India convicts 12 over 2006 Mumbai train blasts
An Indian court on Friday convicted 12 men of planning several blasts on crowded commuter trains in the financial capital of Mumbai in 2006, which killed more than 180 people and wounded hundreds.
Indian police blame the attack, in which seven bombs exploded during the evening rush hour on a network that carries about 7 million passengers each day, on disaffected Muslims, encouraged by Islamist militants based in neighbouring Pakistan. Relations between the arch-rivals have been soured by a dispute since independence over the Himalayan territory of Kashmir, and India frequently accuses Pakistan of harboring terrorists and architects of attacks such as those in Mumbai. "I am happy that the investigation has been upheld," said K.P. Raghuvanshi, the former head of India's anti-terrorism squad, who investigated the bombings. "The court has appreciated the evidence we presented." The convicted men could face death by hanging or life in prison, with sentencing set to begin on Monday. A thirteenth man was acquitted of all charges.
