2 more convicted in 2005 Shramjeevi Express blast case

“Additional District and Session Judge Rajesh Kumar Rai has fixed January 2 for the pronouncement of judgment,“ District Government Counsel, Jaunpur, Satish Kumar Pandey said, adding that 43 prosecution witnesses were examined by the court.

On July 28, 2005, a powerful blast in a compartment of the New Delhi-bound Shramjeevi Express took place near Harpalganj railway station in Jaunpur district.

The first breakthrough in the case was made by Delhi Police when they arrested two alleged HuJI operatives — Amisul and Mahibul — who during interrogation revealed the involvement of Obedur Rahman alias Babu Bhai, Hilal alias Hilaluddin, Nafikul Vishwas, and Mohammad Alam Giri Hussain alias Ronny.

Three others, identified as Mohammad Sharif alias Kanchan, Dr Sayeed, and Yahia alias Ghulam Rajdhani, are still on the run.

During the investigation, it came to light that Obedur Rehman and Yahiya Khan, who died in a police encounter, had prepared the bomb at a house in Khusrupur district in Bihar. The duo allegedly handed over the bomb to Rony and Hilal who planted the bomb in the train.

In 2016, the Jaunpur court awarded death sentence to Ronny and Obedur Rahman in the blast case. Both Ronny and Obedur are currently lodged in Jaunpur jail. Ronny is a native of Bangladesh.