1993 Mumbai blasts convict dies in Nashik

Nashik: Sharif Gafur Parkar, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case, died at a hospital here following illness, jail authorities said on Friday.

Parkar (80), suffering from paralysis and a neurogenic disorder, died at the Nashik Civil Hospital yesterday, Nashik Road Central Jail Superintendent Ramesh Kamble told PTI.

Parkar had surrendered before a TADA court in Mumbai in May 2013 to serve the remaining part of his life sentence in connection with the case, after his conviction in the blasts case was upheld by the Supreme Court. Accordingly, he was lodged in the Nashik prison.

He was convicted by the TADA court for his role in organising the landing of arms and RDX in Raigad district prior to the March 1993 serial blasts, and in arranging a conspiracy meeting.

He was undergoing medical treatment for his illness in jail and Nashik Civil Hospital for past few months, Kamble said.

Parkar was also recently admitted in Mumbai's JJ Hospital and two days back he was brought back to the prison here.

He was admitted to Nashik Civil Hospital two days back in the prisoners' ward, where he died around noon yesterday. As per the procedure, the body has been sent for postmortem to Dhule civil hospital, Kamble said, adding that a case has been registered in connection with the death.