7/11 blasts trial to begin on Dec 18

A special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court will begin the trial in the July 11, 2006 serial train blasts case, in which 187 persons were killed and over 700 injured, by examining the first witness on December 18.

Special MCOCA judge M R Bhatkar on Wednesday heard the grievances of the 13 accused relating to the problems they were facing in jail, being kept separately and not being allowed contact with each other. The accused, all of whom have chosen not to engage any defence lawyer to argue their case, said they had been shifted from the high-security cell at Arthur Road Jail in central Mumbai to the general barracks thereby preventing them from preparing their defence.

While the court refused to pass any orders regarding them being kept separately, it has directed the jail superintendent to provide space to enable all the accused to read the chargesheet and law books.