JAUNPUR, Uttar Pradesh – Two men, one from Bangladesh and the other from West Bengal, were sentenced to death on Wednesday for orchestrating the 2005 Shramjivi Express train blast that resulted in the deaths of at least 14 individuals and injured 62 others. The convicted men, Hilal alias Hilaluddin and Nafikul Vishwas, were each fined Rs 5 lakh by additional sessions court judge Rajesh Kumar Rai.
The blast occurred on 28 July 2005, tearing apart a coach of the Patna-New Delhi train near the Jaunpur station in Uttar Pradesh at approximately 5:00 pm. The prosecution stated that RDX was placed in the coach’s toilet, a substance previously used in various terrorist attacks in the country. Witnesses recalled two individuals boarding the train at Jaunpur with a white suitcase, which was abandoned before they leapt from the moving train, moments before the explosion.
Hilaluddin and Nafikul Biswas, who were operatives of the Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, were held responsible for the blast, with Hilaluddin accused of planting the bomb on the train. It took six years after the final hearings began before the sentencing was delivered. The two other individuals involved in the Shramjeevi train blast had received death sentences in 2016.
The sentencing, which occurred amidst tight security arrangements, is a reminder of the ongoing efforts to bring justice to the victims of terrorist attacks. The families of those affected by the tragic event have finally seen some closure with this verdict. The court’s decision sends a strong message about the consequences of engaging in acts of terrorism.
In conclusion, the death sentences of Hilal alias Hilaluddin and Nafikul Vishwas for their roles in the 2005 Shramjivi Express train blast are a testament to the relentless pursuit of justice and the determination to hold perpetrators of terrorist attacks accountable for their actions. This case serves as a solemn reminder of the tragic consequences of such heinous acts.