Gujarat: 20 years ago arrested under UAPA, evidence not found, now 122 people acquitted
A Gujarat court acquitted 122 people on Saturday, 6 March. He was accused of attending a meeting held in Surat in December 2001 as a member of the banned organization Student Islamic Movement of India SIMI. All of them were arrested under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate AN Dave acquitted the accused giving the benefit of doubt. The number of people arrested in 2001 was 127. 5 people died during the hearing of the case. The remaining 122 are now acquitted.
No evidence against the accused
According to the news agency news PTI, the court said in its order that the prosecution failed to produce 'solid, reliable and satisfactory' evidence to prove that the accused were involved with SIMI and to enhance the activities of the banned organization The court said that the accused cannot be convicted under the UAPA.
According to the news of the Indian Express, the court has said that the accused had gathered to participate in the educational program and did not carry any weapons. The prosecution also could not prove that the accused had gathered for any activity related to SIMI. Not a single one of the 123 members arrested during the raid tried to escape. Nor did the seized documents have any connection with SIMI.
What did the police say?
The police, however, claimed that they had recovered forms to join SIMI, banners, books and literature praising terrorist Osama bin Laden. It was also alleged that in view of the police, many of them chewed the SIM cards of their mobile phones to destroy the evidence. Later four more people were taken into custody.
Arrested in 2001
Athava Lines Police of Surat arrested at least 127 people under UAPA on 28 December 2001 for being members of SIMI. They were accused of holding a meeting in a hall of the town's Sagrampura to expand the activities of the banned organization. On 27 September 2001, the central government issued a notification banning SIMI.
The accused in this case are from Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar besides various parts of Gujarat. In their defense, the accused said that they had no connection with SIMI and all of them had participated in the program under the banner of All India Minority Education Board.
According to the scroll news, 111 people out of 127 were present in the court on Saturday. Maulana Ataur Rahman Wazdi, now 85 years old, said that he was surprised after his arrest. Nobody spoke to us nor listened to us. I have been with the stress of being anti-national all these years. Now I will be able to die peacefully. Government lawyer Nayan Sukhwala says that after reading the order, they will decide whether to knock the door of the High Court or not.
source