Judgment

Pattanaik, J.—These appeals by the 11 accused persons under Section 19 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Preven­tion) Act, 1987 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the TADA’) are directed against the judgment dated 16.10.1996 passed by the Additional Judge, Designated Court for Greater Bombay in TADA Special Case Nos. 35/93 @ 1/94, 37/94 and 17/95. These appellants and six other stood charged under Sections 120(B), 147, 148, 149, 302, 326, 436, 506 I.P.C. and Section 3(2)(i) and (ii) of the TADA for the ghastly occurrence dated 7th of January, 1993, wherein six persons died out of burn injuries being locked in a room and the room having been put to fire by putting petrol on it. The occurrence is a sequel to the demolition of Babri Masjid at Ayodya. Shortly after the demolition of the mosque at Ayodya communal riots erupted all over the country including the city of Mumbai. When commu­nal riots erupted in the city in the suburban Jogeswari, an area known as Bandra plots was predominantly occupied by the Muslims and Hindus were in minority. A number of Hindu families were staying in chawls known as Gandhi Chawl, Rajbhai Chawl, Nail Chawl etc. The accommoda­tion usually con