MUMBAI, June 28 -- A special court has directed the deputy commissioner of police (DCP) of the protection branch to provide round-the-clock security to a witness, testifying in the third phase of 1993 serial bombings case, and his family members. Considering the fact that the witness was declared an approver, the special TADA (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act judge VD Kedar said that he was entitled for sufficient security. The court said that after the witness was declared an approver, he has already deposed twice under tight security. On March 12, 1993, a series of 12 bomb blasts occurred across Mumbai over a period of two hours - between 1:30 pm and 3:40 pm, killing over 257 people and injuring over 700. Placed at key locations in the city, the bombs went off at the Bombay Stock Exchange, three 5-star hotels, the Air-India building, near the Shiv Sena headquarters at Dadar, the regional passport office, and Zaveri Bazaar. In the first phase of arrest made by the CBI in the aftermath of the bombings, charges were filed against 129 people out of which 100 were convicted by the special TADA court, including key accused Yakub Memon, who was given the death penalty. In the second phase of arrests, there were seven accused out of which six got convicted, with death penalty being given to two, Taher Merchant and Feroz Abdul Rashid Khan, and life sentence to Abu Salem, one of the key conspirators. Currently, the third phase of the trial is going on. The witness submitted that he was given 32 guards and one bullet proof car when he deposed during the first and second phase of the trial. However, this time, only one security guard has been provided to him which, he said, is insufficient. He added that despite repeated requests, he was not provided sufficient security. In response, the court said, "The deputy commissioner of police (protection branch, Mumbai) is hereby directed to provide sufficient security round the clock to the witness and his family forthwith."...