Sayli SM Sem 2

Download as docx, pdf, or txt
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1of 22

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

INTRODUCTION
A disaster is a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving
widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds
the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.
In contemporary academia, disasters are seen as the consequence of inappropriately managed
risk. These risks are the product of a combination of both hazard/s and vulnerability. Hazards
that strike in areas with low vulnerability will never become disasters, as is the case in
uninhabited regions.
Developing countries suffer the greatest costs when a disaster hits more than 95 percent of all
deaths caused by hazards occur in developing countries, and losses due to natural hazards are
20 times greater (as a percentage of GDP) in developing countries than in industrialized
countries.
Researchers have been studying disasters for more than a century, and for more than forty
years disaster research. The studies reflect a common opinion when they argue that all
disasters can be seen as being human-made, their reasoning being that human actions before
the strike of the hazard can prevent it developing into a disaster. All disasters are hence the
N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 1

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

result of human failure to introduce appropriate disaster management measures. Hazards are
routinely divided into natural or human-made, although complex disasters, where there is no
single root cause, are more common in developing countries. A specific disaster may spawn a
secondary disaster that increases the impact. A classic example is an earthquake that causes
a tsunami, resulting in coastal flooding.

Natural Hazard
A Natural Hazard is a natural process or phenomenon that may cause loss of life, injury or
other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and economic
disruption, or environmental damage.
Various phenomena like earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, floods, hurricanes,
tornadoes, blizzards, tsunamis, and cyclones are all natural hazards that kill thousands of
people and destroy billions of dollars of habitat and property each year. However, the rapid
growth of the world's population and its increased concentration often in hazardous
environments has escalated both the frequency and severity of disasters. With the tropical
climate and unstable land forms, coupled with deforestation, unplanned growth proliferation,
non-engineered constructions which make the disaster-prone areas more vulnerable, tardy
communication, poor or no budgetary allocation for disaster prevention, developing countries
suffer more or less chronically by natural disasters. Asia tops the list of casualties caused by
natural hazards.

Man-Made Disasters

N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 2

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

Man-

Made

disasters

are

the

consequence

of

technological

hazards.

Examples

include stampedes, fires, transport accidents, industrial accidents, oil spills and nuclear
explosions/radiation. War and deliberate attacks may also be put in this category. As with
natural hazards, man-made hazards are events that have not happened, for instance terrorism.
Man-made disasters are examples of specific cases where man-made hazards have become
reality in an event.

Airplane crashes and terrorist attacks are examples of man-made disasters: they cause
pollution, kill people, and damage property. This example is the September 11 attacks in 2001
at the World Trade Center in New York.

Disaster is a sudden, calamitous event bringing great damage, loss, and destruction and
devastation to life and property. The damage caused by disasters is immeasurable and varies
with the geographical location, climate and the type of the earth surface/degree of
vulnerability. This influences the mental, socio-economic, political and cultural state of the
affected area.
Generally,

disaster

1.

completely

2.

It
It

N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

has

negatively

the

following

disrupts

the

influences

Page 3

effects
normal
the

in

the
day

concerned
to

emergency

day

areas,
life
systems

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

3. Normal needs and processes like food, shelter, health, etc. are affected and deteriorate
depending on the intensity and severity of the disaster.
Thus, a disaster may have the following main features:o Unpredictability
o Unfamiliarity
o Speed
o Urgency
o Uncertainty
o Threat

DEFINATION
The United Nations defines a disaster as a serious disruption of the functioning of a community
or a society. Disasters involve widespread human, material, economic or environmental
impacts, which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own
resources.
The Red Cross and Red Crescent societies define disaster management as the organisation and
management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all humanitarian aspects of
emergencies, in particular preparedness, response and recovery in order to lessen the impact of
disasters.
Types of disasters
There is no country that is immune from disaster, though vulnerability to disaster varies.
There are four main types of disaster.

Natural disasters: including floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and volcano eruptions that
have immediate impacts on human health and secondary impacts causing further death
and suffering from (for example) floods, landslides, fires, tsunamis.

N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 4

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

Environmental emergencies: including technological or industrial accidents, usually


involving the production, use or transportation of hazardous material, and occur where
these materials are produced, used or transported, and forest fires caused by humans.

Complex emergencies: involving a break-down of authority, looting and attacks on


strategic installations, including conflict situations and war.

Pandemic emergencies: involving a sudden onset of contagious disease that affects


health, disrupts services and businesses, and brings economic and social costs.

Any disaster can interrupt essential services, such as health care, electricity, water,
sewage/garbage removal, transportation and communications. The interruption can seriously
affect the health, social and economic networks of local communities and countries. Disasters
have a major and long-lasting impact on people long after the immediate effect has been
mitigated. Poorly planned relief activities can have a significant negative impact not only on
the disaster victims but also on donors and relief agencies. So it is important that physical
therapists join established programmes rather than attempting individual efforts.

Local, regional, national and international organisations are all involved in mounting a
humanitarian response to disasters. Each will have a prepared disaster management plan.
These plans cover prevention, preparedness, relief and recovery.
DISASTER PLAN
This usually involves four phases:
1. Prevention
2. Preparedness
3. Response
4. Recovery
N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 5

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

The following guide to producing a disaster plan outlines recommended action in all four
phases, but prevention is the best protection against disaster, natural or man-made.
PHASE 1 : PREVENTION

Identify and minimize the risks posed by the building, its equipment and fittings, and

the natural hazards of the area.


Carry out a building inspection and alter factors which constitute a potential hazard.
Establish routine housekeeping and maintenance measures to withstand disaster in

buildings and surrounding areas.


Install automatic fire detection and extinguishing systems, water-sensing alarms. Take
special precautions during unusual periods of increased risk, such as building
renovations. Make special arrangements to ensure the safety of library or archival

material when exhibited.


Provide security copies of vital records such as collection inventories, and store these

off-site.
Have comprehensive insurance for the library or archives, its contents, the cost of
salvages operations, and potential replacement, re-binding and restoration of damaged
materials.

PHASE-2: PREPAREDNESS

Getting ready to cope.


Develop a written preparedness, response and recovery plan. Keep the plan up-to-date,
and test it.
Keep together supplies and equipment required in a disaster and maintain them.
Utilize Disaster response techniques.
Prepare and keep an up-to-date set of documentation.
PHASE-3 : RESPONSE

When disaster strikes.

Follow established emergency procedures for raising the alarm, evacuating personnel
and making the disaster site safe.

N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 6

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

Contact the leader of the disaster response team to direct and brief the trained salvage
personnel. After getting the permission to enter the site stabilize the environment,
photograph damaged materials for insurance claim, set up an area for recording &
packing materials which are been required.

PHASE - 4: RECOVERY
Getting back to normal.

Establish a programme to restore both the disaster site and the damaged materials to a
stable and usable condition. Determine priorities, seek the advice of a conservator and

obtain cost estimates.


Contact insurers. Clean and rehabilitate the disaster site. Analyse the disaster plan in
the light of experience.

MEASURES & AWARENESS


Be prepared for any type of disaster. Contact and consult other libraries or archives and
library or archives associations to share information and experience, and with a view to

regional co-operation.
Take advantage of educational sessions, particularly disaster planning workshops and

preparedness exercises.
Seek expert advice and help from the preservation offices of national and large research
libraries, members of the Standing Committee of the Section on Conservation of the
IFLA, the centres of the IFLA-PAC Programme, and the Technical Committees of ICA
and of the International Audiovisual Archives Associations FIAF, FIAT, and IASA.

N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 7

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN INDIA


1. Introduction
It is really an unfortunate and undesirable situation that in our country where more than 6
crore people are affected by disasters every year. Statistics is shown in figure,

Fig A- Mortality due to natural hazards (1990-2000)


We have no policy on systematic disaster Management. It is only after a disaster strikes that
the wheels of the government, both at the center and at the states, move and that too slowly.
Despite the need to build up capabilities to meet the challenges of disasters, the thrust has
unfortunately been on alleviation and relief. Even the relief has not been quick and adequate,
as few disasters such as Orissa super cyclone, Tsunami of 2004, Gujarat earthquake etc.
experiences has shown. Indias response to and tackling of this two major disasters has thrown
up the following weakness in our disaster management efforts.
(a). Inadequate Early Warning System
Though, the forecasting, monitoring and warning mechanisms are beautifully articulated on
paper in practice, the warnings are not early enough and they do not reach all those likely to
be affected.
(b) Lack of Pre-disaster Preparedness
With disasters striking India with increased regularity, there should be a plan in place to tackle
the disaster and reduce its impact. On the contrary, people are caught unaware time and again.
N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 8

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

There is not planned information system as to what needs to be done when faced with a
calamity.
(c) Inadequate and Slow Relief
Relief is an important aspect of the disaster management to provide help to the affected people.
The relief operations are often handled in ad hoc and haphazard manner. How efficiently to
provide food, medicine, to reduce the suffering of the affected people etc are addressed and
met improperly.
(d) Lack of Co-ordination
Disaster management requires concerted efforts from Central Government, State Government,
NGOs, International agencies and private sectors etc. Because of the lack of the co-ordination,
relief material is not property distributed among the people. Even worst happens when they
are mis-utilized and are not distributed uniformly.
(e) Slow Rehabilitation and Reconstruction
While immediately after a disaster strikes, there is hectic relief and rescue mission, mainly
aimed at feeding the people and stalling the outbreak of an epidemic, relief and rescue cannot
go on endlessly and rehabilitation and reconstruction should be given proper attention.
However, this is an area which is often ignored and progressed is slow once the initial attention
fades away. Restoration of infrastructure, hospitals, schools, houses, and sources of living of
the people needs to be given proper attention.
(f) Proper Administration
A quick assessment of the extent of the damage is necessary so that relief and rehabilitation
work can be properly planned. However, it was seen that even many months after the Bhuj
earthquake and Tsunami of 2004, the government was yet to finish the preliminary survey of
assessing the total impact of the damage. Apart from this, poor administration frustrated the
best intentions and efforts of private initiatives. After the quake, Gujarat government was too
slow and indecisive on some of the best rehabilitation plans proposed by the NGOs and
Corporate.
(g) Poor Management of Finances for Post-disaster
Relief
Mostly relief and rehabilitation work suffers from the lack of co-ordination, proper
management, and supervision at all levels and indicated the absence of adequate planning and
N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 9

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

preparedness to meet any emergency. Consequently, the funds are mis-utilized and relief
measures were tardy and inadequate, providing scope for pilferage of relief and rehabilitation
remained unutilized and there is huge shortfall in distribution of emergency relief, shelter
material cloths, house building assistance etc. There have also been reports of relief and
rehabilitation funds being utilized for paying salary arrears of the state government
employees.
(h) Symbolism Rather than Relief
It has been a recurrent experience that rather than making a serious effort at planning and
management for tackling frequent disasters, our government adopts symbolic gestures like
helicopter survey of disaster affected areas. The politics of relief works in a manner that tall
claims are made by the Government other than the affected state to help the affected districts
and by sending huge financial help but these claims prove hollow once the calamity recedes.
(i) No Instruction for Pre-seismic Period
There is no instruction for the pre-seismic period. Unfortunately, in the present administrative
set up, no official will visit the people during pre-seismic period to tell them about an eminent
earthquake. But, during the post-seismic period, a large number of officials will visit the
affected people with food, tents, medicine, cloths and compensation funding to the relatives of
the dead. This scenario has been repeated after Latur (1993), Jablpur (1997), Bhuj (2001),
Andman (2004), and Kashmir (2005) earthquakes. This pathetic situation has to be changed at
the earliest. The issue needs to be seriously pondered at the national level. The sole reason for
this is the lack of knowledge about earthquake precursors and earthquake prediction. Most of
the earthquake disaster management experts, agencies, and offices have a strong conviction
that an earthquake cannot be predicted. They are correct to some extent. Till now, there was
only one case of successful prediction in China. Earthquake prediction has almost become a
taboo in most of the disaster management offices. The relevant rules also are empowered to
take penal action against anyone who talks about earthquake prediction. As a result, an
impression is inadvertently created in the society that moist of the disaster management
agencies come in the picture during post-seismic period to clear the debris and the corpses. The
present situation is skewed. On one hand, it is accepted that a large magnitude earthquake is
due and it may occur anytime; On the other hand, most of the disaster management agencies
N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 10

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

feet that an earthquake cannot be predicted. If we want to protect people from an earthquake,
it is essential that a suitable precursory warning is issued even in case of moderate scale of
earthquake as it makes the people of the region aware the region is prone to disaster, and they
should be careful.
Measures/Facts Taken to Improve Disaster Management in India
Central Level
At the central or national level, Ministry of Home affairs is entrusted with the nodal
responsibility of managing disaster. At the apex level, there are to cabinet committees viz.
cabinet committee on national calamity and cabinet committee on security. All the major issues
concerning natural disasters are placed before cabinet committee on natural calamity whereas
calamities which can affect internal security or which may be caused due to use of nuclear,
biological or chemical weapons etc. are placed before cabinet committee on security. The
NCMC (National Crisis Management Committee) is the next important functionary. The
cabinet secretary heads it. It includes secretaries of concerned department/ministers. Its main
function is to give direction to Crisis Management Group (CMG) and any minister/department
for specific action needed for meeting the crisis situation. CMG lies below the NCMC. The
Central Relief Commissioner is its chairman. His primary function is to coordinate all the
relief operations for natural disaster. Apart from coordinating the relief operations, it reviews
the contingency plans formulated by Central Ministers/Department and measures required for
dealing with natural disaster. CMG meets every six months however in event of any disaster it
frequently meets to review the relief operation and explore all possibilities to render all
possible help to the affected region.
State and District Level
At the state level, there are state relief commissioners who are incharge of the relief measures
in wake of natural disaster in the perspective states. The chief secretary is the overall in charge
of the relief operations in the state. The relief commissioner and additional relief commissioner
work under his direction and control. In addition, there are number of secretaries, head of
various departments who also work under the overall direction of chief secretary. At the
district level, districts are headed by District Collector or district magistrate who is responsible

N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 11

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

for the overall supervision and monitoring of relief measures and preparation of disaster
management plans. At the tehsil level DSO/SDM take care of the disaster management.
Development of Response System
Mitigation and preparedness measures go hand in hand for vulnerability reduction and rapid
response to disaster. Several inadequacies of response were noted in the aftermath of Bhuj
earthquake, 2001. The govt. decided to remove the inadequacies to maintain preparedness at
all times. Major response initiatives include:
(i) Preparation of Special Response Teams
The central Govt. is now in the process of training and equipping specialist and rescue teams.
Each team includes doctors, paramedics, structural engineers etc. These teams will be
stationed in different parts of the country.
(ii) Incident Command System
In order to professionalize the response system, it is proposed to develop incident command
system. It is a very effective system in which the most experienced and knowledgeable person
at a disaster site is designated as incident commander who is charged with the responsibility of
inter-agency coordination and management of the incident.
(iii) Standard Operating Procedure
Standard operating procedure are being laid down to ensure that all step need to be taken for
disaster management are put in place. Each department/sector will have their own SOPs for
each level of functionaries.
(iv) Emergency Operation Centre
It has also been recommended for setting up of emergency operation centers at the national
capitals, state capitals and district headquarters. EOC will function as nerve centers for
integrated command and control structure. They will be convergence points for all inter
agency coordination and will be equipped with the state of the art communication network.
Technological Developments
Technological innovations are vital for effective disaster management, Govt. of India is taking
several measure to upgrade technological inputs. The important developments include:
(i) India Disaster Resource Network

N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 12

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

This is a web enabled centralized data base which will ensure quick access to resources to
minimize response time tune in emergencies. This database will be available at National, State
and district level simultaneously. Police network is another important communication network
to be used for disaster management. In emergency, mobile satellite based units which can be
transported to disaster sited are being procured.
(ii) Installation of Early Warning and Hazard Detection Equipment
Early warning systems have already been installed for cyclones and floods in the country by
IMD and CWC. There is a well-established organizational set up for detecting, tackling and
forecasting cyclones. There are six cyclone warning centers at Kolkata, Bhubneshwar,
Vishakapatnam, Chennai, Mumbai and Ahemdabad. Cyclone tracking is done with the help of
INSAT satellite. Cyclone detection radars are located at ten centers in different coastal areas.
CWC does flood forecasting. There are nearly 700 stations from where hydrological and hydro
meteorological data are collected. Now, govt. has also succeeded in acquiring and installing the
Tsunami warning and detection system in the aftermath of Tsunami disaster of 2004.

What India Needs


The following suggestions can be offered for effective disaster management system in India:
(I) There should be a proper multi-tier organizational structure in a focused and co-ordinated
manner responsible for the overall management at national, state, districts and village levels.
(II) The basic design of disaster management should consist of planned co-ordinated efforts in
following important areas:
-Identification and prediction
-Early warning system
-Evacuation
-Relief
-Rescue
-Rehabilitation
N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 13

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

-Compensation
-Reconstruction
-Preparedness
(III) There is a need to share the expertise and experiences so that states can learn from each
other. There is also a need for training personnel likely to face natural disaster and those who
deal with the relief operations.

CASE STUDY ON MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

HISTORY
The 1993 Mumbai bombings were a series of 13 bomb explosions that took place in
Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, India on Friday, 12TH March 1993. The coordinated
attacks were the most destructive bomb explosions in Indian history. The single-day attacks
resulted in over 350 fatalities and 1200 injuries.
The attacks were coordinated by Dawood Ibrahim, don of the Mumbai-based international
organized crime syndicate named D-Company.

N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 14

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

Ibrahim is believed to have ordered and helped organize the bombings in Mumbai, through
one of his subordinates, Tiger Memon. The bombings are also believed to have been financially
assisted by the expatriate Indian smugglers, Hajji Ahmed, Hajji Umar and Taufiq Jaliawala, as
well as the Pakistani smugglers, Aslam Bhatti and Dawood Jatt . The Indian authorities have
also alleged the involvement of the Pakistani intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence
(ISI), in the blasts. Several of the terrorists received arms, ammunition and explosives training
in Pakistan or were recruited from Dubai, UAE.
Supreme Court of India gave its judgement on 21st March 2013 after over 20 years of judicial
proceedings sentencing the accused. However, the two main suspects in the case, Dawood
Ibrahim and Tiger Memon, have not yet been arrested or tried.
BACKGROUND / PLOT
In December 1992 and January 1993, there was widespread rioting in Bombay following the
6TH December destruction of Babri Mosque in Ayodhya. Two thousand people died in the
Ayodhya incident, and a series of riots soon erupted throughout the nation, most notably in
Bombay.

After

five

years

following

the

DecemberJanuary

riots,

the Srikrishna

Commission Report stated that nine hundred individuals, lost their lives and over two
thousand were injured.
CONFESSION OF GUL MOHAMMED
Three days before the bombings took place on 9 TH March 1993, a small time hood from the
Behrampada slum in North east Mumbai named Gul Noor Mohammad Sheikh
a.k.a. "Gullu" was detained at the Nav Pada police station. A participant in the communal
riots that had rocked Mumbai the previous year, Gullu was also one of the 19 men handpicked
by the gold smuggler and chief mastermind, Tiger Memon and sent to Pakistan via Dubai on
19TH February 1993, for training of the use of arms and bomb making.
Upon completion of his training, Gullu returned to Mumbai via Dubai on 4TH March 1993, only
to find that in his absence the police had picked up his brothers to get him to surrender. In a
vain attempt to secure his brothers' release, Gullu surrendered to the police. He confessed to
his role in the riots, his training in Pakistan, and a conspiracy underway to bomb major
locations around the city, including the Bombay Stock Exchange, Sahar International
N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 15

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

Airport and the Shiv Sena Bhavan. However, his conspiracy claim was dismissed by the police
as "mere bluff".
The arrest of Gul Mohammed spurred Tiger Memon to advance the date of the blasts which
were to coincide with the Shiv Jayanti celebrations in April 1993 to 12TH March to pre-empt
any police action.
THE BOMB ATTACK
At 1:30 pm a powerful car bomb exploded in the basement of the

Bombay Stock

Exchange building. The 28-storey office building housing the exchange was severely damaged,
and many nearby office buildings also suffered some damage. About 50 were killed by this
explosion. About 30 minutes later, another car bomb exploded elsewhere in the city and from
1:30 pm to 3:40 pm a total of 13 bombs exploded throughout Mumbai. Most of the bombs were
car bombs, but some were in scooters.
Three hotels, the Hotel Sea Rock, Hotel Juhu Centaur, and Hotel Airport Centaur, were
targeted by suitcase bombs left in rooms booked by the perpetrators. Banks, the regional
passport office, hotels, the Air India Building, and a major shopping complex were also hit.
Bombs exploded at Zaveri Bazaar, area opposite of Century Bazaar, Katha Bazaar, Shiv
Sena Bhavan, and Plaza Theatre. A jeep-bomb at the Century Bazaar exploded. Grenades
were also thrown at

Sahar International Airport and at Fishermen's Colony, apparently

targeting Hindus at the latter. A double decker bus was very badly damaged in one of the
explosions and that single incident accounted for the greatest loss of life perhaps up to ninety
people were killed.
Locations attacked included:
Fisherman's Colony in Mahim causeway
Zaveri Bazaar
Plaza Cinema
Century Bazaar

N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 16

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

Katha Bazaar
Hotel Sea Rock
Sahar Airport
Air India Building
Hotel Juhu Centaur
Worli
Bombay Stock Exchange Building
Passport Office
AFTER BOMB BLAST
The official number of dead was 257 with 1,400 others injured (some news sources say 317
people died; this is due to a bomb which killed 60 in Calcutta on 17TH March). Several days
later, unexploded car bombs were discovered at a railway station. Terrorist groups based in
Pakistan were suspected to be responsible for these bombings, and evidence uncovered pointed
to the involvement of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
On 25TH August 2003, two large and destructive bombs left in taxis exploded in south Mumbai
the Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar in the busy Kalbadevi area killing 52 people and
wounding more than a hundred others. Two Pakistan based militant groups, Jaish-eMohammed and Lashkar-e-Toiba, were found to be responsible for the attacks. Along with
the July 2006 train bombings in Mumbai, these attacks are believed to be in retaliation for
the 2002 Gujarat riots in which more than a thousand persons, including 790 Muslims and 254
Hindus were killed which was in turn triggered by gruesome burning of Hindu pilgrims in the
Sabarmati Express train, though the Gujarat government denies such a connection.
On 11TH July 2006, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra during the blasts, Sharad Pawar,
admitted, on record, that he had "deliberately misled" people following the 1993 Mumbai
blasts by saying there were "12 and not 11" explosions, adding the name of a MuslimN.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 17

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

dominated locality to show that people from both communities had been affected. He tried to
justify this deception by claiming that it was a move to prevent communal riots by falsely
portraying that both Hindu and Muslim communities in the city had been affected adversely.
He also admits to lying about evidence recovered and misleading people into believing that
some of it pointed to the Tamil Tigers as possible suspects.
The bombings also caused a major rift within the D-Company, the most powerful criminal
organisation in the Mumbai underworld headed by Dawood Ibrahim. Infuriated at the
bombings, Ibrahim's right hand man Chotta Rajan split from the organisation, taking most of
the leadership-level Hindu aides such as Sadhu Shetty, Jaspal Singh and Mohan Kotiyan with
him. Rajan's split divided the Mumbai underworld along communal lines and pitted Chotta
Rajan's predominantly Hindu gang against Dawood Ibrahim's predominantly Muslim DCompany. The ensuing gang war took the lives of more than a hundred gangsters and
continues to this day. Seven of the accused (Salim Kurla, Majeed Khan, Shakil Ahmed,
Mohammed Jindran, Hanif Kadawala, Akbar Abu Sama Khan and Mohammed Latif) were
systematically assassinated by Chotta Rajan's hitmen.
ARRESTS, CONVICTIONS & VERDICTS.
Many hundreds of people were arrested and detained in Indian courts. In 2006, 100 of the 129
finally accused were found to be guilty and were convicted by Justice PD Kode of the specially
designated TADA court. Many of the 100 are still missing including the main conspirators and
masterminds of the attacks Tiger Memonand Dawood Ibrahim. On 12TH September 2006, the
special TADA court hearing the case convicted four members of the Memon family for their
involvement in the 1993 Mumbai bombings.
Three other members of the Memon family were acquitted by the special TADA court with the
judge giving them the benefit of the doubt. The four members of the Memon family are being
held after being found guilty on charges of conspiring and abetting acts of terror. All four of
them face jail terms from five years in prison to life imprisonment, that will be determined
based on the severity of their crime. A day later, the TADA court announced that it would start
pronouncing the verdict of the thirty-one people charged with transporting and planting
bombs.

N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 18

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

Yakub Memon, the brother of prime accused Tiger Memon, was charged for possession of
unauthorised arms. After the blasts, family members of Tiger, including Yakub, escaped
from Mumbai to Dubai and Pakistan. Correspondents say Tiger Memon owned a
restaurant in Mumbai and was allegedly closely associated with Dawood Ibrahim, the chief
suspect.
Except for Tiger and his brother Ayub, the entire family returned to India and were promptly
arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in 1994. Since then, Yakub has been in custody
and is undergoing treatment for depression. The Memon family was subsequently tried in
court and found guilty of conspiracy. The defence lawyers have asked for leniency in the
sentencing and have caused delays in the process.
Two of the accused, Mohammed Umar Khatlab and Badshah Khan (pseudonym given by
the prosecution to hide his real identity) turned state approvers.
Dawood Ibrahim, believed to have masterminded the terrorist attacks, is the Don of the
Mumbai organised crime syndicate D-Company, largely consisting of Muslims. He is suspected
of having connections to several Pakistan based terrorist groups, such as al-Qaeda and its
leader, Osama bin Laden, as well as Lashkar-e-Toiba and was declared a terrorist by the
governments of India and the United States in 2003. Ibrahim is now wanted by Interpol as a
part of the worldwide terror syndicate of Osama bin Laden. He has been in hiding since the
blasts and is believed to be hiding in Pakistan, which the Pakistani government
denies. The Bush administration in the United States imposed sanctions on Ibrahim in 2006.
The penalty stage of the longest running trial in India's history is still ongoing. In February
2007, prosecutors asked for the death penalty for forty-four of the hundred convicted. The
prosecution also requested the death penalty for those convicted of conspiracy in the case.
Asghar Yusuf Muquddam and Shahnawaz Qureshi, who have been found guilty for
involvement in the blasts pleaded for leniency, claiming that they were not terrorists and were
emotionally driven to participate in the act. Mukadam claimed that the main conspirators took
advantage of his "frame of mind" after the demolition of Babri Masjid and the subsequent
riots, alleging police partiality during the riots. "Vested interests" instigated him to act as he
did. Quareshi was trained in Pakistan to handle arms and ammunition. He and Muquddam
parked the explosive filled vehicle at Plaza cinema, Mumbai which resulted in 10 deaths and 37
N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 19

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

injuries. Qureshi reached Pakistan via Dubai, where he claims he was taken "under the
pretext of providing ... an alternative job". He claims that his house was set on fire during the
riots.
THE MENON FAMILY PRIME SUSPECT & THE ORGANISER OF THE

BOMB BLAST.
Yakub Memon has spent approximately 15+ years in prison. He was sentenced to death

by hanging.
Convicted for conspiracy.
Arranging finance and managing its disbursement through co-accused, Mulchand Shah
and from a firm, Tejarath International, owned by absconding accused, and brother,

Ayub Memon to achieve objectives of conspiracy.


Arranged for air tickets through Altafali Mushtaqali Sayyed, East West travels for the
youths who were sent for arms and ammunition training to Pakistan. Also made

arrangements for their lodging and boarding.


Purchased motor vehicles which were used while planting bombs.
Requested co-accused, Amjadali Meherbux and Altafali Sayyed, to store suitcases

containing arms, ammunition, hand grenades and detonators.


Essa and Yusuf Memon, brothers of Yakub.
Both were charged for allowing their flat in Al-Hussaini building, Mahim, to be used to

host conspiracy meetings as well as storage of arms and explosives.


Essa has already spent about 13 years in prison. He was sentenced to life imprisonment

for his role in the bombings on October 2006.


Yusuf is a chronic schizophrenia patient, but has spent less than a year in prison. He
had also allowed the use of his van to plant bombs. Yusuf was sentenced to life
imprisonment for his role in the attacks, but granted bail on medical grounds

stipulating that he would remain in hospital for treatment.


Rubina Memon. Her Maruti car was the first piece of evidence in the trial. She was
convicted of allowing the use of her Maruti van, registered in her name, by other
accused, who had delivered the explosives and was awarded a life sentence.

Three members of the Memon family Suleiman, Hanifa and Raheen were acquitted
with the judge giving them the benefit of doubt.
THE ACCUSED INVOLVED

N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 20

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

Mohammed Moin Qureshi, Feroz Amani Malik, Bashir Khairulla, Zakir Hussain and
Abdul Akhtar Khan had pelted hand grendes in Mahim Causeway causing three deaths

and injuring six. The driver Salim Shaikh, did not pelt any hand grenades.
Bashir Khairulla convicted for his participation in arms, ammunition and explosives

training conducted by Tiger Memon in Sandheri and Bhorghat


Convicted for participating in the conspirator's meetings in the house of Mubina Baya
and for participating in the filling of RDX in the vehicles. Sentenced to life

imprisonment on 20TH July 2007.


Zakir Hussain was convicted for participating in the arms, ammunition and weapon
training in Pakistan, for participating in conspirator's meetings and participating in the

filling of RDX. Sentenced to death on 24TH July 2007.


Abdul Akhtar Khan convicted for taking arms, ammunition and explosives training in

Pakistan. Sentenced to death on 24TH July 2007.


Firoz Amani Malik convicted for taking arms, ammunition and explosives training in

Pakistan. Sentenced to death on 24TH July 2007.


Moin Qureshi convicted for participating in the arms, ammunition and explosives
training, participating in the conspirator's meeting and participating in the filling of
RDX in vehicles on 11TH March. Was also found guilty for being in possession of 17
hand grenades. Sentenced to life imprisonment on 24TH July 2007.

CONCLUSION
India in the recent years have made significant development in the area of disaster
management. A new culture of preparedness, quick response, strategic thinking and prevention
is being ushered. The administrative framework is being streamlined to deal with the various
disasters. Effort are also being made to make disaster management a community movement
wherein where is greater participation of the people. However, a lot more need to be done to
make disaster management a mass movement in near future.

N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 21

A STUDY ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT MAN MADE DISASTER MUMBAI BOMB BLAST 1993

REFERENCES
[1] D.E. Tallman, G.G. Wallace, Synth. Met. 90 (1997) 13.
[2] H.W. Kroto, J.E. Fischer, D.E. Cox, The Fullerenes, Pergamon, Oxford, 1993.
[3] A.G. MacDiarmid, A.J. Epstein, in W.R. Salaneck, D.T. Clark, E.J. Samuelson, (eds.),
Science and Applications of Conducting Polymers, Adam Hilger, Bristol, 1991, p.117.
[4] D.I. Eaton, Porous glass support material, US Patent No. 3 904 422 (1975).
[5] GOVT OF INDIA (2001), "High Powered Committee on Disaster Management-Report",
Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi
[6] GOVT OF INDIA (2003), "Disaster Risk Reduction- The Indian Model", Ministry of Home
Affairs, Govt. of India, New Delhi.
[7] GOVT OF INDIA (2004), Disaster Management Status Report 2004, Ministry of Home
Affairs, Govt. of India, New Delhi.
WEBLIOGRAPHY
www.wikiepedia.com
www.google.com- Google Search

N.K.T.T.COLLEGE

Page 22

You might also like