Whether the NIA will have any better success with the Samjhauta probe than Haryana’s SIT is still to be seen, if and when the case gets to the stage of a court trial, but Indian prosecutors will have to considerably rely on the testimony of Usman Mohammad — a Pakistan passenger who saved dozens of lives by throwing out a suitcase that later proved to be the third bomb.
Usman was sleeping after his final drink before returning to Pakistan (where it is illegal to consume alcohol), when loud explosions and screaming passengers shook him from his stupor.
Just as the train slowed down to a halt, his eyes fell upon an abandoned suitcase that seemed to have a light flashing inside. Fearing the worst after seeing the coaches behind going up in flames, he picked up the suitcase and flung it out of the train.
The bag that split open on impact was later found to contain a third IED complete with detonator, electronic timer and multiple plastic bottles filled with kerosene oil.