Blast accused called as defence witness

An alleged Indian Mujahideen militant, facing trial in the 2008 Batla House encounter case here, has been allowed by a local court to make two other suspects of the outfit witnesses to counter the prosecution case against him.

An alleged Indian Mujahideen militant, facing trial in the 2008 Batla House encounter case here, has been allowed by a local court to make two other suspects of the outfit witnesses to counter the prosecution case against him.

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Shahzad Ahmed’s plea to summon Mohd Saif and Zeeshan, both lodged in Sabarmati jail in Ahmedabad in connection with the blasts of July 26, 2008, was permitted by Additional Sessions Judge Rajender Kumar Shastri, who has been holding trial in the case. The court has issued production warrant for tomorrow for both Saif and Zeeshan. Shahzad is an accused along with Saif and Zeeshan and 11 others in September 13, 2008 serial blasts.

According to the charge sheet, Mohd Saif was present in the flat in which the encounter took place on September 19, 2008 between officers of the Special Cell of Delhi Police and alleged Indian Mujahideen terrorists.

The police team is said to have reached the flat during its probe in the 2008 Delhi serial blasts when a series of explosions at Karol Bagh, Connaught Place, Greater Kailash and India Gate killed 26 and injured 133.

Shahzad had allegedly escaped from the flat during the encounter. The chargesheet says Mohd Saif had surrendered and had named the escapees as Shahzad and Junaid.