1993 Mumbai serial blasts convict Mustafa Dossa dies of cardiac arrest

Mumbai: Mumbai 1993 serial blasts convict Mustafa Dossa passed away on Wednesday after he was admitted to hospital for hypertension and diabetes. Dossa was admitted to the J J Hospital earlier on Wednesday after he complained of chest pain.

"Mustafa Dossa died due to cardiac arrest today at 2.30 pm," TP Lahane, JJ Hospital Dean said.

Read: 1993 Mumbai blasts: TADA court adjourns sentencing till Friday after Dossa’s death

Dossa had informed the special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (TADA) court about his heart problem and said he wanted to undergo a bypass surgery.

The prosecution on Tuesday argued that convict Feroz Khan should be given the death penalty for his role in the 1993 Mumbai blasts.

The counsel for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Counsel stated that his role was parallel to that of Yakub Memon.

CBI counsel Deepak Salve, said he would seek extreme punishment for all six convicts in the case.

Speaking to reporters here, Salve said, "I quoted the judgments made by Supreme Court regarding Mustafa Dossa and Feroz. I have appealed for maximum punishment for them on the applicable grounds. Mustafa Dossa and Mohammad Dossa were present at the first conspiracy meeting where they decided to send arms and ammunitions and create riots. Feroz was close to the group and has played an important role in transfer of arms and ammunitions".

The TADA court had convicted six people - Abu Salem, Mustafa Dossa, Feroz Abdul Rashid Khan, Taher Merchant, Karimulla Khan and Riyaz Siddiqui - in the case on June 16 and acquitted Abdul Qayyum Sheikh who was then released from Arthur Road jail.

Earlier on June 16, a special (TADA) court convicted underworld don Abu Salem and others in connection with the 1993 blasts case.

Addressing media after the court's order, Salve said, "Mustafa Dossa conducted a conspiracy meeting in Dubai which was attended by Dawood Ibrahim and others. They hatched a conspiracy of Mumbai blast to take revenge of Babri Masjid demolition."

He further added that "the accused used to travel between Dubai and Pakistan for arms and ammunition training where Pakistan had given them green channel entry. Their targets were Indian politicians, high officials and Hindus".

About 257 people died while 713 others were injured after a series of bomb blasts rocked Mumbai City on March 12, 1993.