare said after the verdict was pronounced.

He said one person had been acquitted and two of the charges against the 12 convicted attract the death penalty. He said arguments on the quantum of sentence will be taken up on Monday.

“I think this is justice for all the people who died and those who were injured” said K P Raghuvanshi former ATS chief who was part of the blasts probe.

The special MCOCA Court delivered its verdict here yesterday nine years after RDX bombs blew up seven peak hour suburban trains on the Western Railway in 11 minutes and killed 189 commuters.

The trial concluded on August 19 2014 and Special Judge Y D Shinde pronounced his judgement. Besides claiming 189 lives the serial blasts left 817 injured on the evening of July 11 2006 from 6.23pm onwards - the peak hour when the suburban trains are choked with commuters going home. The seven bombs went off in trains at Matunga Road Mahim Bandra Khar Road Jogeshwari Borivali and Mira Road stations spanning Mumbai 2006 and Thane districts. Police had said that highly sophisticated explosives ripped through mainly the first class compartments.

While two blasts occurred when the crowded trains neared Borivali and Mahim stations the others took place when they were leaving the stations or while running to their destinations.

The explosions carried out by around 15-20 kg of RDX were so powerful that they blew off the double-layered steel roofs and walls of the seven train compartments. 

IANS