Cross-questioning of 24th witness in Shramjivi blast case

Jaunpur, May 9 (UNI) Cross-questioning of a witness took place today in the Patna-New Delhi Shramjivi Express bomb blast case.

The July 28, 2005 blast at Harpalganj near Singramau railway station here had killed 14 passengers and severely wounded 90 others.

The accused Obaid-ur-Rehman, Hilal-ud-din and Nafikul were produced before district and sessions judge (III) Rajendra Chandra under tight security.

Meanwhile, cross-questioning of 24th witness Prabhunath Patel was completed. Patel had recorded his testimony on the last date of hearing on May 5. However, owing to some technical problems, cross-questioning could not take place.

The court summoned witness Sanjiv Yadav for recording his statement on May 14, which is the next date of hearing.

There are 48 witnesses in the case. So far, the statement of 24 witnesses had been recorded.

On July 24 last, 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 Dr Sayeed was 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