By TCN News,
Lucknow: Yesterday the Uttar Pradesh government announced its decision to withdraw the case against Tariq Qasmi, prime accused in the Gorakhpur bomb blasts of May 22, 2007 which left six people, including a woman, injured.
Rihai Manch, a human rights organization based in Lucknow has called it a “political stunt” and “communal gimmick” of the Samajwadi Party’s government in Uttar Pradesh.
In a statement released today, spokesperson of Rihai Manch Shahnawaz Alam and Rajiv Yadav said withdrawal of cases against Tariq Qasmi will not lead to immediate release of him or other innocents accused in various terror charges.
“Government seems more concerned about protecting police officials and IB than getting innocents released. If the government was sincere then they should have accepted Nimesh Commission recommendation and released Tariq Qasmi and Khalid Mujahid immediately and also constituted an inquiry commission to probe all terror incidents in the state,” read the statement.
Rihai Manch also demanded to know if cases against Tariq Qasmi are false then government should state who was behind wrongful accusation against him. “Justice will not be served till we know the culprits responsible for wrong imprisonment of Qasmi.”
Rihai Manch also stated that cases against Mukhtar Hussain, Mohammad Ali Akbar, Azeezur Rahman, Naushad Hafiz, and Nurul Islam that are reported to be withdrawn are actually a 2008 case of where they were falsely accused of raising anti-national slogans. This is the same incident where Rihai Manch’s President Advocate Mohammad Shoaib was beaten up by a group of lawyers. Police slapped false cases on these accused. The withdrawal of only case from 2008 means that they will still have to face charges of terrorism and nowhere close to their release.
Rihai Manch accused the state government of playing communal politics on the issue of releasing the innocents. “The issue is not only of releasing the innocent but also of justice to the victims of terrorist violence, unless the real culprits are caught, justice will not be served,” said Rihai Manch.
Related:
UP revokes terror case against Tariq Qasmi