By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,
Kochi: Abdunnasir Ma’dani has been acquitted by the Kollam Additional Sessions Court in the Ochira attack case. Judge E Baiju acquitted four convicts (among which Ma’dani was the 34th) after trial. The incident leading to the case took place when violence broke out during the harthal called by Ma’dani’s Islamic Service Society on April 2, 1992.
Ma’dani, presently chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, welcomed the acquittal. He expressed his happiness at ‘the just judgement in a case that was politically motivated’.
The harthal was reportedly called to protest against a bomb blast in a Faisabad masjid. Vehicles were blocked in the National Highway and many including policemen were injured when the harthal turned violent. The prosecution argued that Ma’dani had come to the masjid at Ochira and taken part in a plot to instigate other convicts for violence. Damages were done to police vehicles and Kerala State Road Transport Corporation’s buses. The police did not break tear gas shells but fired at the sky to disperse the mob amounting to around 400, the prosecution stated.
The court acquitted the convicts stating that the prosecution has not been able to produce proper evidence for the accusations of taking part in conspiracy and attempt to murder. Also the witnesses also were not able to identify the convicts.
Among the 101 convicts in the case, 89 have already been acquitted. Six convicts are absconding.
Ma’dani’s lawyers were MA Salam, Sujan S, Riyas MR and Abdul Muneer. Adv Ishaq and Adv George Varghese argued for the other convicts. Special Prosecutor PB Sivan argued for the prosecution.