CPI-M demands NIA file appeal in Mecca Masjid acquittals

The CPI-M on Wednesday demanded that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) file an appeal against the acquittal of the accused in the Mecca Masjid blast, which it termed as "latest mockery of justice".

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) adopted a resolution to this effect at its 22nd Congress here.

"The 22nd Congress of the CPI-M expresses profound shock at the acquittal by the NIA Special Court on April 16 of all those arrested in connection with the Mecca Masjid bomb blast case. It expresses deep concern that central agencies responsible for investigation and prosecution of crimes are increasingly biased in favour of Hindutva forces," the resolution read.

It said that there is a "pattern in acquittals of the accused owing allegiance to the Sangh Parivar in various cases of terrorism and bomb blasts".

Nine people offering Friday prayers at the Mecca Masjid were killed and 58 injured in the bomb blast on May 18, 2007.

"The judgment stated that the acquittal was based on 'lack of evidence'," said the resolution, noting that Naba Kumar Sarkar alias Swami Aseemanand, and four others, all having close connections to the Sangh Parivar, were released immediately. Aseemanand is also an accused in the Samjhauta Express and the Ajmer Dargah bomb blasts, based on his own, signed confessional statement, it added.

"Earlier he was acquitted in the Ajmer Dargah case as well. A similar injustice occurred when the Malegaon blast accused were acquitted. The question is if all those accused have been acquitted, then who is responsible for these terrible killings?" the CPI-M resolution said.

The party noted that in the Mecca Masjid case, as many as 64 witnesses turned hostile and added that the resignation of the judge, K. Ravinder Reddy, immediately after he pronounced his judgment had "added new questions to an already questionable decision".

"The 22nd Congress of the CPI-M demands that the NIA file an appeal against this judgment, and appeals to the people to protest against this latest mockery of justice," it said.

--IANS

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