Support to Anna – Keralite and 4 other NRIs still in Dubai jail

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The five Non-Resident Indians, who were arrested in Dubai on Saturday for taking out a silent walk in solidarity with Anna Hazare’s fast, were not produced before the Dubai Public Prosecution on Thursday. Their release will further be delayed as the Dubai Public Prosecution, which examines the case, has been closed for 10 days starting Thursday afternoon in connection with Ramzan.

The detainees include a Keralite, Prasannakumar,  ailing from Peroorkada in Thiruvananthapuram. The others are Rajesh Daryani from Maharashtra, Hemanshu Joshy from Uttaranchal, Sumeet Mishra from Punjab and Himmat Lal Duccan from Delhi. All of them except Duccan are youngsters.

The accused have been charged with  “unlawful assembly against the state.’’ It is learnt that the delay in the proceedings is owing to the non-completion of the framing of chargesheet. As of now, the statements of only three of the accused have been taken and the prosecutor will record the statements of the remaining on the next working day. Adocate Hashik P K  of Universal Legal Associates, who represents the accused, told ‘Express’ that he was confident of securing  an early release of the detainees once the chargesheet is framed. The prosecutor has already been briefed about the innocence of the accused, he said.

“The current charge against the accused can invite a fine, imprisonment for three years and even deportation. If they are considering only the question of law this is a severe offence. But the fact that the accused didn’t have  any guilty intention has already been explained to the prosecutor and it is expected that they will be produced before the prosecution and granted bail on September 4, the next working day,’’ Hashik said.

The accused are now housed in the under-trial prison of Muraqqabat police station.

Meanwhile, sources at the MOIA told this paper that they were yet to receive a complaint from anyone in connection with the case.  “The Indian Consulate in Dubai is learnt to be following the case and is in contact with the families of the detainees,’’ he said.

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