Chennai: Five absolved in bomb cases

Chennai: A special court for the exclusive trial of bomb blast cases, Poonamallee has acquitted five persons, who were arrested on a charge of attempt to commit dacoity and murder in 2008.  According to the prosecution, a team from M.K.B.Nagar police station was engaged in vehicle check at West Avenue and Erukkanchery High Road junction on 5.1.2008 at 7.30 am. The personnel intercepted a speeding van proceeding from Moolakkadai to Ambedkar College. Despite warning from the police, the driver did not stop the vehicle. Immediately, they chased vehicle up to a distance and intercepted it.

Three people were arrested from the van on charges of possessing weapons and country-made bombs, attempt to murder the policeman on duty and for planning a dacoity. Two more people were arrested from an apartment complex and more arms and bombs were seized from them. A local person was also arrested for helping them with planning.

The chargesheet was filed before the X metropolitan magistrate court and thereafter, the principal judge, Chennai, transferred it to the special court. During the trial, counsels for the accused were able to argue the case as one that was foisted at the behest of higher officials and the accused were innocents visiting Chennai on personal work. During the trial, Nazeer Ahamed, the local person, died. Judge P. Murugan said, “I hold that the prosecution has failed to establish any of the charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt, and therefore, by extending a benefit of doubt, they were found not guilty”.