‘NIA should do its job impartially’

There was widespread outrage in Malegaon on Saturday following the National Investigating Agency’s clean chit to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and five others in the Malegaon blast case.

MLA Asif Shaikh of the Congress staged an agitation in the Bhiku Chowk of Malegaon, where the blast occurred on September 29, 2008. He said the NIA was working under political pressure and the real face of BJP was now visible. “The pressure on investigating agencies should stop and the NIA should do its job in an unbiased manner,” he said.

Janata Dal general secretary Mustaqeem D. said his party would burn an effigy to symbolise the destruction of ‘terrorism’ on Sunday and later hold a public meeting in Bhiku Chowk. Sources said Nidharmi Vichar Paksh president Buland Iqbal would also speak on the issue. “Muslims were not responsible for the blast and were acquitted and discharged. Now it transpires that Hindus also did not execute it. Then who did it asked Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) Maharashtra president Samiullah Ansari speaking from Hyderabad.“When there was talk of compensating Muslims who were mistakenly accused in the case, the then NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal termed them terrorists and opposed the compensation. Cases should be registered against Bhujbal and others, who wrongfully accused innocent Muslims,” he added.

Dr Farok Iqbal Ahmed Mukhdoomi, who was discharged and acquitted, said that they were innocent and were vindicated by the court. “However, the benefit given to us was also given to Hindutva activists. It appears there was government interference in the investigations and the investigating agencies are just puppets in its hands,” he said.

“The chargesheet filed in 2008 clearly mentions that the motorbike used in the blast belonged to Sadhvi Pragya Singh. “If you recall the 1993 bomb blast case, one Rubina was given a lifer because her vehicle was used for the blast. It is evident select persons are being targeted,” Dr Mukhdoomi said.

Narul Samsuda, another accused who was acquitted, also echoed Dr Mukdoomi’s feelings. “We had a hard time in detention,” he said.

Advocate Jalil Ahmed, brother of Abrar Ahmed Ghulam Ahmed who was acquitted in the case, said the then ATS chief Hemant Karkare’s probe was going on in the right direction but pressure was being exerted by the government.