Samjhauta Express blasts case: Indian court acquits Swami Aseemanand, three others

New Delhi: Indian court has acquitted four accused in Samjhauta Express blast case that killed 68 people, mostly Pakistani nationals.

The court in Panchkula, Haryana acquitted Indian extremist and godman Swami Aseemanand. The three other people who have been acquitted are: Lokesh Sharma, Kamal Chauhan and Rajinder Chaudhary.

Indian media quoted NIA counsel Rajan Malhotra as saying "All the four accused, Naba Kumar Sarkar alias Swami Aseemanand, Lokesh Sharma, Kamal Chauhan and Rajinder Chaudhary have been acquitted by the court."

The verdict came after Indian court dismissed the plea filed by a Pakistani woman for examining eyewitnesses from Pakistan, saying it was "devoid of any merit".

Pakistan national Rahila Wakil had moved an application through an Indian advocate and requested the Pakistan-based eyewitnesses and witnesses be summoned to depose before the court.

The applicant from Dhingrawali village in Hafizabad district of Punjab claimed her father Mohammad Wakil died in the train blast that had left 68 dead. 

Rahila Wakil also claimed that the Pakistan based eyewitnesses were not issued summons and they were willing to appear before the court. She also said the eyewitnesses had 'no knowledge' about the developments in the case. 

In February 2007, the Hindu extremists had bombed the train killing 68 people, 42 of whom were Pakistanis. The train was near Panipat and was heading towards Lahore from New Delhi when it was attacked.