Shramjivi blast case: non-bailable warrant for 16th witness

Jaunpur, Jan 22 (UNI) A local court today ordered a non-bailable warrant against the 16th witness in the Patna-New Delhi Shramjivi Express bomb blast case here.

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

The accused Obaid-ur-Rehman, Hilal-ud-din and Nafikul appeared before Additional District and Sessions Judge (III) Rajendra Chandra under tight security.

The court fixed January 29 as the next hearing of the case after ACP, Delhi Rajeev Yadav -- the 14th witness in the case, did not appear before the court due to his busy schedule before the Republic Day celebrations.

The court ordered a non-bailable warrant of Rs 5,000 against the 16th witness -- Surendra Yadav -- after he too did not appear before it.

There are 48 witnesses in the case, out of which 11 witnesses have given their testimony.

The last hearing of the case took place on January 16.

Chargesheet against the accused had already been filed 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 is yet to be traced.

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

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

UNI