ATS opposes plea to call Indian Mujahideen suspects as witnesses in 7/11 train blasts case

Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Monday opposed the application filed by the accused of Mumbai train blasts case seeking to call three persons — suspected members of terror outfit Indian Mujahideen — as witnesses.

Defence lawyers in the 7/11 (train blasts) case want to call the alleged Indian Mujhahideen co-founder Mohammed Sadiq Israr Sheikh, alongwith Arif Badruddin and Ansar Ahmed as witnesses during the trial. These men were arrested in 2008, in connection with other blasts across the country.

Some of those arrested in 2008 had allegedly confessed that they were involved in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts too.

The defence is likely to submit further arguments on Tuesday.

ATS had taken Sheikh's custody to interrogate him for suspected involvement in the train blasts after Mumbai Crime Branch arrested him in September 2008.

Later, special MCOCA court discharged him, as ATS said it did not find any evidence about Sadiq's role in the train blasts conspiracy.

Seven RDX bombs exploded in the first class coaches of Mumbai suburban trains on July 11, 2006, killing 188 and injuring 817 others. Thirteen persons have been arrested in the case so far, while fifteen others are wanted.