HuJI man gets no defence lawyer

KOLKATA: Hasan Imam, a key accused in the 2002 American Center attack, got no defence lawyer to repre sent him at the metropolitan magistrate court on Tuesday , apparently as his family did not get enough time to engage one.
After eluding the police since 2002, Imam was finally arrested by the Gujarat anti-terrorism squad from Aurangabad in Bihar on Sunday , being traced with the help of his mobile tower location.On Tuesday, as public prosecutor Pijush Kanti Mondal sought Imam's police custody for 14 days at the court of chief metropolitan magistrate Satya Arnab Ghosal, no defence lawyer was present to object to the plea. “Although the chargesheet has been filed, his interrogation might reveal new facets of the attack,“ Mondal said. With no objection from any quarters, Imam, a suspected HuJI and IM operative, was whisked away from the court room after the proceedings, which lasted barely for 10 minutes. He will remain in police custody till October 15. “He was so hurriedly produced in court that his family probably failed to engage a lawyer,“ said Buddhadev Ghosh, secretary of CMM Court Bar Association.“If he can't get a lawyer, he should seek help from legal aid.“
“Article 39A of Constitution says the state must promote justice based on equal opportunities and must provide free legal aid to ensure opportunities to secure justice are not denied to anyone due to economic or other disadvantage,“ said Dayamay Biswas of Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights. Ranjit Sur of human rights organisation APDR said they provided legal aid to unrepresented accused. “But we face problem in accessing accused.If the relatives authorize us, it will be easier,“ Sur said.