ATS files 10,667-page chargesheet in 7/11 blasts c

Four months after a series of bomb blasts ripped through Mumbai's commuter trains, Anti-Terrorist Squad on Thursday filed a 10,667 page chargesheet in a special court.

It named Lashkar-e-Tayiba's Pakistan-based leader Azeem Cheema as the prime conspirator.

A total of 28 accused figure in the chargesheet and of them 13 have been arrested and are in custody.

Fifteen are absconding and among them, nine, including Cheema, are Pakistani nationals. The remaining wanted accused are Indians.

In all, 185 people were killed and over 400 injured when seven near simultaneous blasts occurred in commuter trains during evening peak hours at various points between Churchgate and Bhayander on July 11.

All the 28 accused are booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Explosives Act, Explosive Substances Act, Railway Act, Passport Act and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

The ATS has listed around 2,037 witnesses to be examined in the case, an official said.

Those who are already in judicial custody are: Kamal Ansari, Tanvir Ansari, Faisal Shaikh, Ehtesham Siddiqui, Mohammed Shafi, Shaikh Mohammed Ali, Mohammed Ansari, Abdul Wahid Shaikh, Muzammil Shaikh, Soheil Shaikh, Zamir Shaikh, Naved Khan, Asif Khan Bashir Khan alias Junaid.