Varanasi blast: Charges to be framed on Aug 24

Varanasi, Aug 10: A court here today fixed August 24 as the date for framing charges against Mohd Waliullah -- the mastermind of March 7 Varanasi twin blasts besides remanding him in judicial custody by 14 more days.

Waliullah was produced before the court of Special Judge (Essential Commodities Act) B N Agrawal here amid tight security.

The judge, hearing the Sankatmochan temple blast and Dwashashamedh bomb recovery case extended the judicial remand of Waliullah by 14 more days and also ordered charges against him be framed on the date of next hearing, August 24.

Earlier, Waliullah was produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court, where CJM P N Srivastava, transferred the Varanasi Cantonment railway station blast case to the sessions court for hearing on August 23 next.

The same court had on July 27 last transferred Sankatmochan temple blast case and Dwashashamedh bomb recovery case to the Session Court.

Police had filed chargesheet in the court on July 18 in the two cases against six accused including Waliullah, alongwith a list of 63 witnesses.

The Government Railway Police (GRP) had on July 26, filed chargesheet against Waliullah in the March 7 Varanasi Cantonment railway station blast case, alongwith a submission that investigations against the five other accused was underway. A list of 55 witnesses was also filed by the prosecution.

Besides, Waliullah, the six accused included three Bangladeshi nationals, an accused from neighbouring Chandauli district -- all of whom were absconding -- and Mohd Zubair, who was eliminated by the Special Task Force of Uttar Pradesh Police on the outskirts of Lucknow on March 8 last.

Waliullah, a resident of Phoolpur (Allahabad) was arrested in the first week of April and the UP government had permitted that he be tried for sedition.

At least 18 people were killed and over 100 wounded in the twin blast at the Sankatmochan temple and Varanasi Cantonment railway station within a span of 15 minutes on March 7 evening.

UNI