An Indian court jailed a man for life and sentenced two women to five years in prison on Thursday for their roles in India's worst bombings that killed 257 people in Mumbai in 1993.
The court has found 100 people guilty for the attacks in the financial capital, which police say were ordered by India's most-wanted man, Muslim gangster Dawood Ibrahim, to avenge the razing of a mosque by Hindu zealots in 1992.
Salim Rahim Sheikh, who is in his late 30s, sat silently with his head down as judge P.D. Kode sentenced him to life and fines for conspiracy and abetting the attacks. But the two women broke down on hearing their punishment. The younger of them, Mubina Bhiwandiwala, sobbed and pleaded with the judge for a lighter sentence, saying she was a mother of two children who needed her support.
Zaibunnisa Kazi, aged about 65, slumped to the ground and was helped to her feet by two policewomen and other convicts. The two women knew the plotters and their houses had been used to store arms and ammunition.
So far, 76 people have been punished with jail terms and fines for planning and abetting the attack or for illegal possession of weapons. Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt, the most famous among the convicts, was found guilty of illegal possession of weapons and could face up to 10 years in prison. No date has been set for his sentencing.
Those sentenced so far include smugglers, petty criminals and a Bollywood producer, as well as policemen and customs officials who took bribes to let the explosives through. An 83-year-old man is among those jailed for life for planning the blasts.
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