EMN
Dimapur, August 19
THE second prosecution trial of the nine accused in the 2004 Dimapur serial bomb blasts scheduled on August 19 has been deferred to September 16. The deferment has been necessitated as the legal defendants of the accused persons had come unprepared in today’s hearing.Citizens of Dimapur experienced serial blasts at Dimapur Railway Station and adjacent Hong Kong Market on October 2, 2004, claiming several lives.
While the nine accused persons namely Abdul Kalam, Haizul Ali, Shajan Ali, Panas Ali, Kudus Ali, Nurjamal, Sahib Uddin, Babul Hussain and Hukum Ali were produced by the jail authority, advocates representing the accused arrived late in the District & Sessions Court, Dimapur. The legal defendants pleaded that the hearing be postponed as they had come unprepared for the proceedings. 23 witnesses also failed to show up for the hearing.
Reacting to the development, Public Prosecutor Imliakum stated that the process was contentious. He also pointed out that under Section 193, the accused should be punished for giving out wrong information with regard to the information on the Affidavit.
Since the case lacked proper rectification leading to a doubtful procedure in the trial, District & Sessions Court Judge, S Hukato Swu deferred the examination to September 16, 2013.
Lamenting on the procedures not being followed in the State, Public Prosecutor Imliakum asserted that “Government of India is funding crores of money, so the service should be used judicially and the Legal Service Authority Acts/ Rules should be followed by all across the state”.
This should be an eye opener for all where norms and procedures have to be followed, he added.
In a bid to diminish the sting of Public Prosecutor the defense lawyers while talking to Eastern Mirror maintained that they had come to appear for the case representing the accused under the provision of Legal Services Authority Act since it was the beginning of the trail. They also sited the absence of the 23 witnesses for the deferment of the case.
The public concern is over the fate of the case which till date is the worst bomb blast in the state in a public place. The handling of the case so far has not generated any confidence amongst the public that authorities are in control of developments related to the incident.
