Mumbai blasts sentencing begins

Hundreds were killed or wounded in the blasts

A court in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay) has begun sentencing 100 people for their role in deadly blasts which killed 257 people in 1993.

The first five people sentenced received three years each in prison.

The blasts are believed to have been carried out by one of the city's notorious underworld crime syndicates, which were then dominated by Muslims.

Their motive is said to have been revenge for earlier religious riots that left more than 2,000 people dead.

Prosecutors say the sentencing hearings are expected to go on for a fortnight.

Fines 'too high'

The five men sentenced on Friday were found guilty of transporting explosives into the city. They were also fined 25,000 rupees ($610) each.

Two of them have already spent three years in prison on remand, so are free to leave custody when they pay the fine. If they do not pay they must spend another six months behind bars.

Defence lawyer Farhana Shah said none of the men could afford to pay the fine.

"I asked the judge to reduce the fine but he refused to listen," she said.

The other three men sentenced will have time spent on remand deducted from their jail terms.

The man who is believed to have masterminded the plot, underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, has still not been caught.

India says he and another key suspect, Tiger Memon, are hiding in Pakistan - a charge Pakistan denies.

The prosecution has demanded the death penalty for 44 of those convicted of conspiracy and planting explosives, including three of Memon's brothers.

The prosecution has also demanded maximum sentences for the other accused, including Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt who faces up to 10 years in jail.

He was found guilty of illegally possessing firearms belonging to men who prosecutors say carried out the attacks - but the star was cleared of the more serious charge of conspiracy.

Dutt has asked to be spared a prison term on account of his good behaviour. He has already spent 16 months in jail.