Kolkata, Apr 11: The trial of Aftab Ansari, prime accused in the American center attack case, and eight others would commence from April 22 on day-to-day basis. Metropolitan Judge P L Dutta gave the direction after Ansari and the other accused were today produced before a special court inside presidency jail here. Public prosecutor Ashok Bakshi represented the prosecution. The Calcutta High Court on March three allowed the hearing of the case against Aftab Ansari and eight others to be held in presidency jail following a plea by the West Bengal government citing security risks in taking the accused to court.

The West Bengal government had told the High Court that Ansari might try to escape while in transit to and from courts, and pleaded for holding his trial in jail premises.


Advocate-General Balai Roy had submitted that Ansari and the co-accused, being members of international terrorist gangs with access to modern gadgets, could escape during transit.


The state had also said that bringing Ansari and the other co-accused to court involved huge expenses as security arrangement had to be made at the court and on the roads for them.

Six policemen were killed in the shootout in front of the American center here on January 22 last year. Ansari is also the main accused in the high-profile Khadim kidnap case. Bureau Report