2006 Malegaon blasts case: MLA suggests punishment to ATS officials

Nashik: Welcoming the verdict of a special court in Mumbai that exonerated eight Muslim youths in the 2006 Malegaon bomb blasts case on Monday, an NCP MLA Asif Shaikh demanded that ATS officials be punished for “framing the youths”. “I demand that action be taken against the investigating ATS officers for framing the youths in the case and ruining their lives by keeping them in jail,” said Shaikh, a legislator from Malegaon from where the youths hailed. He said the government should pay the youths a compensation of Rs 50 lakh each. The special court of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act court on Monday dropped the charges against the youths due to lack of evidence against them.