Demand for retrial in mosque blast case

Protest not against the judiciary but against the NIA’s negligence and bias, Owaisi says

The major Muslim organisations in Hyderabad have demanded that the Makkah Masjid blast case either be re-tried, or the verdict of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court be challenged in the High Court.

A delegation of Muslim leaders led by the Hyderabd MP and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi met the state governor E.S.L. Narasimhan yesterday and demanded a retrial.

A memorandum presented by the delegation to the governor highlighted various acts of omission and commission by the investigative agency leading to the weakening of the case and acquittal of the five accused belonging to the Hindu right wing groups.

Earlier several Muslim organisations also held a massive protest meeting in the city last evening, which was addressed by the prominent city Muslim leaders and representatives of various organisations.

Addressing the mammoth gathering Asaduddin Owaisi said the blast case should be heard afresh under Sections 173, sub section 8 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

“If the survivors of any of the victims of the blast are willing to fight a legal battle, MIM and other Muslim organisations will extend them the assistance,” he said.

Owaisi was of the view that if the families of the survivors become parties in the case, that would have a major impact.

He said the protest was not against the judiciary but against the negligence and the bias shows by the NIA during the trial. A total of 9 people were killed, while 58 others were injured in the bomb blast during the Friday congregation in the historic Makkah mosque of Hyderabad on May 18, 2007.

“The NIA weakened the case in an organised manner at the behest of the political masters,” Owaisi said.