Thirteen men suspected to be behind the deadly train bombings that rocked India's financial capital last year were charged yesterday in a Mumbai court. Police say the 13 men, along with 15 others still at large, plotted and carried out the attacks, setting off a series of bombs that ripped apart seven coaches during evening rush hour, killing 187 people and injuring 824 others.According to the charges, the men were members of the Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group and of the Students Islamic Movement of India, or SIMI, a banned group based in northern India. All 13 of the men are Muslim Indians, while 10 of the 15 wanted are from Pakistan. Two others allegedly involved were killed. One died in the bombing while another was shot dead by police.
Conspiracy
The men were charged with conspiring to carry out sabotage, to use explosives to cause large scale loss of life, terrorising railway commuters, disturbing harmony, promoting enmity between religions and disrupting public transportation. Reading the charges Judge Mrudula Bhatkar said the men instigated young Muslims "in the name of religion to resort to terrorist acts." All 13 said they were not guilty but refused to recognise the court. "You cannot do us justice. We don't have faith in your legal procedure. Transfer our case," said Ehtesham Siddiqui, one of the accused.