Mumbai: Hours after the recent explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort, several Muslim men who were acquitted in the 2006 Mumbai train blast case reported sudden police visits at their homes. The visits revived fears among the men, many of whom spent nearly two decades in prison before the Bombay High Court cleared them of all charges.
Muzammil Ataur Rahman Shaikh, an engineer who was acquitted after nineteen years in jail, said a constable arrived at his home in Mira Road and demanded a selfie. He later learned that police officers had visited the homes of his co accused as well. Shaikh said the encounter brought back memories of raids that marked his years in custody. He sent complaint letters to the Mumbai Police Commissioner.
Police teams also reached the home of Sajid Ansari, a mobile repair technician who was accused of preparing bomb circuits before his acquittal. Ansari said he allowed the photo to avoid future allegations.
In Jalgaon, as well as several suburbs of Mumbai, acquitted men and a witness who had turned hostile reported visits by local police. They said officers carried no legal documents and conducted no official search. They described the visits as attempts to intimidate them and their families.
Some of the men have installed CCTV cameras to record visits. Others have filed complaints with senior police officials and human rights bodies. They said such visits follow every major terror incident in the country. They added that the pattern disrupts their efforts to rebuild their lives after long years in prison.
As reported in The Wire.
