By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Malegaon (Maharashtra): Shabbir Masihullah, one of the accused arrested in the September 8, 2006 Malegaon blasts case, and living out on bail, has died in an accident.
He was constructing his house when a compound wall collapsed on him and his son on Monday evening after a JCB machine mistakenly hit that wall. The injured duo was rushed to the city hospital, where Masiullah, 39, was declared dead.
(Courtesy: Outlook)
He is survived by his wife and three children. His son Ma’az, 12, survived the accident and is recuperating in the hospital.
Masiullah was arrested by Maharashtra state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in 2006 and was later charged along with eight others for their involvement in Malegaon blasts.
There were series of bomb blasts in a Muslim cemetery of Malegaon, adjacent to a mosque, at around 13:15 local time after Friday prayers resulting in death of 37 and causing injuries to 130 – all Muslims in 2006.
After the alleged confessional statement given by Swami Aseemanand before the magistrate claiming that the 2006 Malegaon blasts were carried out by right wing activists, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) then arrested four Hindu activists responsible for the blasts and there by paved way for Masiullah and others’ release.
Masiullah spent five years in jail before he was released on bail on November 5, 2011. After coming out on bail, Masiullah and others filed discharge application before the special court in Mumbai. The NIA and CBI have not objected to their discharge but the state ATS, standing by their own charge sheet, has opposed it.
The discharge application is still pending before special MCOC judge Y D Shinde.
[ with inputs from Urdutimes]