2008 Jaipur blasts: Acquitted men seek action against Raje

Eleven persons, acquitted by a local court of charges of being members of the banned outfit Students Islamic Movement of India, on Saturday demanded action against authorities, including former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje for implicating them in the case.

The persons belonging to minority community, who were arrested after the 2008 Jaipur serial blasts, were acquitted by the court, which observed that prosecution failed to establish any link between them and the banned outfit.

The men, under the banner of Rajasthan Muslim Forum, also sought action against Raje, her cabinet colleague former state home minister Gulab Chand Kataria and some police officers.

They said despite their innocence being proved after a long legal battle, they are still facing several social complexities due to the charges levelled on them.

"We are socially boycotted after the arrest of my son. My family suffered for three years and source of livelihood also got disturbed," Aadil, father of Azam who was acquitted, aid.

He demanded action against those responsible and accused the police of torturing Azam and others in the jail.

Seeking an apology, the forum asked the state government to initiate action against Raje, Kataria and five police officers allegedly involved in the act. It also demanded for a token compensation of Rs 25 lakh each to the victims.

Those acquitted are Nazakat Hussain, Amanullah, Mohammd Yunus, Ishaq Qureshi, Mohammad Suhail, Taufeeq, Azam, Inamur, Nadim Akhtar, Munawwar Hussain and Mohammad Ilyas.