7/11 case: Special MCOCA court records tour operator's testimony

A special MCOCA court today recorded the testimony of a tour operator who had arranged for seven arrested accused in the 7/11 serial train blasts case to visit Iran on "pilgrimage visas".

It is the case of the prosecution that some of the accused had been to Pakistan via Iran to obtain training in arms and ammunitions.

The city-based tour operator today told the court in 2004 one Mushtaq approached him asking him to arrange visas and tickets for seven persons from the Shia sect who wanted to go to Iran for the 'ziyarat'. Accordingly, the agent made all arrangements.

According to the prosecution, the pilgrim authorities affix a stamp on the passports of the visitors based upon which he is served the holy food. However, the passports of the seven accused did not have any stamps.

On July 11, 2006, RDX laden bombs ripped the first class compartments of seven local trains in the Western Railways within a span of ten minutes killing 187 persons and injuring 800 others.

The court is presently conducting trial against 13 accused allegedly belonging to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)