By Mumtaz Alam, Muslim Mirror,
New Delhi, April 10: Aijaz Ahmed Mirza is not alone who faced gross discrimination and unfair treatment from the Defence Ministry. Mirza was terminated by Defence Research & Development Organisation, Bangalore following terror charges of which he has been almost absolved. Much before Mirza, Dr. Anwar Ali Khan of Pune has faced similar unfair treatment from the National Defence Academy, another wing of the Defence Ministry. Once lecturer at NDA, Pune, Dr. Anwar Ali Khan today sells books to earn livelihood. He too was arrested on terror charges – in one case he has been acquitted, and in another charges have not yet been proved, and so the court has released him on bail.
Dr. Anwar Ali Javed Ali Khan, original resident of 1103, Old Modikhana, Pune 411001, Maharashtra, got arrested by Mumbai Police, on 9th May 2003, in the offence of bomb blast in Karjat bound Local Train at Mulund (Mumbai) which took place in March 2003 and also in another case of bomb blast which took place in Dec. 2003 at Ghatkopar (Mumbai) in a BEST bus. After keeping him in illegal custody for more than two days he was formally shown arrested on 11th of May 2003.
“Prior to my arrest I was working as a lecturer of Urdu in the Dept. of Foreign Languages at National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune. But right after my formal arrest in Mulund blast case i.e. on 11th of May 2003, I was terminated from my job,” Dr. Ali told Muslim Mirror. Dr. Ali was terminated on 12th May 2003.
NDA terminated Dr. Ali for absence of three days
Though Dr. Ali was picked on 9th May, he was shown arrested on 11th May when he was presented in the court. TV channels and print media flashed the news describing him as a hardcore terrorist and main accused of the train blasts. Just a day later, i.e. on 12th May, NDA terminated him. What is more interesting is that termination letter mentions his absence as the reason of his termination.
“Refer to this office letter letter no 1230/clock Hour T.U.L/F dated 11 March 2003. The offer stands terminated due to your absence from the duty,” reads the two-line letter dated 12th March.
Dr. Anwar Ali asks the government why this treatment with him when a terror accused, charge sheeted and in-jail Col. Purohit is getting full salary in jail, leaving suspension or termination from the Army.
“It is a shocking incident of injustice that Lt. Col. Shrikant Purohit who was also working in Defence got arrested in the case of Malegaon Bomb blast in the year 2008, and is presently in jail is still not been terminated and getting regular salaries from Govt., whereas my services were terminated right after the declaration of my arrest,” says Dr. Ali.
Dr. Ali demands the Defence Ministry to direct National Defence Academy, Pune to pay him his dues in the interest of justice and equality.
“Presently I am jobless and holder of unemployment card and requested the employment officer of University of Pune employment exchange to send me some call for the job of Lecturer ship as I am fully qualified to become a lecturer. But since last one year no single call was sent.”
“My question with the Govt. is why this injustice with me? Just because I am a Muslim and Lt. Col Shrikant Purohit is Hindu, who is still enjoying his job status and getting salary even today.”
Dr. Ali narrates the sad story of his life
On 4/3/2004, i.e. after nine months of incarceration in Ghatkopar blast case, I was discharged from this case on the written submission of Public Prosecutor before Special under POTA, that Prosecution did not have any evidence against me and eight others, as these accused persons were merely arrested on suspicion therefore I along with eight other accused were discharged in this case by Special Court Under POTA, Mumbai, in March 2004.
However my jail custody continued for another eight long years due to charges of Mulund bomb blast case. And on the fair written submission of Public Prosecutor before the Special Court under POTA, Mumbai, that they do not have any evidence against me with regard to bomb blasts which took place in Mumbai, the Special Court at Bombay granted me bail in Mulund blast case, on 28th Feb. 2011. Since then I am out of jail.
It is a shocking incident of injustice that Lt. Col. Shrikant Purohit who was also working in Defence got arrested in the case of Malegaon Bomb blast in the year 2008, and is presently in jail is still not been terminated and getting regular salaries from Govt., whereas my services were terminated right after the declaration of my arrest.
I, am a family man aged 47 years, staying at Pune with my wife and three minor children all studying in Pune, and aged ailing widow mother, having permanent residence at the above given address since birth.
Justice demands that I should also be given my salaries for the complete period of ten years i.e. from the day of my termination which is 12/5/2003, to till date on the same ratio as Lt. Col. Shrikant Purohit is paid, and the payment may please be continued till the final judgment of my case, which is pending on the file of Special Court under POTA, in Court Room No. 55, City Sessions Court, Mumbai-400 032. An appropriate order may kindly be passed directing National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune 411 023, through Ministry of Defence to pay me my dues in the interest of justice and equality.”
Case History in Brief of Dr. Anwar Ali Javed Ali Khan
Bomb blast of Dec. 2003 at Ghatkopar (Mumbai) in a BEST bus:
Status: On 4/3/2004, i.e. after nine months of incarceration, I was discharge from this case on the submission of Public Prosecutor that Prosecution did not have any evidence against me and eight others, as these accused persons were merely arrested on suspicion therefore I along with eight other accused were discharged in this case by Special Court Under POTA, Mumbai, in March 2004. But our jail custody continued for another seven year (total period of incarceration eight year) as we were facing charges of other bomb blast which is explained in para 2. Photo copy of the above said discharge order attached here with.
Bomb blast of March 2003, in a Karjat bound Local Train at Mulund:
Status: Prosecution admitted in writing before Special Court under POTA, Mumbai, that they do not have any evidence against me with regard to bomb blast that took place in Mumbai, as mentioned in the Charge Sheet, however prosecution did not concede about my innocence as investigating agency i.e. DCB-CID., Mumbai, showed a (false) recovery of a pistol on me. After 8 long years of incarceration I was granted Bail in the present case by the Special Court under POTA, Mumbai, in Feb. 2011. There after the State Govt. preferred an appeal before Bombay High Court, against that order and prayed for cancellation of bail. On 17th of August 2012, their appeal was dismissed by Bombay High Court and upheld the order of Special Court. Since then I am out of Thane Jail and resides with my family at Pune. The case is still pending against me and other 15 accused persons who all are presently on bail except one. Trail of the said case has not yet started.