Mumbai blasts policeman gets life

Hundreds were killed or injured in the blasts

A court in India has sentenced a police officer to life imprisonment for his role in bombings in Mumbai (Bombay) in 1993 which killed more than 250 people.

The police officer was found guilty of aiding and abetting terrorist acts.

Six others were also jailed, meaning that 17 of the 100 people found guilty in the case have so far been sentenced.

The attacks were said to have been in revenge for religious riots a few months earlier that left more than 2,000 people dead, most of them Muslim.

Prosecutors say one of the city's crime syndicates, which were dominated at the time by Muslims, was behind the blasts.

'Breach of trust'

This was the first life imprisonment verdict delivered by the special court.

By his conduct he [Patil] has set a heinous example for his subordinate staff Judge PD Kode

Police officer Vijay Patil had earlier been found guilty of accepting bribes for letting a truck laden with explosives into Mumbai, which were later used to deadly effect.

As well as those killed in the 12 bombings on 12 March, 1993, another 700 people were wounded.

Passing sentence, Judge PD Kode said Patil was guilty of a breach of trust and deserved no sympathy.

"It is a more serious offence when persons expected to protect citizens join terrorists for personal gain," the judge said.

The BBC's Monica Chadha who was in court says Patil was visibly agitated, but did not break down. He was also fined 200,000 rupees (nearly $5,000).

Five of the six others sentenced on Tuesday received six-year prison terms, while a sixth was jailed for seven years.

They were convicted of receiving weapons training in Pakistan, but the judge said he had shown leniency because they had not taken part in the conspiracy or the planning of the blasts.

On Monday, four policemen were given six-year jail sentences for their roles in the blasts.

Death penalty sought

The man who is believed to have masterminded the plot, underworld leader 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 is also seeking 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.

The court is expected to continue to pass sentences over the next couple of weeks.