Justice after 24 years: Abdul Nasar Madani among 8 acquitted in ISS case

Kochi, Sep 1: The additional sessions court, Ernakulam, on Wednesday acquitted eight persons including PDP leader Abdul Nasar Madani in the case related to the secret meeting of banned outfit Islamic Sevak Sangh (ISS) held at Mynagappally, Kollam, in 1992.

Additional sessions court judge K M Balachandran acquitted the eight persons including Madani's father granting benefit of doubt.

The judgement in the case was delivered 24 years after the Sasthamkotta police had registered the case.

The case pertains to a secret meeting of ISS held at Madani's residence at Mynagappally, after the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992. Trial in the case was shifted to Ernakulam from Kollam after Madani prayed for the same. Madani and his aged father were also exempted from appearing before the court at trial stage.

Of the 16 accused in the case, eight are still absconding.

During the raid at the meeting, the police had seized country made pistol, 1.4kg of gunpowder, ammunition, metal detector, notices and pamphlets of ISS. Of the 21 witnesses in the cases, two had died after delay caused in the beginning of trial. The court examined seven witnesses , 18 material objects and 18 documents during the trial stage.

The police had submitted chargehseet in the case