By Mohd. Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net,
Bengaluru: Bangalore police much fantasized inter-city terror assassination conspiracy case is now resulting in huge embarrassment for their force. In August last year when Bangalore central crime station (CCS) ‘busted’ an alleged gang of highly qualified professional Muslim youths on a mission to assassinate right wing Hindu journalists and politicians it was heralded by the media and security agencies as a big breakthrough in the field of investigation.
Nation thought for the first time police was able to foil one of it kind of terror attacks before its execution. Nearly 15 Muslim youths from Bangalore, Hubli, Nanded and Hyderabad were arrested in this case and a list of rightwing politicians and journalists were given who was on that alleged hit list. In matter of nights those people on that alleged hit list got huge wave of support and became celebrities. In Hyderabad there were demands to provide Z security to local right wing Municipal Counselors whose name also cropped up in that long list. Bangalore CCS even claimed that the arrested youths are Lashker-e-Taiba agents trained in Pakistan by ISI with handlers in Saudi Arabia.
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Aijaz Ahmed Mirza. [Photo by NewzFirst]
But when two months back NIA took over the case from Bangalore police it found hard even to prosecute top accused. Muti-ur-Rehman Siddiqui, journalist with Deccan Herald, Yusuf Nalaband, a technician was released as there was no prosecutable evidence found against them.
In the similar manner NIA asked more time to the court for filing charge sheet against DRDO junior research fellow AIjaz Ahmed Mirza and Syed Tanzeem. As NIA failed to file charge sheet in stipulated 90 days’ time period Aijaz Ahmed Mirza was granted statutory bail by NIA court.
This case became particularly serious when the name of Aijaz Ahmed Mirza was brought in as he was then working with Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). When he was branded as LeT operative media was buzz on how much crucial material might have been leaked. DRDO was then forced to issue a statement saying that Aijaz was not having any access to crucial defense equipment’s during his work. Five months after his arrest he was terminated by DRDO.
Now as Aijaz walks free, he got baggage of despairs hanging on his back. Although he is receiving support from many corners including PCI chairman justice Katju, but Aijaz very well know that it’s going to be a long fight to reclaim literally his normal life back.
Speaking to TCN Aijaz Ahmed said he is relived to walk free after getting statutory bail but getting a clean chit Aijaz said is his first priority at this juncture as there is possibility that NIA might add his name in the additional charge sheet, but Aijaz is hopeful that it will not be the case.
“They didn’t get any evidence against me, but they are trying to scan me well. As they have asked for some more time from the court look into my case. My phones are getting tapped, NIA think they can get something crucial. But I am not afraid of it because I have nothing to hide,” Aijaz Ahmed Mirza said in confident but peaceful tune.
But he is not living in fool’s paradise, even in worst case scenario of NIA taking his name in additional charge sheet Aijaz said he will fight back as he believes; ‘whole case is just a sham and unnecessarily lot of people has suffered due to this concocted case.’
The woes for Aijaz family are not yet finished as Shoaib Ahmed Mirza, a MCA student and younger brother of Aijaz is still in jail. Aijaz claims although he was only mentally harassed during police interrogation, but his younger brother and some other youths were physically tortured and third degree was used against them
Aijaz said he and his family believe in the judiciary of this nation and hope his younger brother will be free and join their family soon.
Aijaz now hold very strong critical views against Bangalore CCS police and there procedural ways. Aijaz criticized police for “literally kidnapping” them from their house; he believe that police need to learn some policing.
Although media vilified Aijaz and his brother Shoaib in very negative light after their arrest, like Times of India even suggested that Shoaib was a terror trainer in Pakistan, but Aijaz said he doesn’t want to blame whole media for bias reporting. As he believes many media outlets did support his family and also highlighted their story.
But Aijaz did advice media and journalist not to take police version for face value without even rechecking it or getting response from the victim’s side.
Aijaz, who wants to become a research scientist, said working as a Junior Research Fellow at the Centre for Airborne Systems in DRDO was his dream work. As V.K. Saraswat chief of DRDO has promised to reinstate Aijaz when he will be cleared of all charges, Aijaz said getting a clean chit is now his main priority.
Aijaz Ahmed Mirza said still he has no idea why he was targeted in this way. When try to solve this puzzle, Aijaz said he always stumble on the fact that he was a Muslim with good professional background. That might suit well for investigation agencies that ‘fantasized the case.’ Aijaz said he is not sure but his religion might have been a major factor.
Aijaz very well know that police harassment will not end even if he gets a clean chit. As now his phone is getting tapped to get more clues by NIA, it could be for some other case next time. But assertive Aijaz said as fate got him into trouble it also taught him to fight back. After getting clean chit Aijaz said he will search for avenues with his legal advisors to take on Bangalore police for booking him in false case.