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Updated March 11th, 2019 at 17:17 IST

Samjhauta Express Blast case: Special NIA Court likely to pronounce verdict today. LIVE Updates

A National Investigative Agency (NIA) court in Panchkula is likely to pronounce verdict in the case Samjhauta Express blast case

Reported by: Monica Aggarwal
| Image: self
5: 17 IST, March 11th 2019

A National Investigative Agency (NIA) court in Panchkula is likely to pronounce verdict in the case Samjhauta Express - the India-Pakistan peace train - blast case on Monday, twelve years after improvised explosive devices (IEDs) set off blasts on board the train.

The Samjhauta Express, also called Attari Express, is a bi-weekly train that runs on Wednesdays and Sundays - between Delhi and Attari in India and Lahore in Pakistan. 

As per reports, 68 people were killed in the ensuing fire and dozens more were injured including Pakistani nationals in the blast caused in two coaches of the train near Panipat in Haryana on the night of February 18, 2007. The victims also included some Indian civilians and three railway policemen.

NIA investigators found subsequent evidence of suitcases with explosives and flammable material, including three undetonated bombs. 

READ: Pakistan Resumes Samjhauta Express, 176 Passengers Reach Attari

Initially, SIMI activists were believed to be behind the blast, but, later, it turned out to be a handiwork of a group having right-wing leanings. There are 8 accused in the Samjhauta Express blast case, out which one accused Sunil Joshi is dead. NIA filed a charge sheet against the accused, including Swami Aseemanand, who walked free in the Ajmer Dargah blast case.

It had on June 20, 2011 filed the charge sheet before the special court at Panchkula under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against five accused persons Naba Kumar Sarkar alias Swami Aseemanand, Sunil Joshi (now dead), Lokesh Sharma, Sandeep Dange and Ramchandra Kalasangra alias Ramji.of his close associates — Ramchandra Kalsangra, Sandeep Dange and Lokesh Sharma —in conspiracy with Aseemanand and the other co-accused.

The investigation conducted by the NIA over a period of almost one year established that the entire conspiracy was hatched between 2005 and 2007 by Aseemanand, Joshi and their associates like Ramji, Sandeep Dange, Lokesh Sharma and others at different places including Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

READ: Amid High Tension With India, Pakistan Suspends Services Of Samjhauta Express

Only recently, following the Pulwama terror attack - orchestrated by Pakistan-backed terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed - in which 40 CRPF jawans lost their lives, the Pakistan government decided to halt all the operations of the Samjhauta Express. It was later resumed on March 5 after which 176 passengers travelling from Pakistan reached Attari on Monday, March 4. 

(With agency inputs)

5: 17 IST, March 11th 2019

Swami Aseemanand reaches the special NIA court in Panchkula for the hearing.

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5: 17 IST, March 11th 2019

Hearing in the Samjhauta Express blast case begins in the special NIA court in Panchkula.

READ: 2007 Samjhauta Express Blast Verdict To Be Pronounced: Here's All You Need To Know About The Case
 

5: 17 IST, March 11th 2019

Lawyer of Swami Aseemanand comes out of the court room stating that the hearing is still going on.

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5: 17 IST, March 11th 2019

Published March 11th, 2019 at 09:28 IST

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