By TCN Staff Writer,
New Delhi: Thousands of people came out of their homes in Malegaon town of Maharashtra on 1st Feb to demand release of nine local Muslim youths languishing in jail for over four years in the case of September 2006 terror bombings at Muslim religious places in this textile town. The locals were angry at the delay in the release of their youths even after RSS pracharak and terror mastermind Swami Aseemanand’s confession.
Aseemanand, arrested in November 2010 in the Mecca Masjid blast case, confessed before a Delhi Magistrate in December that he and other Sangh Parivar members were behind the 2006 terror bombings in Malegaon, blasts at Ajmer Dargah and Mecca Masjid as well as blasts at the Samjhauta Express train that links India and Pakistan.
The demonstrators lambasted the state Congress-NCP government for lackadaisical attitude regarding the release of the innocent youths even after the culprits have admitted their role. The speakers questioned the government’s sincerity towards justice for minorities.
“We demanded a fair probe in the case ever since the 2006 Malegaon blast and after the arrests of the Muslim youths in the case. You did not do it. And, now after the confessions of Swami Aseemanand, everything has come out in black and white. Yet you are keeping the innocents behind bar”, President of Samajwadi Party’s Maharashtra unit and State Legislative Member Abu Asim Azmi has been quoted as saying at the rally which was organized by his party.
Others who addressed the rally included former minister and senior leader Nihal Ahmed, Kul Jamaati Tanzeem leader Maulana Hameed Azhari and president of local unit of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Firoz Azmi.
On 8th Sep. 2006, Malegaon witnessed serial bombings on the eve of Shab-e-Barat at the Hamidia Masjid and a nearby graveyard. In all 32 people were killed and more than 300 injured in the blasts.
Investigating agencies blamed the Muslim youths for the terror attack and arrested nine youths from Malegaon and neighboring places. The locals cried foul but none heeded to them.
However, following the confession of Aseemanand, the event took a new turn. The Muslim accused moved the court for bail. But on 28th Jan. 2011 during the hearing on their bail petition, CBI opposed the bail. The court asked for the certified copy of Aseemanand’s confession and will again hear the bail plea on 7th Feb.