New Delhi, Sept 26: Trial in the Red Fort attack case got underway today after a long delay with four witnesses deposing before a Delhi court and the special judge dismissing the plea of two accused to be moved to Srinagar. Additional Sessions Judge O P Saini rejected the application of accused Farooq Ahmed Khazid (an alleged Lashkar-e-Toiba militant) and his father Nasir that they be shifted to Srinagar as cases were pending against them there.

Such contentions were no ground to take them to Srinagar and besides, if they were to be shifted, the proceedings in the present case would be held up temporarily, the court held.

Delhi High Court yesterday had ordered day-to-day trial in the case and directed that a special court be set up to hear the matter expeditiously.
Azad Khalid (resident of Ghaziabad), Yashpal Rana, Rajbir Singh (both food officers in Ghaziabad) and Pradeep Kumar (junior clerk at the regional transport office in Ghaziabad) testified before the designated court today.

Khalid, Rana and Singh said the ration card of the accused were fake, while Kumar was asked to compare some documents by the investigation officer. This was the sixth time these witnesses were produced before the court.

According to prosecution, on October 10, 2000 militants of Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) entered red fort military area and killed three army personnel. There are eleven arrested accused in the case, while eight other accused have been declared proclaimed offenders, the prosecution said, adding three accused (all Pakistanis and LeT militants) were killed in encounters. Bureau Report