Jammu jail chief told to explain Masood’s absence from trial

JAMMU, JANUARY 6: The recent release of a top leader of the Pan Islamic Harkat-ul-Ansar (HUA) Maulana Azhar Masood, took an interesting tu...

JAMMU, JANUARY 6: The recent release of a top leader of the Pan Islamic Harkat-ul-Ansar (HUA) Maulana Azhar Masood, took an interesting turn here today, with Forest Magistrate Bala Jyoti taking strong note of the non-production of accused facing trial in her court, on charge of making an unsuccessful attempt to escape from the high security Kot Bhalwal prison.

Masood is one of the accused in the jail break attempt that took place last year. However, he along with two other hardcore terrorists was released in exchange of the passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines plane at Kandahar on December 31.

The Forest Magistrate issued a notice directing Superintendent of the Central Jail, Jammu, to explain reasons as to why the accused in a case titled State vs Kudrat Ullah and others cannot be produced before the court. She directed the Prosecuting Officer to execute the notice and produce Superintendent of the Central Jail in the court on next date of hearing.

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This followed a letter written by the jail superintendent that the accused in the case cannot be presented before the court. “This letter is without any reasonable excuse,” the Forest Magistrate observed.

In the meantime, Chief Prosecuting Officer R S Abrol along with the Prosecuting Officer appeared before the court and argued for withdrawal of the case against Maulana Azhar Masood. The application for the purpose was filed before the court on January 1, a day after the release of Masood along with two other hardcore terrorists by the Central Government in exchange of the passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines plane at Kandhar.

The arguments remained inconclusive as Abrol sought more time for the purpose. The court accepted the request.