Charges fixed in Patna-New Delhi Shramjivi blast case

Jaunpur, July 24 (UNI) Sessions court here today fixed charges under various sections against the three accused in the Patna-New Delhi Shramjivi Express bomb blast case.

The blast on July 28, 2005 near Singramau railway station in Jaunpur had killed at least 14 people and wounded 90 others.

The court has summoned concerned train driver Parmanand Singh and guard Zafar Ali on August 10 for their statements.

Earlier, the accused Obaid-ur-Rehman, Hilal-ud-din and Nafikul were produced before district and sessions judge R P Tripathi under tight security. The trio have been remanded in judicial custody till August 10.

Dhirendra Kumar Chaturvedi, who had already been appointed as 'Nyay Mitra' (amicus curiae) to represent the trio, argued the case with district standing counsel Vijay Nath Singh.

The cases were fixed under CrPC sections 148, 307, 302 and 120 B, Explosive Substance Act section 3/4, Railway Act section 150, 151 and Foreigners Act section 14.

Two other accused Mohd Sharif alias Sirajuddin of Bangladesh and Mohd Roni are absconding, while Dr Sayeed was yet to be traced.

Another accused Ghulam Rajdani alias Pahiya was eliminated in a police encounter.

Meanwhile, the case has been transferred to the court of additional district and sessions judge (III) Rajendra Chandra for subsequent hearings.

In May, Hilal-ud-din and Nafikul were brought from Cherallapalli Central Jail, Andhra Pradesh under a warrant, while Obaid-ur-Rehman, a Bangladeshi, was brought here from Murshidabad, West Bengal.

UNI XC/VS YA VV1936