Shramjivi blast to mark 3rd anniversary, kins await justice

Jaunpur, Jul 27 (UNI) Even as the third anniversary of the Shramjivi Express ''tragedy'' falls tomorrow, the bereaved families are still awaiting justice and fulfillment of promises committed by the Railway ministery.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav had then assured jobs to the dependants of the victims', but they were still waiting for support from the department.

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

The train was en route from Patna to New Delhi.

The name of terror outfit Harkat-ul-Jehad (HuJi) had emerged as the handiwork behind the blast. Obaid-ur-Rehman, Hilal-u-din, Alamgeer alias Mohd Roni of Bangladesh and Nafiqul Vishwas, Mohammad Sharif, Doctor Sayeed and Gulam Rajdani of West Bengal found accused of the crime.

Of them, Rajdani was shot dead by police in an encounter, while Dr Sayeed and Sharif were yet to be traced.

Alamgeer is presently lodged in Tihar jail, while Obaid-ur-Rehman, Hilal-ud-din and Nafiqul Vishwas are incarcerated in the district jail.

Alamgeer's case is being heard separately. By Additional District and Sessions Judge (III) Rajendra Chandra.

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

The deceased were-- Shail Faizal, Kunal, Sudheer Kumar, Paransheela Devi, Vinod Ravidas, Kmaluddin, Subhash Thakur, Kavita, Subodh, Arvind Singh, Santosh, Digambar Chaudhary, Safeeq and Amarnath Chaubey.

UNI XC-JAS SW VC1553