11 Muslims acquitted of terror charges after 598 days in Indian prison
Muslim youths imprisoned for extended periods without formal charges: Arshad Madni
New Delhi: Eleven Muslims detained on terror charges have been acquitted after spending 598 days in incarceration as prosecution could not defend the charges against the detainees.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court ordered their release citing lack of evidence.
All the accused were detained by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on mere suspicions of having ties with Al Qaeda and its Indian affiliates. The court ruled that the accused were arrested without sufficient grounds.
The bench, comprising Justice Attau Rahman Masoodi and Justice Manish Kumar Nigam, made the decision after a lapse under Section 43(D) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), as the investigative agency failed to submit a chargesheet within the allotted time frame.
The accused, namely Aleem, Muddasir, Nadeem, Habibul Islam, Haris, Aas Mohammed, Kamil, Qari Shahjad, Maulana Luqman, Ali Noor, Nawaziah Ansari, and Mukhtar, were arrested on September 26, 2022.
The prosecution failed to substantiate the charges. The court remarked that the prosecution could not prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt at this stage.
According to defense lawyer Furkan Pathan, the accused were granted bail due to the prosecution’s inability to support its allegations and their absence during crucial court proceedings.
Advocate Saif Ali added that the prosecution failed to provide evidence of the existence or operations of the alleged banned groups in India. The court concluded that there was insufficient justification to hold the accused.
Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulema Hind, lauded the ruling. In a social media post, he expressed hope that the verdict would set a precedent in cases where Muslim youths are imprisoned for extended periods without formal charges.
