Malegaon protests against dropping of MCOCA from 2008 blast case

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Mumbai: Hundreds of Malegaon residents assembled in Azad Maidan in Mumbai yesterday to protest against the dropping of MCOCA from the September 2008 Malegaon terror blast case in which some Hindutva extremists including Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur are accused.

The protesters demanded progress in the case on the basis of proofs collected by slain ATS chief Hemant Karkare. They also demanded enquiry against the extremist organization Abhinav Bharat; most of the accused in the blast case had been affiliated to the group.



It was interesting that the protest was organized by Malegaon district Congress committee, Malegaon Youth Congress and Congress Minority cell under the leadership of Malegaon Congress MLA Shaikh Rashid, and they were blaming the ATS as well as ruling Congress-NCP state government for carelessness in the case, which led to the dropping of MCOCA from Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt. Colonel Purohit and others involved in September 29, 2008 Bhikku chowk, Malegaon bomb blast case.

A special court in Mumbai on 31 July ordered to drop MCOCA from Sadhvi Pragya Singh, Lt Col Prasad Purohit and nine others accused in 2008 Malegaon blast case. Since then every day Muslim, social and secular organizations have been holding protest rallies against the verdict in several parts of the country. But it was an agitation which was held by Congress leaders against Congress-led state government.

Leading the protest MLA Shaikh Rashid said that innocent Muslim youths accused in 2006 Malegaon bomb blast case were charged with MCOCA and being tortured while MCOCA has been dropped from Sadhvi Pragya Singh, Lt Col Prasad Purohit and others involved in 2008, Malegaon bomb blast. This was possible only because of carelessness of ATS which filed weak chargesheets against them in court.

“Sadhvi Pragya Singh and her associates are anti-national so if state government will not challenge the special court verdict within 15 days with strong proofs then we will file petition in the court on behalf of Malegaon citizens” said Mr. Shaikh Rashid.

“We are here to demand for justice; so government should take action against culprits of Malegaon bomb blast as soon as possible” he demanded.

Protesters alleged that killing of Hemant Kerkare was a conspiracy to save high-profile personalities whose names were to be disclosed in terror incidents that have taken place in the country. They asked immediate removal of ATS chief KP Raghuvanshi “who is responsible for dropping of MCOCA from accused in the case” and demanded government to put investigation report done by slain Hemant Kerkare before the court.

Meanwhile, home minister for state Mr. Arif Naseem Khan assured protesters to take tough action against culprits. He said that the government was prepared to challenge the special court verdict in High Court with strong evidences to charge accused under MCOCA once again to punish them.