'A Hindu and a Muslim deserve credit for Malegaon triumph'

After spending five years of their lives in prison for a crime they did not commit, 7 breadwinners of seven Malegaon families stepped out of jail with a huge sigh of relief.

For five years, these seven men were branded terrorists by the investigating agencies and the media. Their names and faces had become synonymous with the carnage at Malegaon in 2006. Last evening, the seven men held their heads high as they waved victory signs at a media briefing, shortly after stepping out of jail.

"I thank Allah, the almighty. Truth has prevailed," said Noorul Huda, one of the accused in the 2006 Malegaon blasts case. Huda, a labourer by profession, was the sole breadwinner of his family when he was picked up by the ATS.

"It has been a tough ride for my family to make ends meet during the time I was behind bars," he added.

Jameel Masiullah, who is the older brother of Shabbir was seen standing with his nephew Mujahid. Jameel said that they were relieved with the court's verdict and hoped that the case will be discharged soon.

"You don't know what it feels like to live under the tag of being called terrorists. Our foreheads have been wiped clean today," said a teary eyed Jameel.

On the other hand, Gulzar Azmi, the general secretary of the Jamiat Ulema e Maharashtra, the organisation that has been fighting the legal battles for the Malegaon accused, was far more vocal yesterday.

At the media briefing, Azmi praised former ATS chief Hemant Karkare and late advocate Shahid Azmi for their contributions in this case.

"There is one Hindu and one Muslim who deserve credit for this triumph. I salute Hemant Karkare for having the courage and for unearthing the Saffron terror outfits. The arrests that he made in 2008 helped in finding the truth," said Azmi.

The other accused in the case are Shabbir Masiullah, Dr Salman Farsi, Raees Rajab Ali, Mohammed Zahid, Dr Farogh Makdoomi, Abrar Ahmed.

Two other accused Mohammad Ali and Asif Khan will stay behind bars as they are undertrial in the 7/11 serial blasts case.

All seven accused have finally been united with their families in Malegaon.