Burdwan Blast: NIA Court Frames Charges Against 30 Accused

A special NIA court on Saturday framed charges against 30 accused in connection with the blast in West Bengal's Burdwan nearly two years back, that had exposed an alleged conspiracy by the Jamaat-ul Mujahideen, Bangladesh (JMB) against the elected government in the neighbouring nation.

Twenty of the accused are in jail, while ten others are still untraced. Those against charges have been framed include two women, sources said.

The accidental blast took place inside a house in Burdwan's Khagragarh on October 2, 2014, killing two terrorists and injuring another.

The charges have been framed under different sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Section 125 of the Indian Penal Code that deals with those "waging war against the government of any Asiatic power in alliance with the Government of India, of the Arms Act and the Explosives Act.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had filed its first chargesheet in the case before a designated special court on March 30 last year naming 21 people including four Bangladeshi nationals for their involvement in the Jamaat conspiracy to overthrow the existing democratic government in Bangladesh through violent terrorist acts and replace it with a hardline Sharia-based Islamic rule.

It lodged a supplementary chargesheet on July 23 last year against six accused persons - including one Bangladeshi national - for their involvement in the Jamaat conspiracy.

Last December, the NIA filed its second supplementary chargesheet, slapping fresh charges against 28 accused for waging war against Bangladesh.

During the investigation, statement of 460 witnesses were recorded and over 3,800 pages of documents and material evidence were produced before the Court.

Three persons arrested by the NIA on suspicion they had a hand in the conspiracy were later set free.

The trial in the case will start from August 19.