By M. Reyaz, TwoCircles.net,
Nagaon(Assam): A 2008 Assam serial blast accused committed suicide under ‘huge debt’ and ‘enormous mental pressure’ according to her family members.
Mohamamd Nazmul Haque, who was accused in the case for criminal conspiracy, document forging, cheating and spreading enmity under sections 120B, 419, 420, 468, 471 and 505 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), was out on bail.
As we enter the house of Nazmul, his brooding mother on wheel-chair looks at us with gleam hope.
The case – 2008 Serial blast:
Assam was rocked by serial blast on October 30, 2008 when at least 13 bombs exploded in Guwahati, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon and Barpeta. The blast – as usual – was linked to the very first day with Jihadi groups and Bangladesh based HuJI.
TV News channel “News Live” had purportedly received an SMS the next day that is October 31, 2008 from a reliance number 9864693690 that read: “We; ISF (IM) take the responsibility of yesterday’s blasts. We warn all of Assam and India for situations like this in future. We thank all our holly members and partners. Aamin.”
ISF apparently stands for Islamic Security Force and IM stands for Indian Mujahedeen.
However, soon it was discovered that the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) was behind the serial blast and that none other than NDFB chief Ranjan Daimary had hatched the plan.
Nonetheless, the mobile number from which the SMS was apparently sent was traced to some Mohd. Naziruddin Ahmed of village Moirabari in Nagaon. Nazir was arrested, but it was found that documents used for the purchase of the SIM card is forged and so the next target was the mobile shop, from where the SIM was purportedly sold.
Nazmul Haque had recently opened reliance mobile “showroom” in the locality, apparently from where the SIM was sold. As document used was ‘forged’ the suspicion went on Nazmul himself. He was called by the investigating agency to the state capital, where he went with a friend. He was arrested in Guwahati.
His two employees and younger brother Sowhail Mustafa too were later charge-sheeted, although Nazir was released on bail and his name did not find mention in the charge-sheet. TCN tried speaking to Nazir and his family, but they refused to say a word on record.
Nazmul Haque
Tragedy falls on the family:
Although Nazmul too was granted bail after two months, the case dragged on – and still continues. Nazmul, alias Babul ran a petrol pump, had a hardware shop and had recently started the said mobile outlet. However, soon he found himself in huge debt due to enormous cost of dragging case, lawyer’s fees, and frequent visits to Guwahati.
The family alleges that he was physically tortured while in custody. Even after release, he was under undue pressure from the investigating agency to accept the crime. The ‘shame’ that had loomed on the family distressed him as his mobile shop shut down and was forced to sell the petrol pump.
Under mental distress Nazmul consumed poison on August 1, 2011. The family maintains that there was no other conflict at home or with anyone else and that the dragging case and embarrassment it had brought to the family were the only reasons for his agony.
The family had so far maintained silence. TCN, however, spoke with his younger brother Sowhail Mustafa, who is himself a co-accused now, and his brother-in-law Iqbal Hussian. TCN also spoke with the Hasina Haque, widow of Nazmul, but her remorse took over her as she broke into tears.
Mustafa, who was studying bachelors in hotel management at Chennai in 2008 when the incident occurred, alleges some “wrong doing” and believe that his family is being fabricated for no known reason.
He even accuses the investigating agency for putting undue pressure on his deceased brother and on him to accept the alleged crime, something he firmly believes his brother did not commit.
Mustafa also alleges that the investigating agency suspected him to be Jihadi as he is bearded and spots a skull cap.
Sowhail Mustafa, younger brother of Nazmul Haque
Loopholes in the case:
Mustafa points to the loopholes in the police version of the case. According to the investigating agency the said SMS was sent from a particular Nokia 1209 set. The primary witness and evidence against Nazmul is the Dhing based Vinayak Telcom, the nodal showroom, responsible for verification of documents and activating SIM cards.
Navin Sharma of Vinayak Telcom told police that the said Nokia phone was bought from his shop by Nazmul and that the said SIM card too was given to his outlet. However, he does not have the cash-memo or receipt of either. He told police that since mobile phone was sold in cash, he did not enter it into memo.
Mustafa, however, refutes the claim. He says that his shop never bought any Nokia phone from Vinayak Telcom as they use to purchase Nokia phones from another dealer. What is more interesting is that even if Nazmul had purchased Nokia phone from Vinayak Telcom, how would a shopkeeper remember 14 digit IMEI number?
The SIM card was bought on February 20, 2008 sold from the shop of Nazmul Haque in the name of Naziruddin, and activated two days later on February 22, according to Vinayak Telcom.
However, neither Vinayak Telcom has any document to prove that, nor is this particular SIM details entered in the ledger of Nazmul’s shop.
Mustafa also tries to explain the mystery behind alleged forged documents. He says that when they got the agency for the reliance, they were also required to fulfill certain minimum sells. Mustafa says that his brother was advised by those dealers themselves to issue some cards to reach the threshold.
He also raises a more pertinent issue. Mustafa says that a SIM card if not in use for over 90 days is blocked and issue to someone else by the network operator. Record shows that the said mobile number was recharged after over eight months.
It was recharged the next time on October 31, 2008 – the day SMS was sent.
There is another interesting twist to the case that perhaps security agency overlooked. Both the time the recharge was made at Dhing and not in the Moirabari locality. Moreover, the said SMS, as per the record, was send from Dhing area network.
Besides Nazmul and Mustafa, the case is also pending against his two employees.
Mustafa alleges that he was also made to write similar text as in the SMS on a blank paper and forced to sign it. He says many times investigating agency put pressure on him to accept the crime.
Hasina Haque, widow of Nazmul Haque.
Family in grief:
Meanwhile Nazmul’s family has not been able to recover from the prolong case and the demise of eldest and ‘most loving’ son. As we were talking, a distant away, his mother is still sitting on her wheel chair, tears rolling from her eyes she is pensively listening to us.
Mustafa says, “He was the eldest son and so well behaved with everyone, mother loved her more,” adding, “Not a day passes when after every prayer she is not whining for her deceased son.”
Mustafa has left his studies and work, and now stays at home to run the only hardware shop left as they are still under huge debt. He prays that the case is fast tracked so that his family name is absolved sooner, and his mother who is always in tears has something to cheer.
Nazmul is survived by his wife, who is illiterate, and three young children – two sons and a daughter. Mustafa pleads that the government gives suitable compensation to his deceased brother’s widow.