MUMBAI, AUGUST 7: A YEAR after a series of blasts on Mumbai’s local trains killed 187 people and injured over 800, charges have been framed against 13 arrested accused, including key conspirators Faisal Shaikh, the city chief of the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Asif Khan Bashir Khan. The trial will begin only after August 21 — the time given to the accused to get an order from the sessions court, on their petition seeking a transfer of the case from the special MCOCA court of Judge Mrudula Bhatkar.

Along with the 13 accused, 15 absconding accused, including LeT commander in chief (training) Azam Cheema and two deceased accused — Salim died in the blasts and Abu Osama died in a police encounter — have been charged for hatching the conspiracy.

The chargesheet names Cheema, Shaikh and Bashir Khan as key conspirators who hatched the plot in 1999. The prosecution’s case is that between February 2006 to July 11, 2006, the accused held several strategy sessions, choosing local trains as the target for the blasts. Pakistanis arrived in Mumbai to help them execute the blasts. The bombs, assembled in the house of accused Mohammed Ali, were taken to Shaikh’s house. These were then taken in rexine bags to Churchgate station and planted in seven trains. The result was a series of blasts lasting around 10 minutes in seven trains.

The day began with Judge Bhatkar calling upon accused No. 5 Mohammed Majid, who had claimed on Monday that he needed an Urdu translator to grasp the charges against him as he didn’t understand Hindi. The judge then asked him how he had been filing applications so far. To this Majid replied — in Hindi. He was consulting a lawyer from Kolkata Mohammed Hashmi.

“Throughout the proceedings, accused No 5 never informed the court that he does not understand Hindi. Now he informs the court in Hindi that he has submitted applications after consulting Hashmi. The court observes that accused No 5 understands Hindi,” she said adding, therefore, that there is no need for an Urdu translator.

On the plea of the accused to transfer the case, Bhatkar said: “All accused have been detained for the last 8-9 months in prison. This court understands their emotional plight and expresses empathy. Therefore, considering the situation, the court grants them 15 days, that is till August 21, to seek necessary orders from competent court (before the principal judge).”

THE MEN WHO SPREAD TERROR ON THE TRACKS

Faisal Shaikh, LeT Mumbai chief: Worked for Azam Cheema, LeT commander in chief (training) in Pakistan; received arms training in Pakistan; sent his brother Muzammil, Dr Tanvir Ansari, Sohail Shaikh and Zameer Shaikh to Pakistan via Tehran; helped get the hawala money for executing the 7/11 blasts; key conspirator along with Asif Khan Bashir Khan; housed and harboured Pakistani terrorists at his residence; hosted 7/11 conspiracy meetings at his residence; helped assemble bombs; planted a bomb which exploded at Jogeshwari

Asif Khan Bashir Khan, alias Junaid: Harboured Pakistani terrorists at his residence; procured rexine bags, utensils, ammonium nitrate, detonators; helped assemble bombs; planted a bomb which exploded at Borivali station

Mohammed ALI, SIMI activist: Received arms training in Pakistan; his home was used to assemble bombs; attended 7/11 conspiracy meetings

Majid Mohammed Shafi, Kolkata resident: Helped Pakistani terrorists cross into India through the Indo-Bangla border, including Ehsahnullah who brought the RDX

Sajid Margub Ansari, SIMI activist: Procured timer electric circuitry and other devices; harboured Pakistani terrorists; helped assemble bombs; attended conspiracy meetings

Kamal Ansari, Madhubani resident: Received arms training in Pakistan; helped Pakistani terrorists cross into India through the Indo-Nepal border

Ehteshaam Siddiqui, Mumbai secretary, SIMI: Harboured Pakistani terrorists; surveyed local trains to plan the blasts; helped assemble bombs; attended conspiracy meetings; planted the bomb which exploded at Mira Road station

Zameer Shaikh, SIMI activist: Received arms training in Pakistan; surveyed local trains to plan the blasts; attended conspiracy meetings

Sohail Shaikh, SIMI activist: Received arms and ammunition training in Pakistan; surveyed local trains to plan the blasts; attended conspiracy meetings

Muzammil Shaikh, Faisal’s brother: A computer engineer, he received arms training in Pakistan; surveyed local trains to plan the blasts; helped in procuring hawala money to execute the conspiracy; attended conspiracy meetings

Dr Tanvir Ansari, SIMI activist: Received arms training in Pakistan; surveyed local trains to plan the blasts; helped assemble bombs; attended conspiracy meetings

Naveed Hussain, call centre employee from Hyderabad and Faisal’s friend: Helped assemble bombs; attended 7/11 conspiracy meetings; planted the bomb which exploded at Bandra station

Abdul Wahid Din Shaikh, SIMI activist: Rented a Mumbra house where Pakistani terrorists Ammu Jan, Sabir, Abu Bakr, Kasam Ali, Ehsahnullah and Abu Hasan livedTHE MEN WHO SPREAD TERROR ON THE TRACKS

Faisal Shaikh, LeT Mumbai chief: Worked for Azam Cheema, LeT commander in chief (training) in Pakistan; received arms training in Pakistan; sent his brother Muzammil, Dr Tanvir Ansari, Sohail Shaikh and Zameer Shaikh to Pakistan via Tehran; helped get the hawala money for executing the 7/11 blasts; key conspirator along with Asif Khan Bashir Khan; housed and harboured Pakistani terrorists at his residence; hosted 7/11 conspiracy meetings at his residence; helped assemble bombs; planted a bomb which exploded at Jogeshwari

Asif Khan Bashir Khan, alias Junaid: Harboured Pakistani terrorists at his residence; procured rexine bags, utensils, ammonium nitrate, detonators; helped assemble bombs; planted a bomb which exploded at Borivali station

Mohammed ALI, SIMI activist: Received arms training in Pakistan; his home was used to assemble bombs; attended 7/11 conspiracy meetings

Majid Mohammed Shafi, Kolkata resident: Helped Pakistani terrorists cross into India through the Indo-Bangla border, including Ehsahnullah who brought the RDX

Sajid Margub Ansari, SIMI activist: Procured timer electric circuitry and other devices; harboured Pakistani terrorists; helped assemble bombs; attended conspiracy meetings

Kamal Ansari, Madhubani resident: Received arms training in Pakistan; helped Pakistani terrorists cross into India through the Indo-Nepal border