KOCHI: The NIA Special Court in Ernakulam would invite the entire nation’s attention on Thursday as a verdict is expected in just the second terror case probed by the NIA in the country, after the Mumbai attack.The chargesheet was filed against eight accused. However, later the trial began after splitting the chargesheet based on those in judicial custody, on bail and the absconding.In the first phase, Nazir, Shafaz, Halim, and Chettippadi Yusuf faced the trial. They were charged with criminal conspiracy and promoting enmity on different groups on grounds of religion under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and Explosive Substances Act. Shammi Firoz has been made approver after filing the chargesheet. A total of 58 prosecution witnesses were examined before the NIA court, where Shammi turned out to be the most crucial witness. Though Abdul Jaleel had been included as accused by the Crime Branch, which investigated the case earlier, the NIA removed him from the chargesheet for want of evidence. The investigation established that the accused, including Nazeer, hatched a conspiracy to manufacture and explode bombs at two bus stands in Kozhikode. Mohamed Azhar and P P Yoosaf had been declared proclaimed offenders and Fayis, another accused, died in an encounter with security forces in Jammu & Kashmir while trying to cross the India-Pak border for terror training. It has been pointed out that the accused were involved in several anti-national and terror-related cases. It was on March 3, 2006 that two blasts occurred at the KSRTC and mofussil bus stands in Kozhikode. The first explosion occurred around 12.45 pm at KSRTC bus station while the second one at 1.10 pm. Timer devices were used for the blasts, according to forensic experts. Initially the police stations at Nadakavu and Kasaba investigated the cases separately.
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