The incident HAD claimed 187 lives and injured another 300 who were commuting in seven north-bound local trains.

When the court began the proceedings on Tuesday, the accused demanded  postponement of the trial until the high court decides on their second application for changing the court. Public prosecutor Raja Thakre told the court that the HC had earlier rejected their first plea and had placed no bar on commencing the trial. Judge Mrudula Bhatkar then began the proceedings with the recording of evidence given by police officer Nagesh Dhone, attached to Borivali railway police.

Dhone is one of the seven complainants in the consolidated case filed by Maharashtra ATS. He narrated the sequence of events that took place at Borivali station on July 11, 2006, when a powerful bomb ripped through the men’s First Class compartment of a Virar-bound suburban train.

The prosecution claims that the conspiracy was hatched by Pakistan-based terror outfit LeT in collaboration with the banned SIMI members. The accused have been charged with murder and waging war on the nation, offenses which will invite the death penalty if proven in the court.