Mumbai, July 11 (IANS) On the rainy evening of July 11, 2006, as millions of commuters hurried to their homes by the Western Railway (WR) suburban trains, they were stopped dead in their tracks at the high-peak hour, at around 18:24 hours (6.24 pm).

For the next 11 minutes, seven of the chock-a-block local trains were surgically targeted with ‘pressure cooker bombs’ innocuously placed in the first class gents compartments, which the harried crowds ignored.

Snuffing out 209 innocents, the terror attack became the second worst extremist disaster in Mumbai, preceded by the March 12, 1993 serials bomb blasts (257 killed) and followed by the November 26-29, 2008 terror strikes (166+9 terrorists killed).

When the commuters had settled down for the long commute to their waiting families, the ‘train bombs’ suddenly exploded with devastating results on several stations between Matunga (south Mumbai) and Bhayander (Thane) stations.

This led to massive chaos among the terrified commuters, the lights went off in many coaches, and left the WR authorities rattled plus shook awake the central and state administrations.

The multiple blasts in the trains, either running or halted at stations on their journeys, brought the usually efficient WR system to a grinding halt, but the pre-smartphone era mobiles and the still-reliable landlines were jammed, confusion reigned among the people and the officialdom.

As the suburban trains had stopped running and hordes of security personnel launched their primary investigations, lakhs of commuters trooped onto the road, grabbing any available mode of transport, but the main thoroughfares, highways, arterial roads and even local streets witnessed unprecedented traffic snarls.

Eyewitnesses remember that horrifying evening when the much-cursed and congested suburban trains earned silent prayers and blessings for reaching the commuters home quickly, safely and efficiently, barring of course the odd aberration…like July 11, 2006.

Hungry, thirsty, confused and stranded for hours in the BEST buses, autorickshaws, taxis, cars, vans, and two-wheelers, the ordinary Mumbaikars opened their hearts and rushed to their aid — akin to the great floods of July 26, 2005, which claimed 1,094 lives.

In a show of solidarity in the face of the tragedy, thousands of Mumbaikars, ranging from slums to skyscrapers, poured out to offer umbrellas, raincoats, plastic sheets, tea-coffee-biscuits-snacks-light meals, complimentary to the bewildered commuters trudging home.

Many big and small restaurants offered refreshments-meals ‘on the house’ for that night, and the supplies continued till the stocks lasted or the last wayward commuter had his fill, in some cases till dawn the next morning.

Though the WR services had limped back shortly before midnight (July 11), the next morning many services had poor occupancy as people had barely reached home after last night’s ordeal.

Nevertheless, those who ventured out gawked with disbelief at the targeted coaches ripped apart in the bomb blast the previous evening, presenting an eerie picture of devastation at the stations where they were parked for the investigation teams.

The then Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said that they had intel on the attack which did not specify the time or location, while the Mumbai Police rounded up more than 350 suspects.

The initial probe confirmed that the ‘pressure cooker bombs’ had a deadly brew of RDX+Ammonium Nitrate — and the RDX, which first became a household name after the March 1993 serial bomb blasts, was apparently used for the second time in a big way for the July 11, 2006, strikes.

The multi-pronged investigations, the claims, denials by several of the usual offshore terror outfits, or the unfriendly neighbourhood off the borders, the investigators managed to zero in on the culprits who underwent a keenly-watched trial.

Finally, in September 2015, the Special Court of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) pronounced as guilty and convicted 12 persons, for the unnerving deadly strikes on Mumbai’s lifeline.

Four men who got the hangman’s noose are Faisal Shaikh, Kamal Ansari, Ehtesham Siddiqui and Asif Khan, convicted for planting the 7 ‘pressure cookers’ in the suburban trains.

The rest were awarded life in jail and they are — Dr Tanvir Ansari, M. Sajid Ansari, Mohammed Ali, Muzammil Shaikh, Majid Shafi, Sohail Shaikh, Zamir Shaikh, for providing various kinds of support to execute the heinous crime.

Exactly 18 years on, only faint memories remain of that mayhem on the railway tracks, the families of the victims and the survivors remembered those 11 minutes but the vast commuters continued their daily grind in local trains as usual.

–IANS

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Jammu, July 11 (IANS) A blast occurred across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, said officials here on Thursday.

The blast occurred on Wednesday night across the LoC in the district.

“The suspicious movement was reported across the LoC in the Laam sector of Rajouri district late on Wednesday night. The blast occurred very close to the zero line during the movement,” said officials.

A search operation has been launched in the area, the officials further said.

The blast most likely occurred during the movement of suspicious persons close to the LoC on the other side in the no man’s land.

It is being ascertained whether the blast occurred accidentally or was triggered by suspicious movement in the no man’s land which contains pressure-triggered landmines.

More details were awaited.

Pakistani agencies have been trying to push terrorists into the Indian territory to create disturbances. Massive search operations are already underway in some areas in the Jammu division.

–IANS

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Bhopal, July 11 (IANS) In an alarming incident, goons barged into a city bus in Bhopal and thrashed the driver and conductor, leaving the women passengers scared.

The incident recorded on a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera fitted in the city bus shows two goons entering the bus at Suraj Nagar square and beating up the driver. They also thrashed the conductor, who tried to save the driver.

The bus conductor was also seen hitting miscreants in his defence. However, he was overpowered by them and thrashed.

The video of the incident, which went viral, shows that the women passengers were scared.

City buses are a lifeline for the citizens of Bhopal and the people in the state’s capital city will have to wait for metro rail services at least for the next one-and-a-half years.

Even if the rail metro service begins in the city, it would cover one or two routes.

The reason behind the incident was yet to be ascertained.

–IANS

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Hyderabad, July 11 (IANS) Former chief of Telangana’s Special Intelligence Branch (SIB), T Prabhakar Rao, the main accused in the phone tapping case, has denied the allegations against him.

The retired Inspector General of Police, who is in the US, has communicated to the Investigating Officer (IO) that multiple health problems have forced him to defer his return to India.

He assured that he will fully cooperate in the investigation and answer all queries in person as soon as his health improves and upon his return to India.

“I am prepared to assist in the investigation in any kind of questioning over video conferencing or teleconferencing till the time I return to India,” he said in the letter dated June 23 that surfaced on Thursday.

The retired IPS officer requested the IO to conduct a fair and unbiased investigation as per the provisions of law.

Prabhakar Rao denied the allegations made against him.

“I would once again want to reiterate what I conveyed to you via the Whatsapp call on March 22nd & 23rd, that I have not committed nor directed anyone to commit any illegal acts or omissions while discharging my duties as a police officer at any time including as Chief of SIB,” reads the letter.

The former SIB chief wrote that he had originally planned to return to India on June 26 but had to defer the same due to health issues.

He informed the IO that in addition to existing problem of malignant cancer, he developed high blood pressure due to stress, “I have been subjected to, after registration of the current case and by making wild and false allegations against me with constant deliberate leaks to media, thereby assassinating my character and reputation even prior to making me as an accused in the case.”

He stated that the false allegations were a great shock to him and his family which led to further deterioration of his physical and mental health.

Prabhakar Rao said he was now suffering from cardiac and renal problems for which he was seeking appointments of specialists in the US.

He further wrote that his consulting doctors advised him not to travel out of the US till his health completely stabilised.

“However, I am willing to fully cooperate with the investigation and provide any information which you think is in my exclusive knowledge and possession through email. I don’t think that my no-appearance before the IO at an earlier point of time will hamper the investigation in any way as it is already evident from the outcome of the investigation and filing of the chargesheet,” he added.

Three serving police officers and a former officer have so far been arrested in the phone tapping case which came to light after the BRS lost power to Congress and an official in SIB who was part of the operation was found destroying the collected data.

In March a case was registered with the Panjagutta police after a petition was filed by additional SP, SIB.

DSP Praneeth Rao was arrested after he allegedly destroyed hard disks and other data.

Later, the police arrested former additional SPs Bhujanga Rao and Tirupathanna and former Deputy Commissioner of Police, P Radha Kishan Rao.

–IANS

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Kolkata, July 11 (IANS) Senior Trinamool Congress leader and four-time Lok Sabha MP from Dum Dum constituency, Saugata Roy, claimed on Thursday that he had received threatening calls over strongman Jayant Singh’s arrest.

Saugata Roy said he had been threatened with dire consequences if he failed to arrange for the release of local Trinamool leader Jayant Singh.

Singh, a virtual terror in Ariadaha in North 24 Parganas District was arrested last week by police after a video went viral where he and his associates were seen involved in mob violence against an individual in a club.

“A call came from an unknown number to my mobile. The caller first used abusive language and then threatened to kill me unless I arranged for the release of Singh. I received the call twice,” Roy told a section of the media on Thursday morning.

He also confirmed that he has filed a complaint with Barrackpore Police Commissionerate and requested the police to identify the caller from the number that he has provided to them.

Roy is the second ruling party leader to receive life threats over the incarceration of Singh.

“I am scared that I can be shot anytime. I have been vocal against the police in the matter. It is possible that the police will tell the anti-social elements that they were forced to take action because of pressure from Madan Mitra. This is an old game,” Madan Mitra said on Wednesday evening.

The Opposition leaders said that the ruling party leaders are now facing the music for giving protection to these anti-social elements.

–IANS

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