Court clears former Bangladesh minister of tresspassing charges

SHILLONG, Oct 26: A local court today has exonerated a Bangladeshi politician – Salahuddin Ahmed of entering India without valid documents.

The court of the first class judicial magistrate DG Kharshiing while passing its judgment directed the state government to take necessary measures to immediately repatriate Ahmed back to his country.

“He (Ahmed) has been found to be innocent by the court and was acquitted honourably,” Ahmed’s counsel, SP Mahanta said.

According to Mahanta the Court has also directed the police to take necessary steps for his immediate repatriation.

Soon after the judgment was passed Ahmed, told reporters that he was pleased with the court’s verdict.

The former Bangladesh minister maintained that he never crossed the international border voluntarily, but was pushed into India.

“I was blindfolded and dumped in this place (Shillong). The court judgment has also proven that I am innocent,” Ahmed added.

Expressing his eagerness to go back to his home country, Ahmed, a BNP leader said that he wanted to go back to his family and children even as he added that Bangladesh is his country.

“…but there are lots of things going on in my country,” the Bangladesh politician said.

It may be mentioned that Ahmed had entered India in May 2015. Ahmed, was found loitering at Golflinks area of Shillong on May 11, 2015, reportedly two months after he went missing in Dhaka. He reportedly went missing on March 10, 2015.

The police arrested him on the charge of trespassing into the country without valid documents. He was hospitalized soon after as the officers apparently found him “mentally unstable”.

Altogether 11 witnesses, including police officers, were examined during the course of the trial, which lasted for over three years.