Kashmiri man walks free after 11 years of wrongful UAPA charges

Bashir Ahmed Baba, from Rainawari area of Kashmir capital Srinagar, who was arrested in Gujarat for allegedly being a member of Hizbul Mujahideen, has been released after serving jail term for more than 11 years.

The sessions court in Gujarat cleared Bashir Ahmed Baba (43) of the charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and ordered his release. Pronouncing his innocence and acquittal, the prosecution "relied on emotional argument and a person cannot be held guilty merely on its fear of anarchy."

The Additional sessions judge S A Nakum rejected the Anti-Terrorism Squad's case that Baba was associated with Militants. "No evidence was found that he was in touch with terrorist elements through electronic gadgets," the Judge said.

According to a report by The Wire, Baba, was detained in Gujarat back in 2010 on the suspicion that he was visiting the state to recruit young men and send them to Pakistan for terrorist training. During his trial, Baba maintained his innocence and told the court he was sent to Gujarat by the company he was employed with at that time to receive training in computer management.

Baba claimed that he along with a colleague had been put up in a hostel in Ahmedabad to attend the two-week long training session but on the seventh day of his arrival, the anti-terrorism squad (ATS) of Gujarat police detained the duo.

After spending a few weeks in police remand, Baba was sent to judicial custody and lodged in Vadodara central jail.

After being acquited from all charges and returning home, Baba told a local media that he never give up on the hope of walking out of the prison as a free man one day. During his imprisonment, he studied and finished a master's degree in political science with a special focus on public administration and the intellectual property act.