The Kerala High Court has rejected the bail petitions of Alan Shuhaib (20) and Thaha Fasal (24) who have been booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for alleged Maoist links.
Stating that the police are still investigating the allegations against them, the court on Wednesday stated that bail could not be granted.
The prosecution, opposing the plea, argued that the police have enough evidence to prove that the two had links to Maoist Organisations.
Alan and Thaha were arrested on November 1, 2019 from Pantheerankavu in Kozhikode for allegedly distributing pro-Maoist pamphlets against the gunning down of alleged Maoists by the thunderbolt forces in the forests of Palakkad.
On November 6, the Kozhikode Sessions Court had dismissed their bail application after which the two moved the Kerala High Court. The sessions court, too, had stated that granting them bail would adversely affect the investigation.
The arrest of the duo under the UAPA had sparked controversy in the state with several opposition leaders, including Ramesh Chennithala, accusing the police and state government of high-handedness
CPI(M) Kozhikode district secretary P Mohanan had also sparked a controversy by alleging that extremist Islamic organisations operating in Kozhikode are backing Maoist groups in the state.