It’s been three years since the July 11, 2006, bomb blasts, but the victims and their family members are still waiting for closure. For one, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) — the investigating agency — is yet to identify two bombers who were allegedly involved in the attacks. The seven blasts in first-class compartments of suburban trains killed 188 and injured 817 people. The ATS have laid the blame on the shoulders of the Pakistan intelligence agency, ISI, and the Kashmir-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. According to investigators, seven Indians — associated with the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) — along with seven Pakistanis, boarded the trains in pairs and planted the bombs. According to the investigators, Faisal Shaikh (currently in police custody) was the LeT’s Western India commander, and had conspired and helped in assembling bombs at Govandi. In the 11,000-page charge sheet, he has also been accused of harbouring Pakistanis in Mumbai. Though trial began in 2007, the suspects move to the apex court demanding that the MCOCA charges be revoked. To add to the confusion, in September 2008, the case took a twist with the crime branch claiming that the blasts were carried out by the Indian Mujahideen (IM), and the bombs were made at Sewri, not Govandi. A crime branch led by joint commissioner Rakesh Maria claimed it was IM that engineered the blast. Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) recently stated that the Al-Qaida was involved in the 7/11 serial train bombings in Mumbai, and had aided the LeT in the execution of the blasts. ATS officials say they are unclear about Al-Qaida’s role as they have not carried out investigations beyond the Indian border. Referring to the UNSC report, ATS chief K P Raghuvanshi said, “The conspiracy was hatched in Pakistan by LeT operative Azam Cheema and his associates, but we had no opportunity to investigate how LeT is being financed in Pakistan.” But for the families of the dead, and the victims who survived, the long wait for justice is mired in red-tape and confusion.
KHAR ROAD 6.24 PM
BANDRA 6.24 PM
JOGESHWARI 6.25 PM
MAHIM 6.26 PM
BORIVLI 6:26 PM
MATUNGA 6.30 PM
MIRA-BHAYANDER 6.31 PM
THE AFTERMATH: In the investigations that followed, the ATS arrested 16 people. Three were discharged .The accused have been booked under Section 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 326 (hurt), 325 (assault), 324 (grievous hurt), 427 (mischief causing damage) and 436 (Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent destroy property), 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, the Indian Explosive Act and the Indian Railways Act. Later, sections of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act As of July 11, 2009, the trial is pending .The body of an unknown person killed in the blasts was later identified by the ATS as Salim, one of the planters.
Suspects at large : 15 - all believed to be Pakistani nationals
DEATH TOLL 188
INJURED 817
BOMBS PLANTED 7
NO. OF PLANTERS 14 (in 7 pairs)
TOTAL LOSS Rs 85.61 cr
ARRESTED SUSPECTS Kamal Ansari (32) : is alleged to have planted a bomb on a train which went off at Matunga .
Dr Tanvir (30) : A resident of BIT Chawl near Madanpur, he is believed to be a conspirator Zameer Ahmed Shaikh from V P Nagar, near Lotus Colony, Worli is accused of being a conspirator
Sohail Ahmed Shaikh, a resident of Bhimpada, cantonment area of Pune, suspected to be a conspirator
Faisal Shaikh from Mira Road accused of planting the bomb that went off at Jogeshwari Muzammil Shaikh from Naya Nagar in Mira Road accused of being involved in the blast that took place in Bandra
Ehtesham Qutubuddin Siddiqui, a resident of Mira Road, accused of planting the bomb that went off at Mira Road
Mohammed Sajid (Mumbra resident) and Mohammed Ali (Govandi resident), Wajihuddin Shaikh (Mira Road) and Mohammed Majid Shaikh (from Kolkata) have been accused of being conspirators Naved Hussain Khan, from Mira Road, is accused of planting the bomb that went off at Khar Road Asif Bashir Khan alias Junaid, resident of Poonam Park Housing Society in Mira Road, is believed to be a planter .
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