SC notice to centre, states on ‘arrests’

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre, Gujarat and Maharashtra governments on a petition seeking compensation and rehabilitation for Muslim youths arrested wrongly in bomb blasts at Mecca Madina blast, Samjhauta Express, Malegaon and Ajmer Sharief.

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre, Gujarat and Maharashtra governments on a petition seeking compensation and rehabilitation for Muslim youths arrested wrongly in bomb blasts at Mecca Madina blast, Samjhauta Express, Malegaon and Ajmer Sharief.

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Acting on a public interest litigation filed by Mumbai resident Gulzar Ahmed, a bench headed by Justice TS Thakur, however, expressed reluctance to entertain a plea to constitute a special investigating team (SIT) headed by a retired judge to inquire into all bomb blast cases involving Muslims.

Senior advocate Amrendra Saran and counsel Somesh Jha, appearing for the petitioners, contended the cases need to be looked into as “investigating agencies were not going to the root of real conspiracy.”

“Muslims in the country are being deliberately targeted and innocent Muslim boys are being blamed for all blasts and arrested on fabricated and false evidences, as revealed subsequently, being the handiwork of right-wing Hindu organisations, which are actively helped by probing agencies, which do not go to the root of the real conspiracy,” the petitioners added.