By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Faisal Khan, a Gandhian social activist is on fast, protesting against the “illegal” arrests of Muslim youths in terror cases. Interestingly Khan started his 72 hours fast from his home at Okhla, a Muslim dominated Delhi suburb.
Explaining why he started his fast at his own house in Okhla, Khan said, “I have chosen my own house in Okhla and not Rajghat or Jantar Mantar because illegal arrests of Muslim youths, from across the country in general and from Okhla in particular, has become a trend now. My fast is a symbolic protest against this kind of illegal and completely prejudiced behavior by the police.”
Faisal Khan (L) on fast, while Suresh Bhai is busy with his Charkha
Okhla has been in news after Special Cell of the Delhi Police last week picked up its two residents, Gauhar Aziz Khomani and Mohammed Irshad Khan in relation to a series of terror cases, alleging them to be the members of ‘Indian Mujahideen.’ Okhla is the same area where Batla house shoot out took place three years ago in which Atif and Sajid, two alleged terrorists were killed. But human rights activists claim Atif and Sajid to be innocent and regard the shoot out to be a “fake” encounter.
“The arresting of Irshad and Khomani by special cell of Delhi Police, was in complete violation of the Supreme Court’s directive as enunciated in the D.K.Basu Guidelines, by failing to inform the families about there arrest,” added Khan, a prominent member of the National Alliance for People’s Movement (NAPM).
Appealing everybody to support him, Khan said that, “when every attempt to question the illegal arrest of Muslim youths is termed as ‘anti-national,’ sitting on fast is the most suitable way to protest.”
Faisal Khan has also been awarded with this year’s TCN Person of the Year Award for his exemplary contribution to social activism and for his revival of “Khudai Khidmatgar.”
Those who want to support Faisal Khan, can either visit him at his residence or contact him.
Venue of the fast- 24/84, Friends Apartment, Flat no:3, Ghaffar Manzil, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi-110025. Contacts: Qamar Intekhab-9990505438, Inamul Hasan-9911292235, Aarish-9555999150