Bengaluru: A decade has passed since Koniyath Zakariya of Parapanangadi, was arrested and put in Bengaluru Parappana Agrahara Central Jail on charges under the draconian provisions of UAPA. Zakariya’s imprisonment is continuing even after ten years as the trial and cross-examination related to the case is lagging indefinitely.
It seems that the demand of the legislators in the assembly and parliament and various forums and organisations including Solidarity Youth Movement has fallen on deaf ears. Authorities are tongue-tied as Biyyuma, the bereaving mother of Zakariya asks for what crime her son is incarcerated.
The trial of Bengaluru blast case, in which 32 people including PDP chairman Abdunnasir Maudany, are accused, is in the last phase. Zakariya is hopeful that he may be soon released after proving his innocence.
Zakariya was arrested in connection with the Bengaluru serial blast of 25th July 2008. . He was taken into the custody of Karnataka police from a mobile shop where he was working. Zakariya, who was a first year B-Com student at the time of his arrest, had worked for forty days at a mobile shop owned by Sharafuddin of Kondotty. Sharafuddin is eighth accused in the case. Zakariya is accused of manufacturing timers and microchips used for the blast along with the fourth accused, Sharafuddin. However, Sharafuddin has not given any statement against Zakariya.
Not only that, Haridasan, who is the chief witness produced by Karnataka police, had revealed that he had never met Zakariya. And Haridasan was the first to donate for the fund raising by Action Committee formed for the legal battle to release Zakariya. In between, Zakariya was allowed parole twice, once to take part in the marriage and then for the funeral rites of his brother.