Witness identifies 7/11 blast accused in court

In a significant development, an eyewitness in the July 11, 2006 serial train blasts case, on Tuesday identified the alleged planter of the RDX laden bomb in the train that blasted at Matunga station in Mumbai.

The witness, a retired senior citizen, identified arrested accused Kamal Ansari in the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act court, which is conducting trial in the case.

The witness had on the ill-fated day taken a train from Churchgate to travel upto Dadar. "He identified accused Ansari as one of the passengers sitting next to him and said that he saw Ansari put a rexin bag on the overhead luggage rack," said special public prosecutor Raja Thakare

The witness further said that he saw the accused get off the train at Mumbai Central without his bag.

Seven bombs went off in first class coaches of Mumbai's suburban trains on July 11, 2006 killing 188 persons and injuring several others.

The trial is presently underway against 13 arrested persons, allegedly operatives of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Students Islamic Movement of India.

The prosecution has till now examined over 15 witnesses in the case.