Pakistan undertrial acquitted of knife attack on inmates

A Pakistani undertrial has been acquitted of a knife attack on two fellow prisoners inside a jail van by a Delhi court which gave him the benefit of doubt.

Metropolitan magistrate Sudesh Kumar noted that of the two injured undertrials, one did not support prosecution case and turned hostile while the other was not examined by the agency despite several opportunities.

"In these circumstances, I am of the considered view that it was the injured Sunil (not examined) who could have proved the allegations against the accused.

"As one of the injured has turned hostile and did not support the case of the prosecution and the other injured was not examined, I am satisfied that the depositions of other prosecution witnesses are not enough to sustain conviction against the accused," the court said.

According to prosecution, on November 29, 2007, when the van carrying 43 undertrials was on its way to Tihar Jail, Yusuf Ali, jailed for some other offence, allegedly inflicted injuries on Sunil and Abid with a surgical blade.

The blade, however, could not be recovered from Yusuf. The van was coming from Karkardooma court complex where the prisoners were produced and the alleged incident took place when it reached Teen Murti Marg.

The court noted that Abid deposed that he along with other inmates were returning to Tihar Jail in the van and while they were on the way, 8-10 of the inmates fell upon him due to the sudden jerk of vehicle following which he sustained injuries.