BANGALORE: The trial into the 2005 Indian Institute of Science (IISc) attack case has begun at the Fast Track (sessions) Court II here. The trial which began on Monday will resume again on January 5. It may be recalled that a group of terrorists belonging to the banned Lashkar E Toiba (LeT) attacked IISc, Bangalore, on December 28, 2005. A professor of IIT Delhi, who was attending a conference at IISc, was killed in the indiscriminate firing by the terrorists. Abu Hamza, one the prime accused in the case, escaped to Pakistan through Nepal and the other prime accused Sabahuddin was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police in February this year.In the process of investigation, the state police had unearthed an LeT sleeper cell and arrested seven people. Various documents, including phone numbers, fake passports and explosives were recovered from them.
The arrested are Mohamad Rasul Rehaman of Nelagonda, Afsar Pasha and Chand Pasha of Bangalore, Mehaboob Ibrahimsab Choopdar of Badami, Noorulla Khan and Nazmuddin of Chintamani and Mohamad Irfan of Mulbagal. All the seven are like-minded friends and supporters of LeT. They had conspired to wage a war against the non-believers of Islam, particularly Hindus. The police have framed charges against them of criminal conspiracy and conspiring to wage a war against the country. The police has adduced 99 witnesses in the case and the court has so far examined 16 witnesses. The trial was conducted by Fast Track (Sessions) Court II Judge Justice Jeevan Rao Kulkarni. Public Prosecutor B Lakshmana appeared on behalf of the prosecution.