An Indian National Investigation Agency court on Monday put off the announcement of its judgement in a case regarding the deadly 2007 Samjhota Express bombing. The verdict was deferred after a Pakistani woman filed a petition in the special court to have her statement recorded as a witness. Rahila L Vakeel in her application claimed that she had some evidence relevant to the case, a lawyer was quoted as saying. The next hearing of the case will be held on March 14, 2019. In February 2007, alleged Hindu extremists had bombed the Samjhota Express, killing 68 people, 42 of whom were Pakistanis. The explosions had ripped through the train during its transit through Panipat on its way to Lahore from Delhi. According to reports, four accused in the case were presented for today’s hearing amid tight security. They included the main accused Naba Kumar Sarkar, better known by his nickname Swami Aseem Anand. Sunil Joshi, the alleged mastermind of the attack, was killed in December 2007, according to reports. Three other accused remain at large and have been declared proclaimed offenders. The final arguments in the case were concluded on March 6 and the judgement was reserved for Monday, the report added. Published in Daily Times, March 12th 2019.