DSA case: Kishore walks out of jail after 10 months

Cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore finally walked out of jail today, after languishing in jail for 10 months in a case filed under the Digital Security Act.

Kishore left Kashimpur Central Jail-2, on bail, around 12:20pm, said Senior Jail Superintendent Md Abdul Jalil.

He was released after receiving necessary documents from the HC, which granted him six months' bail yesterday, Jalil said.

A High Court bench granted him bail, six days after writer Mushtaq Ahmed, another accused in the case, died in jail custody. The two were prosecuted for their cartoons and writings.

The death of Mushtaq, who was denied bail six times and kept at the Kashimpur jail in Gazipur, last Thursday sparked protests across the country. People of all walks of life, including students and teachers, hit the streets demanding justice for Mushtaq and release of Kishore.

Earlier, Kishore was denied bail six times.

According to the first information report filed by Rab-3 on May 6 last year, Kishore was the first to be picked from his house in connection with the case.

Police officially framed charges against Kishore, Mushtaq and Didarul Islam, an activist of Rashtrochinta, on charges of posting anti-state social media content, spreading "confusing" cartoons about different ruling party leaders, and rumours about the pandemic.