Shramjivi blast case: Witness identifies accused

Jaunpur, Jan 29 (UNI) A witness in the Patna-New Delhi Shramjivi Express bomb blast case here identified the accused today.

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.

Witness Suresh Yadav against whom non-bailable warrant of Rs 5,000 was issued on January 22, identified Hilal-ud-din. Later, Yadav's statement as the 16th witness was recorded.

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

The court fixed February 5 as the next hearing after ACP Delhi Rajeev Yadav, the 14th witness, did not appear before the court. The court has issued summons against Mr Yadav.

The last hearing of the case took place on January 22.

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 2006, 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