A special session court on Thursday acquitted three alleged Harkat-ul-Jihad al Islami (HUJI) operatives - Yaqub alias Shakir Raza alias Lambu, Jalaluddin Mandal alias Babu Khan and Naushad alias Hafiz alias Sabir - for want of evidence.
Last year in April, the state government had moved a petition in the special court for the withdrawal of case against Yaqub in public interest and justice. The trio was nabbed by the special task force (STF) from different spots in Lucknow in 2007.
The STF team claimed to recover 4 kg RDX, three detonators, a timer clock and batteries from their possession. While Yaqub was arrested first, based on the information provided by him, Jalaluddin and Naushad were subsequently held.
Two cases — on charges of treason, waging war against nation and under explosive act — were registered at Hussainganj police station. The prosecution had stated that Yaqub was arrested from a petrol pump near Lucknow’s KKC college on Charbagh road on June 21, 2007.
It said Yaqub, a resident of Bijnor, had gone to Pakistan via Bangladesh in 2005 where he underwent training in explosive and weapons. He was accused of planning terror strikes across country.
{{/usCountry}}It said Yaqub, a resident of Bijnor, had gone to Pakistan via Bangladesh in 2005 where he underwent training in explosive and weapons. He was accused of planning terror strikes across country.
{{/usCountry}}While deciding the case, special judge SAH Rizvi observed that prosecution had failed to establish a case against the accused.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, the special court fixed charges against two alleged Pakistani terrorists Murtaza alias Abdul Walid and Uvaish alias Fahim. The next hearing of the case is scheduled on August 20.