NIA files charge sheet against Aseemanand

The terror act had left 68 passengers, mostly Pakistanis, dead on board the train that culminates its journey, across the border,  in Pakistan. The issue of Samjhauta blast probe has often figured in talks between the two nations with Pakistan accusing India of doing little even after four years of the incident.

Hindu activist Sadhvi Pragya Thakur too could face arrest in the case for her involvement, NIA sources said. The NIA has built up a case where Swami Assemanand, currently in Ambala jail, has been shown as a key conspirator who masterminded the Samjhauta blasts. The charge sheet states that Aseemanand was upset with the Jehadi and terrorist attacks on Akshardham temples in Gujarat, Raghunath temple in Jammu and Sankat Mochan temple in Varanasi. Aseemanand propounded a “bomb for bomb” theory and targeted Samjhauta train.

The report said Aseemanand not only provided financial and logistical support to the terror group which executed the act but also played a vital role in instigating and motivating his associates to undertake this terrorist act. The charge sheet said that the other accused- Sandeep Dange, Ramji and Lokesh Sharma, under the leadership of Sunil Joshi, procured raw materials for IED (Improvised Explosive Device) and also got these planted in the train.

The charge sheet was filed before vacation court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Kanchan Mahi.  Sunil Joshi, who is now dead, Lokesh Sharma, Sandeep Dange and Ramchandra Kalasangra alias Ramji have also been named for hatching a criminal conspiracy which resulted in bomb blasts in the train. Ramji and Dange have been declared proclaimed offenders.

Criminal conspiracy

The charge sheet has been filed under relevant sections of criminal conspiracy (to be read with murder, attempt to murder, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons and Explosives Substances Act), NIA counsel Ahmed Khan said, adding that the NIA had sufficient evidence to nail the accused in the case.
 
The charges
* Aseemanand gave Rs 25,000 in cash to Sunil Joshi and directed him to visit several places in UP and Jharkhand to meet resourceful Hinduvadi leaders.

* The main conspiracy meeting was held in June 2006 where Assemanand said, “Bomb Ka Jawab Bomb se Dena Chahiye”.

* Aseemanand suggested triggering bomb blasts in Malegaon, Ajmer, Hyderabad and also in Samjhauta train

* He told Sunil Joshi that he would try to contribute financially as much as possible.

* Terrorist blasts in Samjhauta Express, Mecca Masjid, Ajmer Sharif were carried out by Sunil Joshi module in pursuance to a criminal conspiracy.