Makkah Masjid blast: Kin of victims move to HC against acquittal of Aseemanand, others

Hyderabad: Appealing against the verdict of the NIA special court, which acquitted all the five accused, including Swami Aseemanand nearly 10 months ago, Makkah Masjid blast victims’ families have knocked the door of Telangana High Court. The hearing of the petition has been listed on June 4.

Neither ministry of home affairs (MHA) nor NIA filed a counter against the NIA Court verdict, hence the kin of the victims themselves decided to move to the High Court.

As reported by the Times of India, Osman Shareef, Syeda Safia, Shaikh Ateeq and Amir Khan filed the writ petition through advocate Maqsood bin Ahmed. Contending that there was overwhelming evidence against the acquitted, the petitioners appealed against the verdict.

Shareef lost his son Mohammed Irfan Shareef (16), Safia lost her husband Sajid Ali Khan, Ateeq’s father Shaikh Jahangir suffered a severe head injury while Amir lost his father Yousuf Khan and uncle Shafiq-ur-Rehman in the blasts.

The survivors and kin of victims expressed anguish saying justice was not delivered. Blast occurred at the historic Makkah Masjid on May 18, 2007, killing 9 worshipers and living 58 others injured.

NIA had filed a charge sheet against Devendra Gupta, Aseemanand and others but the court acquitted them.