Bangalore, Feb 23: In a setback to Bangalore police, a special court of National Investigation Agency on Saturday ordered the immediate release of two youth including a journalist, who were among 15 men arrested in September 2012 in a controversial anti-terror operation.
Hubli based Muthi-ur-Rahman Siddiqui, who was a working with Deccan Herald English newspaper in Bangalore and Syed Yusuf Nalband, are expected to be released soon, said their advocate Akmal Razvi following the court's order.
It could be recalled here that many media houses in Karnataka had projected Muthi-ur-Rahman as the 'mastermind' of an alleged terror plot. Moreover, none of the journalists organisations had expressed support to him, despite police had arrested him without any evidence.
In a controversial operation on August 29, 2012, the Central Crime Branch of Bangalore Police had arrested 11 youth from different locations in Karnataka on charge of allegedly plotting to kill a few Kannada journalists and political leaders linked with Hindutva organisations. Within few days, four more youth were picked up by CCB sleuths in connection with the same plot. The CCB then filed cases against 25 persons, out of whom 10 are shown as absconding.
However, the NIA, which took over the case three months ago filed a chargesheet against 12 persons – 11 out of the 15 arrested and 1 from the absconders list- earlier this week. Four among the arrested - Muthi-ur-Rahman Siddiqui, Aijaz Ahmed Mirza, a junior research scientist in DRDO, Syed Yusuf Nalaband and Syed Tanzeem- have been kept out of the chargesheet.
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