A court in Bhopal, in India, has begun hearing a landmark case in which the government is attempting to reduce the gravity of the charges stemming from one of the world's worst industrial disasters.
At least 3,000 people died in the city on 3 December 1984 after a toxic gas leak at a chemical factory owned by the now defunct US company, Union Carbide.
More than half a million people were seriously injured and at least another 10,000 deaths have been linked to the leak, according to victims' groups.
The special court headed by Justice Baheti was to hear evidence from three victims of the 1984 catastrophe, including activist Abdul Jabbar, who are opposing the bid to downgrade charges from 'culpable homicide' to a 'rash and negligent act'.
The victims say the Indian government has been pressurised by Washington to reduce the charges in order to prevent the extradition of the then chairman of Union Carbide, Warren Andersen.
