An Indian anti-terror court [4] on Sept. 11 convicted 12 men of various charges, including murder, in connection with the near-simultaneous bombings [5] of seven trains in Mumbai in 2006 [6]. The men, ranging in age from late 20s to early 40s, are thought to have been members of the Students Islamic Movement of India [7]. Prosecutors say the student organization joined with Pakistan-backed militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba [8] (National Counter-Terrorism Center profile [9]) to carry out the attacks, allegations the Pakistani government denies. The two groups allegedly placed eight homemade bombs on the first-class cars of several trains and in one train station, and detonated the explosives within 15 minutes of one another, resulting in 189 deaths and more than 800 injuries. Although charges were filed against the men only four months after the attack, the case took several years to resolve due to difficulties in collecting evidence. Sentencing is expected this week, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty.
In July, India hanged Yakub Memon [10], a former accountant convicted in the 1993 Mumbai bombings [10]. In January, the Supreme Court of Pakistan overturned [11] the release of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi [8], former head of Lashkar-e-Taiba and alleged organizer of the 2008 Mumbai attacks [12] that killed 165.
From Jurist [13], Sept. 12. Used with permission.
See our last report on the Mumbai bombing cases [12].