TADA COURT ACQUITS INNOCENTS AFTER 21 YEARS

A TADA court in Kashmir on August 4 acquitted Hurriyat Conference leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz along with Basheer Ahmad, Farooq Ahmad and Irshad Ahmad Khan after a long hearing of 21 years. They were accused of having been involved in terrorist activities. It is notable that one innocent accused died in the captivity. An FIR was filed against them on July 17, 1989, holding them responsible for blasts occurred on January 15, 1989 in the state capital. Earlier 13 witnesses were named in this case but only one was presented in the court who later turned hostile and said he was not present at the time of blast. So in the long run, the Court, owing to non-availability of ample evidence and witnesses, acquitted all the persons held captive.