7/11 Mumbai blast case trials from December 18

{image-mumbai blast01_12122007.jpg news.oneindia.in}Mumbai, Dec 12: The trials into last year's 7/11 Mumbai serial train blasts case, that left 187 dead and over 800 injured, will commence in the special MCOCA court here from December 18. Thirteen arrested persons stand accused in the case and MCOCA court judge M R Bhatkar had framed charges against them on August 7 this year.

The accused had filed an application before City Civil and Sessions Court Principal Judge Ashok Bhangale seeking a transfer of the case from Judge Bhatkar's court. Judge Bhangale had rejected the petition, following which the accused had challenged the order in the High Court which, too, rejected the petition. Apart from the 13 arrested, 15 others have been named as absconding accused, including LeT commander in chief Azam Cheema and two others who are no longer alive -- Salim died in the blasts and Abu Osama died in an encounter with the police.

Among the thirteen accused is Faisal Shaikh, who is considered to be the key conspirator. The prosecution's case is that the conspiracy was hatched between February 2006 and July 11, 2006.

The bombs were assembled in the house of co-accused Mohammed Ali and planted in seven local trains which led to the serial blasts within a span of fifteen minutes.

UNI