Additional District and Sessions Judge Zebunnessa passed the order setting free the accused, 10 in the dock - all aged between 18 and 24. Two others remained fugitive after securing bail earlier.

Pronouncing the verdict, the judge observed that the prosecution has failed to prove the JMB identity of the accused when they admitted in confessional statement to the magistrate that they are followers of Ahle Hadith movement.

Besides, deposition of all the 25 prosecution witnesses failed to prove that the accused were involved in any anti-state activities.

The young men, all hailing from different parts of the district, were picked up from Sadhupara Ahle Hadith Mosque in Natore town at dead of night of January 31, 2005.