Chargesheet filed in Ahmedabad serial blasts case

Ahmedabad, Nov 12 (IANS) The crime branch of the Ahmedabad police Wednesday filed a chargesheet against 26 people in connection with the July 26 serial blasts here that killed 57 people and injured over 100.

The 2,000-page chargesheet was filed in the court of Metropolitan Magistrate G.M. Patel after examining 511 witnesses.

The accused include Mufti Abu Basher, Safdar Nagori and Sajid Mansuri, activists of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

It also lists 50 people as absconders.

The police needed to file the chargesheet within 90 days of the first arrest in the case, which was on Aug 16 when 10 people were arrested.

At least 57 people were killed in the 22 bomb blasts here within less than two hours on the evening of July 26.

The chargesheet pertains to the blasts at the Civil Hospital, where the maximum number of people - 23 - died, and the L.G. Hospital.