TADA court convicts 12 in Gosabara arms landing case, 17 acquitted

Rajkot: A special designated TADA court in Jamnagar on Monday convicted 12 persons in the infamous 1993 Gosabara cross-border arms smuggling case linked to the Mumbai blasts, while acquitting 17 others and noting that 15 accused remain absconding.The court convicted Osman Koreja, Mamad Alimammad alias Mamdu, Harun Amad Sandhar, Ahmad Oliya, Aarif Abdul Rehman, Iftabar Ansari, Mohammad Ansari, Lakshman Ahir, Mohammed Salim Mirmohammad, Umarmiya alias Mamumiya Bukhari, Istiyak Ahmad Yunus Ansari and Kadir Ahmad Sheikh. While 10 convicts were sentenced to five years' imprisonment, two — Mohammed Salim Mirmohamad and Umarmiya Bukhari — were sentenced to seven years. According to the prosecution, the conspiracy was hatched at the Dubai residence of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Seeking revenge for the Babri Masjid demolition and to spread terror across India, the conspirators coordinated with local operatives in Salaya, Jamnagar, to land a large cache of weapons at the Gosabara port in Porbandar. A Cross-Border Operation Involving Pakistani Officials "The prosecution successfully demonstrated the extensive international scope of the plot, revealing that Pakistani Marine Security officials and army officers were actively involved in facilitating the smuggling of these weapons. The conspiracy was hatched at Dawood Ibrahim's residence in Dubai, and it was executed with the help of Pakistan," said special public prosecutor Tushar Gokani. In early 1993, key accused travelled to Dubai, where they were instructed to take a launch named Sada Al Bahar towards the Karachi coast. The vessel, fitted with satellite communication equipment, met a Pakistani Marine Security boat carrying 15 to 20 men. A consignment including RDX, black powder, about 150 weapons, hand grenades, bombs and rifles was transferred to Sada Al Bahar. At sea, the arms were split between two other launches, Bismillah and Marwan, before being landed near the Gosabara bridge. From there, the weapons and explosives were moved by truck to various locations, including Surat, Valsad and Uttar Pradesh. Investigation and Absconding Masterminds The investigation, which ran from 1993 to 2018, was led by officers including retired IPS officers P K Jha, Satish Verma and Manoj Shashidhar. While 46 accused were arrested over the years, 15 key figures remain absconding, believed to be in Pakistan and the UAE. They include Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, Tiger Memon, Mohammad Umar Dosa, Afzal Memon and Anis Ibrahim Kaskar. During the prolonged legal process, 11 accused died and six were discharged by the Supreme Court. The offence was registered on July 15, 1993, at Jamnagar B Division police station under provisions of the Terrorism and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), the Indian Penal Code, the Arms Act and the Explosives Act. The trial concluded after 24 years, nearly 33 years after the offence was perpetrated. The prosecution examined 63 surviving witnesses, who supported its case. The judgment was delivered by special designated judge R P Mogera. Special public prosecutor Gokani was assisted by a legal team that included Jaman Bhanderi, Ripan Gokani and Uzer Kureshi.
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