Indian-origin doctor Mukul Hazarika freed in terror charge extradition case in UK
India Today
An Indian-origin doctor from Assam fighting against being extradited to India on a terror charge for allegedly being chairman of the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) or ULFA (I) was discharged by a UK court.
An Indian-origin doctor from Assam fighting against being extradited to India on a terror charge for allegedly being chairman of the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) or ULFA (I) won his legal fight as he was discharged by a UK court on Thursday.
Dr Mukul Hazarika, 75, a British national and general practitioner (GP) from Cleveland in northern England, was sought by the Indian authorities to be prosecuted for “waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the Government of India and for conspiring to commit a terrorist act” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967.
District Judge Michael Snow’s judgment at Westminster Magistrates’ Court said the accused must be discharged as the particulars in the case were not satisfied.
“There is no admissible evidence that establishes that the defendant is Asom, the chairman of ULFA (I),” the judge concluded.
Hazarika was dubbed a “self-styled” Chairman of ULFA, a banned terrorist organisation in India.
“I conclude that there is no admissible evidence that provides the essential identification that the defendant was the chairman of ULFA(I) or gave the speech at the training camp. I am satisfied that a tribunal of fact, properly directed, could not reasonably and properly find that the defendant was Asom or convict on the basis of the evidence. I discharge the defendant pursuant to s84(5) 2003 [Extradition] Act,” he said.
It had been alleged that Hazarika was also known as Abhijit Asom and was involved in recruiting new “cadres” to ULFA “in and outside India, organising terrorist camps for launching attacks on Indian security forces thereby intending to wage war against the Government of India”.
