Charges framed against blast accused, next hearing on Aug 10

New Delhi, Jul 2 (UNI) Charges were today framed against the seven accused in the bomb blast case that took place in Satyam and Liberty cinema theatres in the capital two years back.

While activists of the Babbar Khalsa militant outfit Balwinder Singh Bhinda, Jagannath, Jaspal Singh and Vikas Sehgal were charged with waging war against the State and under Sections 302 and 307, charges against the main mastermind Jagtar Singh Hawara, the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) chief in India, will be framed later.

Hawara is at present lodged in the Chandigarh jail in connection with the Beant Singh assassination case.

Three others Joginder Singh, Ajit Raj and Visanlal were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) and Explosives Act.

The next hearing in the case was fixed for August 10 by Additional Sessions Judge B R Kedia. Three prosecution witnesses will be produced on that day.

One person was killed and more than 50 injured in the blasts that occured during the screening of the controversial movie, 'Jo Bole So Nihal' on May 22, 2005.

Balwinder Singh was nabbed in Nawanshahr in Punjab, while Jagannath was arrested in the Uttam Nagar area of Delhi. One kg RDX, Rs 2.94 lakh cash and two kg of gold had been seized from them.

Hawara, Vikas and Jaspal were caught in a car near Delhi border on the GT Karnal road. The police had claimed to have recovered 10.3 kg of RDX four pistols, 207 cartridges, a hand grenade, timer detonators from the possession of Hawara.

Another two accused Satnam and Wadhwa, also belonging to the Babbar Khalsa, are still at large.

UNI