Kerala Muslim Man Completes 16 Years in Jail Without Trial in 2008 Bangalore Blast Case
Zakariya, a 35-year-old Muslim man from Kerala’s Malappuram district, has spent 16 years in prison without trial since his 2009 arrest under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for alleged involvement in the 2008 Bangalore bomb blasts that killed one person, Inquilab online newsletter reported.
The youngest of four siblings, Zakariya was working as a daily wage laborer when Karnataka police took him from his workplace on February 5, 2009. His 60-year-old mother Biomeh, who recently challenged the UAPA’s constitutionality in the Supreme Court, claims authorities misled the family about the arrest’s circumstances. “What happened to us should not happen to anyone else,” she told reporters.
Civil rights groups became involved through PDP leader Abdul Nasir Madani, a co-accused in the case. Supporters formed the Free Zakariya Action Forum, highlighting alleged investigative flaws. Key witnesses later retracted statements, claiming police coercion and mistranslation of Kannada documents.
Zakariya briefly left jail twice – in 2016 for his brother’s wedding and 2017 for the same brother’s funeral. Prosecutors allege he manufactured bomb timers, but cousin Shoaib maintains his innocence, citing evidentiary gaps.
“Zakariya resisted police offers to compromise his case,” said advocate Hashir, praising his client’s resilience. A documentary film has now brought renewed attention to the delayed trial, with human rights organizations calling for urgent judicial review.
The case continues to fuel debates about India’s anti-terror laws and trial delays, with Zakariya’s family awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision on their UAPA challenge.
