Aseemanand, four others charged in Samjhauta blast case Panchkula

Aseemanand, four others charged in Samjhauta blast case Panchkula
(Haryana), Jun 20 (PTI) After a four-year-long probe, the National
Investigation Agency, India on Monday charged suspected right-wing extremist
Swami Aseemanand and four others with triggering explosions in the
cross-border Samjhauta Express in 2007 that left 68 people dead, mostly
Pakistanis. The NIA is also investigating the role of Hindu activist
Sadhvi Pragya Thakur in the case and said she might be arrested. In the
charge sheet filed before the vacation court of Additional District and
Sessions Judge Kanchan Mahi, the NIA accused Aseemanand, Sunil Joshi (now
dead), Lokesh Sharma, Sandeep Dange and Ramchandra Kalasangra alias Ramji of
hatching a criminal conspiracy which resulted in bomb blasts in the train
near Panipat on February 18, 2007. Majority of those killed in the blast
were Pakistanis. Ram Chandra Kalsangra and Sandeep Dange have been
declared as proclaimed offenders in the case.Aseemanand and Sharma are
already in judicial custody in Ambala jail. The NIA investigation has
brought out that Aseemanand was upset with the Jehadi/terrorist attacks on
Akshardham temples in Gujarat, Raghunath temple in Jammu and Sankat Mochan
temple in Varanasi. "He used to 'give vent to' his feelings while
discussing with Sunil Joshi and his associates. Over a period of time, they
developed a deep vengeance against not only the 'Jehadi' terrorists but
unfortunately against an entire minority community as such. "As a result,
Aseemanand propounded a 'bomb ka badla bomb' (bomb for bomb) theory.
Samjhauta train was particularly chosen, as most of the passengers who
travel in it are Pakistani citizens. Aseemanand not only provided financial
and logistical support to the terror group which executed this dastardly act
but also played a vital role in instigating and motivating his associates to
undertake this terrorist act," the NIA charge sheet said.

"The charge sheet has been filed under Section 120-B
(criminal conspiracy) read with Sections 302 (murder), 307
(attempt to murder), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by
dangerous weapons), 326, 124, 438, 440 of IPC and 150, 151,
152 of Railways Act," NIA counsel Ahmed Khan told reporters
outside court.
He also said that the chargesheet has been filed under
various sections of the Explosives Substances Act, Prevention
of Damages of Public Property and Sections 13, 15, 16, 17, 18,
19 and 23 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
"The accused persons in furtherance of their criminal
conspiracy blasted two bogies of the train that left 68
persons dead and 12 injured," he said.
He said Assemanand was the mastermind behind the
conspiracy. "He backed up the conspiracy and financed the
people".
On Assemanand denying his involvement in the case, he
said, "There is extra judicial confession of Assemanand, which
itself is sufficient".
About the executers of the plan, he said
investigations were going on and NIA could file further
challan under relevant sections.
"Investigations are going on against involvement of
other accused," he said.
About Sadhvi Pragya, he said she might be arrested.
"We will file supplementary chargesheet in the case,"
Khan said, but declined to give any timeframe.
He said that NIA has a "foolproof case" backed by
witnesses and other evidences. "We will prove the charges. In
think we will succeed," he said.
Regarding reports that the bogies which were damaged
in the blast had been dismantled, Khan said that would not
affect the investigations.
The NIA said Sandeep Dange, Ramji and Lokesh Sharma
and others under the leadership of Sunil Joshi were
instrumental in not only procuring the raw materials for IED
but also getting these fabricated and planted in the target.