The Uttar Pradesh government will withdraw the cases against the alleged Harkat-ul-Jehad-e- Islami operative and accused in the Gorakhpur serial blasts, Tariq Qasmi. The May 22, 2007 blasts in a crowded market place left six persons injured.
Home Secretary Sarvesh Kumar Mishra told reporters here on Wednesday that the decision was taken after discussions with the Law Department. He said charges had not been framed against Qasmi. .
A Unani doctor from Azamgarh, Qasmi was facing charges under the Explosives Act, and of attempt to murder. His case was pending in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge, Gorakhpur. This is the first terror case the Samajwadi Party government has decided to withdraw.
Qasmi was arrested along with another alleged HuJI operative Khalid Mujahid of Jaunpur from outside the Barabanki railway station on December 20, 2007 for their alleged involvement in the serial blasts in the district courts in Lucknow, Faizabad and Varanasi on November 23, 2007. Later, the police claimed to have found evidence of Qasmi’s involvement in the Gorakhpur blasts also.
