Shramjivi blast case: Doctor records statement

Jaunpur, June 7 (UNI) A local court today recorded the testimony of a doctor in the Patna-New Delhi Shramjivi Express bomb blast here.

The July 28, 2005 blast at Hariharpur railway crossing near Halpalganj-Singramau railway station had killed at least 14 people and grievously wounded 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, where the statement of Dr Ram Ashray was recorded.

Dr Ram Ashray had given treatment to all wounded in the blast.

There are 48 witnesses in the case, of which 35 have recorded their statement.

Fixing June 19 as next hearing, the court summoned Mustakeem alias Shaheen and Anisul Muslim alias Sami -- the 36th and 37th witnessess respectively -- presently lodged in Tihar jail, Delhi under TADA.

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 gunned down in an 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