‘No Evidence Of Handling Of Arms Or Joining Classes For Radical Teaching On Religious Lines’: Delhi Court Grants Bail To Kashmiri Youth In UAPA Case

A Delhi Court has granted bail to a 22-year-old Kashmiri Youth in a UAPA case, observing that there was no evidence of handling of arms or joining of any classes for radical teaching on religious lines by him. Special NIA judge Shailendar Malik of Patiala House Courts granted bail to Mateen Ahmed Bhatt who was arrested on October 13, 2021.“…I find that accusation against the accused does not appear to be convincing atleast for the purpose of deciding the question of bail. More particularly taking into consideration the age and the fact that accused has no previous criminal antecedents and also taking into consideration the period of detention. Hence bail application of accused is allowed…,” the court said in an order passed yesterday.It is NIA’s case that terror groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba. Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen and Al-Badar hatched a conspiracy after abrogation of Article 370 “to revive terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India.” The central agency has alleged that "United Jihad Council” was made under a larger conspiracy for coordinating with other terror groups on the instruction of ISI for carrying out terrorist activities. The central probe agency alleged that Bhatt started working as an “over ground worker” for other active militants and handlers based in Pakistan and was also involved in providing logistical support, recruitment of local youths and assisting active cadres in the Kashmir Valley. It was further alleged that Bhatt was in contact with active terrorists and various incriminating audio clips were retrieved from his mobile phone.Granting bail to Bhatt, the court said that the accusation against him does not appear to be convincing for deciding the question of bail.“There is also no evidence of any handling of arms, ammunition by the accused or joining any classes for radical teaching, on the line of religion,” it added. While the NIA alleged that Bhatt was radicalized by one Muzaffar Ahmad Bandey, the court said that Bandey was neither accused nor a witness in the case. “As per prosecution case there is no evidence of accused having done any "overt act" like supply of arms/ammunition, sending of any information by way of chats on social media.... Certain contents like pictures, reference etc. would not be enough for the point of relief of bail to conclude about accusation against accused/applicant,” the court said. Advocates Tanveer Ahmed Mir and Kartik Venu represented the accused. SPP Gautam Narayan appeared for NIA.

‘No Evidence Of Handling Of Arms Or Joining Classes For Radical Teaching On Religious Lines’: Delhi Court Grants Bail To Kashmiri Youth In UAPA Case

Nupur Thapliyal

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