Asia-Pacific

Five sentenced to death over India bombings

Almost 190 people were killed and more than 800 others injured in July 2006 attacks

An Indian prisoner, convicted of involvement in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts, walks to a police van on his way to a special court in Mumbai. Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/AFP/Getty Images
An Indian prisoner, convicted of involvement in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts, walks to a police van on his way to a special court in Mumbai. Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/AFP/Getty Images
Wed Sept 30 2015 - 10:55

Five suspected Islamic militants have been sentenced to death by an Indian court for bomb attacks on seven Mumbai commuter trains nine years ago.

Seven others were given life in prison over the blasts in July 2006, in which 188 people were killed and more than 800 others injured.

Judge YD Shinde, who convicted them earlier this month of murder and a criminal conspiracy to wage war against the government, announced the sentences in Mumbai on Wednesday.

An Indian court sentenced five men to death for a series of blasts that ripped through packed trains in Mumbai in 2006, killing nearly 200 people. Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/AFP/Getty Images
An Indian court sentenced five men to death for a series of blasts that ripped through packed trains in Mumbai in 2006, killing nearly 200 people. Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/AFP/Getty Images
Seven others found guilty of involvement in the attacks in India’s financial capital were sentenced to life imprisonment by the special court. Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/AFP/Getty Images
Seven others found guilty of involvement in the attacks in India’s financial capital were sentenced to life imprisonment by the special court. Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/AFP/Getty Images

Seven bombs exploded during a 10-minute span during the evening rush-hour in Mumbai, the financial and entertainment capital of India.

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Prosecutors said the attack was hatched by Pakistan’s Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence and carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives with help from the Students’ Islamic Movement of India, a banned militant organisation. Pakistan has denied the charges.