The Prosecution in the 2006 Mumbai Serial train blasts case on Wednesday demanded death sentence for eight convicts, and life for four others.
On Tuesday, the defence lawyers, winding up their arguments on the quantum of punishment, had pleaded that none of the convicts be given the death because according to the prosecution’s own case they were mere foot-soldiers and not the masterminds.
Earlier this month, the judge Yatin Shinde convicted 12 accused while acquitting one.
Special Public Prosecutor Raja Thakare on Tuesday had said that as far as the gravity of the offence was concerned, all the accused stood on the same platform. “If we go by the principle that all conspirators should be treated equally, then everyone should get the death penalty. However, I would not pray for death for all.”
All the 12 convicts had earlier requested the trial court not to award them death sentence on humanitarian grounds as arguments started on the quantum of punishment for one of the deadliest terror attacks on Indian soil.
As many as 188 people were killed and many others injured when a series of powerful bombs went off in suburban trains in Mumbai on July 11, 2006. Twelve of the 13 arrested accused were pronounced guilty by a Special Court last week.
A special MCOCA court, which is hearing the case, will on September 30 announce the quantum of sentence to the 12 out of 13 people convicted for their involvement in the July 11, 2006 Mumbai suburban train bombings.