Shramjivi Express blast case hearing on Apr 23

Jaunpur, Apr 20 (UNI) A court here today fixed the next hearing of the Patna-New Delhi Shramjivi Express blast case to April 23.

The bomb blast on July 28, 2005 near Singramau railway station, Jaunpur had killed 14 passengers and wounded 90 others.

All the three prime accused Obaid-ur-Rehman, Hilal-ud-din and Nafikul were produced before the Additional District and Sessions Judge (III) Rajendra Chandra under tight security, who extended their judicial custody till the next date of hearing.

Meanwhile, two witnesses, sub inspector Vasudev Pandey and sub inspector Ramrup Nath recorded their statements.

The court has summoned Government Railway Police (GRP) sub inspector Uma Shankar Singh for his testimony on April 23.

There are a total of 48 witnesses in the case, of which the statements of 21 have so far been recorded.

On July 24, 2006, the court had fixed charges 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 in the case.

Two other accused Mohd Sharif alias Sirajuddin of Bangladesh and Mohd Roni are absconding, while another 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 from Cherallapalli Central Jail, Andhra Pradesh under a warrant, while Obaid-ur-Rehman, a Bangladeshi, was brought here from Murshidabad, West Bengal.

UNI