Sep 24 (Mumbai Mirror): The prosecution in the 7/11 train blasts case on Wednesday demanded the death penalty for eight convicts, terming them "merchants of death" who, if spared the maximum punishment, would be a burden on taxpayers.
But the prosecution sought leniency for the remaining four convicts, saying they could be sentenced to life imprisonment. The special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime court reserved the sentencing order for September 30.
Judge Yatin Shinde had on Sept 11 convicted 12 people in the 7/11 blasts and acquitted one suspect. More than 180 people were killed and hundreds injured in the serial explosions on packed trains on July 11, 2006, the worst terror attack in Mumbai after the 1993 blasts.
On Wednesday, the prosecution team, led by special public prosecutor Raja Thakre, recounted the damage, psychological and monetary, caused by the 7/11 blasts. It called the convicts "merchants of death", leading to a loud gasp in the dock where the 12 accused were seated.
Citing Yakub Memon's case, the prosecution argued for death penalty for convicts Kamal Ahamed Ansari, Tanvir Ahmed Ansari, Mohammed Faisal Shaikh, Ehtesham Siddiqui, Mohammed Ali, Sajid Ansari, Naved Hussain Khan and Asif Khan. It said Memon was ordered to be hanged over the 1993 blasts even though he didn't have a prior crime record and had good educational qualifications.
The prosecution did not press for the maximum punishment for convicts Majid Shafi, Muzzammil Shaikh, Soheil Shaikh and Zamir Ahmed Shaikh, saying the court could consider handing them life terms.
Defence counsel Yug Chaudhry argued that the prosecution had failed to explain why two sets of punishments had been recommended for the 12 convicts.
The convicts had appealed for leniency, saying they had a family to look after. But the prosecution said on Wednesday they should have thought about their loved ones before carrying out the attacks.
"You did not think of anything at the time of committing the crime, and now you are worried about what will happen to your family," Thakre said.
"If they are merchants of death, then why should an honest taxpayer pay for the upkeep of such unworthy people? Why should the taxpayer be burdened with maintaining them at all?"
The prosecution said that bombs were set off during evening peak hours, when trains are packed, to cause maximum causalities. This shows the "extreme mentality" of the convicts, it said.