NIA files chargesheet in Samjhauta blast case

Panchkula (Haryana), June 20 (ANI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against five accused Naba Kumar Sarkar alias Swami Asimanand, Sunil Joshi (now dead), Lokesh Sharma, Sandeep Dange and Ramchandra Kalasangra alias Ramji before a special court here on Monday in connection with the Samjhauta Express blast case.

The chargesheet was filed under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 etc.

The case pertains to the criminal conspiracy, which resulted in bomb blasts in the Attari Express (Samjhauta) train near Panipat, Haryana on February 18, 2007. This blast and the consequent fire in the train coaches resulted in the loss of 68 lives and injuries to 12 train passengers including women and children travelling in the train.

In this terror strike, not only Indian civilians and government officials got killed and injured, but a large number of Pakistani nationals who were passengers also lost their lives.

The explosion and consequent fire in the train resulted in the incineration and destruction of several train coaches, thus causing huge loss to the property of the Indian Railways.

The Samjhauta Express (Attari Express) is a bi-weekly train that runs on Wednesdays and Sundays - between Delhi and Attari in India and Lahore in Pakistan. This train has played a vital role in improving the people-to-people contacts between India and Pakistan.

NIA after taking over the case conducted investigation in various parts of the country including Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh to unravel the conspiracy hatched by the criminals to perpetrate this act of terror.

Numerous witnesses and suspects were examined and material evidence collected. The investigation conducted by NIA over a period of almost one year established that, the entire conspiracy was hatched between 2005 and 2007 by the accused Swami Asimanand, Sunil Joshi (now dead) and his associates like Ramji, Sandeep Dange, Lokesh Sharma and others at different places in Gujarat, M.P. and other places.

Investigation has brought out strong suspicion about the role of some more persons in the conspiracy as well and therefore further investigation in the case will be continued.

According to a Ministry of Home Affairs release: "On the basis of evidence collected, chargesheet has been filed against five accused (two in judicial custody, one dead, two absconding) under sections 120 B r/w 302, 307,324,326,124 A, 438 and 440 of IPC, Section 150, 151,152 of Railways Act, Section 3, 4,6 of Explosive Substances Act 1908 and Section 3, 4 of Prevention of damage of Public property Act 1984 and Section 13,15,16,17, 18, 19 and 23 of UA (P) Act."

Investigation is still on to arrest the absconding accused who are still evading arrest and determine who were the other accused persons involved in this dastardly crime.

NIA has announced a reward of Rs. 10 lakh each on the absconding Ramji and Sandeep Dange and Rs two lakh on Amit alias Prince who is also a key suspect and whose exact role in the crime is among the subjects of further investigation.

"More information on the accused persons is available on the National Investigation Agency website - www.nia.gov.in.," the release added. (ANI)