ONGC terror plot case: 2 convicted; sentencing likely on Friday

Mumbai: A sessions court today convicted two persons for hatching a conspiracy to launch terror strikes at the ONGC headquarters and other public places here in 2010.

"The court has convicted Abdul Latif and Riyaz Ali under different sections of IPC and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The court is expected to pronounce quantum of sentence tomorrow," special public prosecutor Rohini Salian said tonight.

Latif and Ali were arrested by ATS on March 14, 2010 from Central Mumbai.

According to ATS, the ONGC headquarters in Bandra, Mangaldas Market and Thakkar Mall in suburban Borivli, besides Gaiety and Galaxy theatres, also in Bandra, were on their hit list.

The duo were in touch with a person, believed to be their handler, based in Pakistan and used to address him as 'uncle'.

Latif and Ali were directed by the 'uncle' to recruit young boys and to send them to Pakistan for training and carrying out terror activities in India.

ATS had said that it recovered from the duo cans of fuel and mobile phones which stored a Pakistani number.

They were booked under different sections of UAPA and under sections 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house etc.) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code.