Hubballi riots: Lawyers refuse to represent accused Moulvi in court; Hindu activists celebrate

Hubballi: A group of Hindu activists was seen celebrating after no lawyer came forward to represent the Moulvi Wasim Pathan, the accused in the Hubballi riot cases.

No advocate has filed a ‘wakalat’  and no one came forward to provide security for Moulvi Pathan, who has been sent to police custody by the Hubballi Fourth JMFC Court for five days, an IANS report said.

Hindu activists celebrated this fact and claimed that it is a good development that no one is coming forward to argue for a person who indulged in anti-national activity, the report quoted senior advocate Ashok Anvekar as saying.

Sri Ram Sena founder Pramod Muthalik has also welcomed the development.

However, some took objection to the celebratory statements by Hindu outfits. Ashraf Ali Bashir Ahmad, hotel industrialist and social activist in Hubballi, told IANS on Saturday that he condemned the celebratory statements over the non-representation of Moulvi Wasim Pathan in court.

“The celebration is totally condemnable. As an Indian citizen, he should get legal aid. Presently, he is an accused and the verdict hasn’t come yet. He has the right to get legal assistance,” he was quoted as saying.

“He is not involved in anti-national activity. The violence is a reaction that came after religious sentiments were hurt. However, instigation to violence is wrong and if proved guilty he should be punished. But everyone has the right to get legal assistance,” he added.

“Moulvi Wasim Pathan would get legal assistance. In fact, all accused would get legal aid. Anjuman Islam organization is providing legal assistance. Even now, people are getting picked up. The team of lawyers are working. The violent incident was unfortunate, it shouldn’t have happened. Even Moulvi Wasim Pathan was found to be an instigator, he is bound to get legal assistance,” he said.

It may be recalled that violence had erupted in Hubballi, known as the ‘Chota Mumbai’ and commercial hub of the North Karnataka region, last Saturday evening following an objectionable post that surfaced on social media.

Thousands of people gathered before the police station in Hubballi, indulging in large-scale violence, when police refused to hand over the accused youth to them. So far, the police have arrested 126 people in connection with the Hubballi riots.

(With inputs from IANS)