Freed on bail, Samad arrives in his home town

Samad Ahmed Sidi Papa, who was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-terrorism Squad on May 25 at the Bajpe airport and released on bail, arrived in Bhatkal, his hometown, on Wednesday.

Although he was given bail by the court on June 15, Samad’s release from the Arthur Road jail in Mumbai took more than 20 days due to the delay in securing local sureties.

After his 40-day stay in jail, he looked dazed but tried to put on a brave face.

He said he had no hand in any terror activity and that he was a simple family man in search of a job.

“I have full faith in the Indian justice system and Allah will protect me,” he said.

Later, one of his family members told pressmen, “Our advocate Mubin Solkar has requested us not to say more than what is required to the media or in the public as it might jeopardise his final acquittal.”

The mood was upbeat in his home town.  His family said it was a day of celebration for them as their boy had come back from the “horrible environment” of the jail and police station.

“We will see that he never goes back there,” his friends and relatives said.

His uncle Yakub asked the media to give the correct name of Samad. “It is Samad Ahmed and not Samad Bhatkal,” he said.

Samad’s relatives, who spent more than a fortnight in Mumbai to get his bail secured by two sureties, said: “We got two honest people. We will be ever thankful to them. We cannot divulge their identities now.”