By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Lucknow: The indefinite dharna called by the Rihai Manch (Forum for the Release of Innocent Muslims imprisoned in the name of Terrorism) outside UP Assembly entered the fifth day today. Rihai Manch has is on indefinite dharna demanding persecution of police officers involved in the custodial death of Khalid Mujahid, tabling of the Nimesh Commission Report and release of Muslim youths languishing in jails in fabricated terror cases.
Sufi Obaidur Rehman, who had come from Barabanki, said that by its inaction in last one week, the SP government has proved that it is siding with the killers of Khalid Mujahid.
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Advocate Mohamamd Shoaib, chairman of the Manch, said that the UP government is speaking with two mouths – on one side it claims to withdraw terror cases against innocent Muslim youths and on the other hand, their local leader in Faizabad, who is also a lawyer, is opposing such an action.
Mansur Elahi, who is district unit president of Legal Wing of SP in Faizabad—Samajwadi Adhivakta Sabha. Mansur is a senior leader of SP in Faizabad and had even contested elections twice for the post of Chairman, Nagar Palika. He is one of the lawyers in the panel of 7 lawyers constituted by Faizabad Bar Association to oppose the terror accused. His role becomes significant after state government's decision to withdraw the case.
“I had confirmed before the court that I had signed the Vakalatnama. Actually the defence lawyer had raised objection over my signature,” confirmed Mansur Elahi to TwoCircles.net. He however clarified his role in the whole case. “Technically I had signed the Vakalatnama but I am not part of the panel anymore. Since I am the complainant in the case, I continue to remain in the case. But I will not oppose government's decision to withdraw the case against them,” Elahi clarified.
Faiyaz Ahmed, uncle of Tariq Qasmi, co-accused with now deceased Khalid Mujahid, had also come to participate in the dharna. He said that is now scared for his nephew’s life after the demise of Khalid. He urged the state government to step up seucirty of his nephew and other Muslim youths languishing in jail. He also demanded from the SP government to table the RD Nimesh Commission Report soon.
Khalid had died under mysterious circumstances on his way back from Faizabad near Ram Sanehi Ghat last Saturday. He was declared brought dead by the doctors at district hospital in Barabanki. Later, on the complain of his uncle Zahir Alam Falahi, a case was registered against 42 police officers including former DGP Vikram Singh, ADG Brijlal and others who were on duty during the time of Khalid's arrest.
Speaking to TCN, his uncle Zaheer Alam Falahi, who saw the dead body in the hospital, confirmed that although his nephew was quite fair, his face appeared to have turned black and that his neck was swollen as if someone twisted it. There were blood marks as well on face, and ankle, elbow, etc had turned black.
Khalid along with Tariq Qasmi was arrested by Special Task Force (STF) on 20 December 2007 from Barabanki. Huge explosives were also shown as recovered from his possession. STF claimed that he was involved in the serial blasts which occurred in Gorakhpur, Faizabad and Lucknow. Later, Nimesh Commission was constituted headed by Justice R D Nimesh who in its report raised fingers over STF's claim about the place of arrest.
