Patna blast: NIA court frames charges against 10 accused

Pat Jan 6 (IANS) A special NIA court here Tuesday framed charges against 10 accused in the Patna serial blasts ahead of the Oct 27, 2013 rally by then BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, police said.

"The NIA special court has finally framed charges against the 10 accused in the Patna blasts. It has directed the prosecution to produce witnesses from Jan 19 onwards," a police official said.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) haf last year filed its charge sheet against the 10 accused suspected to be members of banned Indian Mujahideen and Students Islamic Movement of India.

According to the chargesheet, the accused wanted to target Modi as they thought that it would be inimical to their interests if he became the prime minister, and in pursuance of this conspiracy, main accused Hyder Ali and his associates had conducted reconnaissance of various rallies to take stock of the security arrangements and plan their attack.

At least six people were killed and nearly 100 injured in a series of blasts during the rally.