10 years on, Jaipur blast victims await justice

Jaipur: Exactly 10 years ago on this day, 72 people were killed while more than 180 others injured after bomb blasts at eight places ripped through the Walled City. A lot of time has gone by, but the blast victims are still waiting for justice. While four key conspirators are still at large, the trial in the case is progressing at a snail’s pace.

A total of eight cases registered with Manak Chowk and Kotwali police stations in connection with these blasts. The Rajasthan ATS investigated the case and filed chargesheet against the five accused who were arrested. They are Shahbaj Hussain, Mohammed Saif, Sarvar Azami, Saif-ur-Rahman and Salman.

Policemen killed in Jaipur blast.

The charges were framed against these accused, but the trail is yet to complete. Almost one-third of the witnesses in the case are government officials, forensic experts, policemen and district administration officers. There are 1600 witnesses in these cases, but only 550 have deposed in the court so far. The government had promised to ensure a speedy trial by setting up special courts for these cases.

On the recommendation from the state government, the Rajasthan high court set up a special court for the trial in the blast cases. According to the lawyers, the special court has been hearing the cases three days a week for the past one year, but this will be extended to five days a week now. The decision in two of the cases may come by the end of this year.

Many organizations and people are organizing special programs in the Walled City on Sunday to pay homage to the blast victims on the 10^th anniversary of the horrific incident.

Jaipur police commissioner Sanjay Agarwal will pay homage to the three policemen who were killed in the blasts while they were on duty in the area.