Charges were framed on Wednesday against 20 accused in the Jnaneswari Express disaster in which 148 passengers were killed in 2010.
West Midnapore Additional District and Sessions Judge Partha Pratim Das said trial of the 20 accused would commence in February.
They were charged under various sections of the IPC including murder, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Railways Act.
The 20 against whom charges were framed on Wednesday included the prime accused Joydeb Mahato, Asit Mahato and Bapi Mahato -all belonging to the Maoist-backed People's Committee Against Police Atrocities.
No charges were framed by the special court against one of the arrested accused as he is a minor. Another two are still absconding.
In one of the worst train accidents in the country, 13 coaches of the Mumbai-bound train had jumped the tracks between Khemasuli and Sardiha stations in West Midnapore district shortly after which an oncoming goods train rammed into the derailed coaches in the early hours of May 28, 2010.
The CBI had taken over the investigation into the disaster.
{{/usCountry}}The CBI had taken over the investigation into the disaster.
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