Ayodhya attack case hearing on Jan 16

Faizabad, Jan 3 (UNI) The five terrorists arrested in connection with the July 5, 2005 attack on the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi complex at Ayodhya, were remanded in judicial custody till January 16.

Earlier, the hearing was posted to a later date as 'Nyaymitra' Rajendra Kumar Tiwari had refused to take up the case, alleging inadequate security to him.

The court, however, had sent a notice to him and written a letter to the Allahabad High Court, saying if the terrorists were not provided with a lawyer, the case would be transferred to some other district.

On an application filed by the accused, the HC on December 8, had ordered the transfer of the case to some other district.

The district court had asked the Allahabad HC registrar to send the transfer orders on December 19.

However, the Faizabad district court is still to receive the transfer orders from the HC. Therefore, the accused would appear again before district court judge R P Shukla on January 16.

Terrorists Naseem Ahmed, Asif Iqbal, Shakil Ahmed and Mohd Aziz were arrested in Jammu and Kashmir on July 14 and July 27, 2005 for providing arms and SIM cards to the five terrorists, who stormed the Ram Janmabhoomi complex. The fidayeens were, however, killed by the security forces.

On July 22, 2005, Dr Irfan-- a native of Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh -- was also nabbed for assisting the four accused arrested from the Valley.

UNI