The 12th of March, 1993 is considered as a black friday in Indian history. On this day, something happened which shook the entire nation.
Why is it called a Black Friday?
On this day, 12th of march, 1993, Bombay was shook with 13 bomb explosions across the city. These explosions were the worst in Indian history both in terms of the explosion and also in terms of the number of casualties. Some sources state the number of deaths to 257 while some other sources state it to be above 300. Also, more than 1000 people were injured in the blasts. It is said that these serial bomb blasts were one-of-its-kind across the world.
Where did it all start?
A mosque was built in the place of the Ram Janmabhoomi(birth place of Lord Rama), Ayodhya by Mir BAqi in the 16th century. The members of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) along with political support of the BJP conducted a rally in Ayodhya on that place. The court had ordered police protection of the Masjid but the members of VHP and several other people, around 2,00,000, stormed into the Masjid, demolishing it with hammers and with their bare hands. They first demolished the three tombs with hammers and then removed each brick till the entire mosque was down. They also took down several other mosques in the town and also houses of muslims in the area.
This led to violent riots between Hindus and Muslims in the country. The riots resulted in about 2000 deaths. The riots continued for 2 months.
The 1993 Mumbai Blasts, initiated by Dawood Ibhrahim and Tiger Memon, were mainly due to anger as a result of demolition of the mosque 2 months back.
The Blasts-
Commonly called as 1993 Bombay Bombings, 13 bombs exploded in the city of Bombay, first explosion being at 1.30 pm in the basement of The Bombay Stock Exchange. The blasts continued till 3.40 pm with a total of 13 bombs exploded in the city. Places attacked includes
On this day, 12th of march, 1993, Bombay was shook with 13 bomb explosions across the city. These explosions were the worst in Indian history both in terms of the explosion and also in terms of the number of casualties. Some sources state the number of deaths to 257 while some other sources state it to be above 300. Also, more than 1000 people were injured in the blasts. It is said that these serial bomb blasts were one-of-its-kind across the world.
Where did it all start?
A mosque was built in the place of the Ram Janmabhoomi(birth place of Lord Rama), Ayodhya by Mir BAqi in the 16th century. The members of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) along with political support of the BJP conducted a rally in Ayodhya on that place. The court had ordered police protection of the Masjid but the members of VHP and several other people, around 2,00,000, stormed into the Masjid, demolishing it with hammers and with their bare hands. They first demolished the three tombs with hammers and then removed each brick till the entire mosque was down. They also took down several other mosques in the town and also houses of muslims in the area.
This led to violent riots between Hindus and Muslims in the country. The riots resulted in about 2000 deaths. The riots continued for 2 months.
The 1993 Mumbai Blasts, initiated by Dawood Ibhrahim and Tiger Memon, were mainly due to anger as a result of demolition of the mosque 2 months back.
The Blasts-
Commonly called as 1993 Bombay Bombings, 13 bombs exploded in the city of Bombay, first explosion being at 1.30 pm in the basement of The Bombay Stock Exchange. The blasts continued till 3.40 pm with a total of 13 bombs exploded in the city. Places attacked includes
- Shiv Sena Bhavan
- Fisherman's Colony
- Plaza Cinema
- Zaveri Bazaar
- Hotel Sea rock
- Katha Bazaar
- Century Bazaar
- Sahar Airport
- Air India Building
- Hotel Juhu Centaur
- Worli
- Bombay Stock Exchange
- Passport office
The bomb at the Stock Exchange exploded in the basement. It was planted in a car. Most of the bombs were planted in cars and bikes and in hotels, the bombs were kept in briefcases and left in the rooms which were booked by the attackers.
Investigations and Aftermath-
Mumbai police were so quick in the investigations and found out some of the main accused in the blasts within 48 hours. The Memon family were the prime accused. Dawood Ibrahim, said to be the don of Mumbai and leader of terrorist group, the D-Company. Since then, Tiger Memon and Dawood, both prime accused are on the run.
Sharath Pawar, the then Chief Minister of Mumbai, was also held for misstatements to the public. He misguided the public saying that a Muslim community was also attacked in the blasts so that people do not take this as a religious issue and to also avoid communal clashes.
Arrests-
Around 100 people were arrested in the case. The masterminds behind the attack, Dawood, Tiger Memon, Ayub Memon and Yakub Memon were still on the run. Months after the blasts, Sanjay Dutt was arrested for possessing illegal weapons and without license. He was sentenced 5 years imprisonment.
The weapons and bombs were smuggled to Mumbai from Raigad. Several policemen were arrested for conspiracy for allowing the RDX inside Mumbai. Several customs officials were also arrested in this case for the same reason.
Several other arrested who were involved in planting bombs were locals, economically weak, who were persuaded to take revenge for the demolition of Babri Masjid.
Present day-
Dawood and Tiger Memon are still absconding and are said to be in Pakistan to which the Pakistan government denies. Yakub Memon, one of the chief accused is to be hanged on 30th July, 2015. Yakub's mercy plea was rejected by the president.
Some of D-Company's Hindu members like Chotta Shakeel and Sadhoo Shetty has left Dawood's gang. They have killed several people accused in the 1993 blasts.
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