Ahmedabad: Trial commenced today (Dec 18, 2003) in the sensational Akshardham Temple terrorist attack case in which 33 persons, including three security personnel, were killed by two armed terrorists in the State capital Gandhinagar on September 24 last year (2002).

Opening the case before Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) Judge Sonia Gokani, Special Public Prosecutor H M Dhruv said, six persons including Kashmir-based terrorist Chandkhan had allegedly conspired to attack the famous Akshardham Temple in a bid to spread terror among the section of the society.

Of the eight, six accused persons were present in the court when the trial commenced and Special Public Prosecutor Dhruv said the accused number one and two, who were the terrorist themselves, were killed and thus could not stand trial.

He said the accused persons have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure code (CPC), Arms Act, Explosives Act and POTA.

PTI