The Prevention of Terrorism Act Review Committee finished its hearing in the Akshardham terrorist attack case in Ahmedabad on Monday.

With this, the committee has finished the first phase of hearing of POTA cases in Gujarat.

During the hearing, about six accused, including Chand Khan who was arrested from Jammu and Kashmir [Images], complained of atrocities during public custody.

Terrorists attacked the Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar on September 24, 2002, killing 31 people.

In the first phase, the committee heard five of the total 14 POTA cases registered in Gujarat.

The panel has been reviewing cases in Gujarat since March 16.

• Akshardham: Complete coverage

Prominent cases like the Godhra train carnage case, the Inter-Services Intelligence conspiracy and tiffin bomb blast case are scheduled to come up for hearing during the second phase of hearing from April 4 to 9.

For cases involving more than 15 accused, like the Godhra train carnage case, the panel has requested that video-conferencing facility be made available so that the accused can talk to the panel from jail, chairman of three-member committee S C Jain said.

Jain expressed satisfaction over the manner in which the hearing was conducted in the first phase. He said all accused were given a 'patient hearing'.

He also said the committee expected to complete hearing of all cases by April 9. Its decision will be reserved as per the directives issued by the Supreme Court, he added.