Shramjivi blast: witness remains absent

Jaunpur, Apr 15 (UNI) A terrorist accused in the Patna-New Delhi Shramjivi Express bomb blast case was today produced before a local court amid tight security, where testimony of a witness could not be recorded due to his absence.

The July 28, 2005 blast near Halpalganj-Singramau railway station in the district had killed at least 14 people and grievously wounded 90 others.

Accused Alamgeer alias Roni, presently incarcerated in Tihar Jail, was produced before Additional District and Sessions Judge (III) Rajendra Chandra under tight security, where witness Ranjeet Singh remained absent and his testimony could not be recorded.

The court has fixed April 21 as the next hearing date.

There are 48 witnesses in the case.

Beside Roni, Obaid-ur-Rehman, Hilal-ud-din and Nafikul are prime accused in the case and presently lodged in the Jaunpur district prison.

Chargesheet against the accused had already been filed under the 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 Dr Sayeed are yet to be traced.

Another accused Ghulam Rajdani alias Pahiya was gunned down in an encounter.

In May 2006, 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 XC/JAS GT ND1910