7/11, Malegaon blasts: Minority Commission wants NIA probe

Mumbai: Maharashtra State Minority Commission has approached the Bombay High Court alleging false implication and fabrication of evidence against innocent Muslims in bomb blasts cases and sought NIA probe into them. The commission filed an intervening application in a PIL filed by journalist Ashish Khetan seeking NIA investigation into the 7/11 serial train blasts and the 2006 Malegaon blasts. [caption id=“attachment_1292119” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] A file photo of the Malegaon blast. AFP[/caption] Khetan had filed his PIL on September 5 seeking a stay on the trial being conducted by a special MCOCA court against 13 accused, alleged to be members of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), for their alleged role in 2006 serial train blasts that killed 209 people and injured scores of others. The commission in its application filed by chairman Munaf Hakim noted the 2002 Ghatkopar bomb blasts case in which the nine arrested accused were acquitted by a sessions court due to lack of evidence against them. “The commission is set up to protect the interests of all minority groups. Implication of Muslim youths in bomb blast cases is not only ruining their lives but of their families too,” the Commission said in its application. Khetan’s PIL and the application are likely to come up for hearing on 19 December. PTI