Witness in Mumbai serial train blast identifies one accused

Mumbai, Mar 3: A witness in the 2006 serial train blast today deposed in the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court and identified accused Ehtesham Siddiqui as a ''planter'' of the bomb in the train.

The witness told the court that on the fateful day he was waiting for the train at Churchgate station when he saw two persons including Siddiqui.

According to the witness, a bag being carried by Siddiqui accidentally hit him on his leg while he was trying to board the local train.

The witness also said that Siddiqui and the other person got down at Dadar station without taking their bag (which apparently contained explosives).

The explosion of seven RDX bombs in the first class coaches of different suburban trains on Jul 11, 2006 had killed 188 people and injured 817 others.

The blast occurred at between Khar road -Santacruz, Bandra Khar road, Jogeshwari -Mahim Junction, Mira road - Bhayander, Matunga - Mahim Junction, Borivili in Mumbai suburbs.

The examination of witnesses resumed today after a span of two years as the Supreme court had stayed the trial in 2008.

Kamal Ahamed Ansari, Dr Tanvir Ahmed Ansari, Mohd Faisal Shaikh, Ehtesham Siddiqui, Mohammad Majid Shafi, Shaikh alam Shaikh, Mohd Sajid Ansari, Abdul Wahid Shaikh, Muzzammil Shaikh, Soheil Mehmood Shaikh, Zamir Ahmad Shaikh, Naveed Hussain Khan, Asif Khan are the accused arrested by Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) while Azam Chima along with 14 others are absconding in the case.

PTI