Varanasi blast mastermind to be tried for sedition

Varanasi, Jan 5: Prime accused and mastermind of March 7, 2006 Varanasi twin blast, Mohd Waliullah will be tried for 'sedition' in the case presently being heard by a Ghaziabad court in Uttar Pradesh.

Police said here today a letter permitting that Waliullah be tried for sedition was recieved from the state government yesterday.

The prosecutors will now file a chargesheet in the court in Ghaziabad district against Waliullah under relevant provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967.

A total of six people are accused in the blasts at Sankatmochan temple and Varanasi cantonment railway station besides recovery of pressure cooker-borne explosives case, including Waliullah, three Bangladeshi nationals and Mohd Shamim from neighbouring Chandauli district.

While the three Bangladeshi nationals and Shamim are still at large, the sixth accused Mohd Jubair was eliminated by the Special Task Force of UP Police on the outskirts of Lucknow on the next day of the twin blasts.

Waliullah, a resident of neighbouring Allahabad district was arrested in the first week of April last.

The case has been transfered from Varanasi sessions court to a Ghaziabad court on the order of Allahabad High Court.

At least, 18 people were killed and over 100 wounded in the twin blasts at the Sankatmochan temple and Varanasi Cantonment railway station within a span of 15 minutes on March 7, 2006 evening.

UNI