Trial in 2006 Mumbai train blasts resumes

MUMBAI - Nearly two years after the Supreme Court had stayed the trial in the July 11, 2006 serial blasts in trains, the proceedings resumed Wednesday with two key witnesses deposing before a Special Court here.

The station managers of Bandra and Khar suburban stations of Western Railway (WR) appeared before the Special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court and described how powerful bomb explosions ripped through trains on the ill-fated day.

They also told Special Public Prosecutor Raja Thakre about the chain of events after the incident.

As many as seven powerful blasts rocked suburban trains within a matter of a few minutes on the WR network.

The blasts, which took place on the trains between Matunga Road and Bhayander stations, left over 200 dead and over 800 injured.

Probing the terror attacks, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had nabbed 13 accused, some of whom were linked to outlawed organizations like the Students Islamic Movement of India and the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

They were charged under various provisions of the MCOCA.

In February 2008, the Supreme Court had stayed the trial after one of the accused moved the apex court challenging the applicability of certain sections of MCOCA.

In April this year, the apex court had dismissed their plea and lifted the stay and paved the way for the resumption of the trial on a daily basis.