Nineteen years after the deadly train bombings in Mumbai that killed 189 people and injured over 800, the BombayHigh Court has acquitted all 12 people who were earlier convicted in the case. The decision was announced today.

In 2015, a special court had found these 12 accused guilty of planning and carrying out the bombings. Five of them were given the death sentence, while the remaining seven were sentenced to life imprisonment. But now, the High Court has said that there was not enough proof to support those convictions.

The court bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Shyam Chandak said, “The prosecution has utterly failed to prove the case against the accused. It is hard to believe that the accused committed the crime. Hence, their conviction is quashed and set aside.” The judges added that the accused should be released from jail, as long as they are not involved in any other case.

The blasts happened on July 11, 2006, during evening rush hour. Within just 11 minutes, seven bombs exploded in different first-class compartments of local trains coming from Churchgate station. The bombs were hidden in pressure cookers to make the explosions stronger.

The blasts took place near Matunga Road, Mahim Junction, Bandra, Khar Road, Jogeshwari, Bhayandar, and Borivali stations.

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