Shramjivi blast case hearing on Aug 25

Jaunpur, Aug 10 (UNI) The judicial custody of all the three accused in last year's Patna-New Delhi Shramjivi Express bomb blast case was today extended till August 25.

On July 24, district judge R P Tripathi had fixed charges under various sections against the trio -- Obaid-ur-Rehman, Hilal-ud-din and Nafikul.

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.

Mr Tripathi had also transferred the case for further hearings to the court of additional district and sessions judge (III) Rajendra Chandra.

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

The ill-fated train driver Parmanand Singh and guard Zafar Ali were also present as witnesses. However, their statements could not be recorded.

They have again been summoned on the next date of hearing on August 25. Earlier, the accused were produced before the court under tight security.

Dhirendra Kumar Chaturvedi had already been appointed as 'Nyay Mitra' (amicus curiae) to represent the trio.

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.

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 ND1726