By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Muslim community leaders have strongly condemned the attitude of the central government and its agencies in the case of Darbhanga engineer Fasih Mehmood who was detained on 13th May in Saudi Arab but the government hasn’t yet produced him in court, nor has disclosed his whereabouts. The leaders have demanded the government to break its silence and produce him before the public and court.
They said his detention is illegal as 14 days have passed and he hasn’t yet been produced in any court, or his parents were informed about his arrest or whereabouts. Fasih’s wife Nikhat Perween in last 10 days has knocked every door – from home ministry to external affairs ministry to police, NIA and CBI, none has owned up his arrest or custody. They feigned ignorance about a person of this name. This response is despite the fact that Fasih was picked and deported on the formal request of government of India and the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arab has admitted his arrest.
Syed Jalaluddin Umri, Ameer (National President) of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, said the case of Fasih Mehmood is very serious. It is very serious that only newspapers are telling that he has been arrested and deported. Govt is not owing it up. If he has been arrested through the extradition treaty then the govt should tell his family they have arrested him and he is in their custody. “Where is he? Is he in India or in Saudi Arab? In whose custody is he? The Govt is not telling anything about this. His wife is running from pillar to post, but no govt department is responding to her query. This is indeed serious,” said Umri.
Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, President, All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, said in Fasih Mehmood’s case also, the police have used same old strategy — without any proof, on the basis of what someone said, or his mobile number found in someone’s phone or diary, they have arrested him.
Fourteen days have passed but he hasn’t been produced in any court. “The police may be now busy in collecting evidence and proofs. When they will found they will present him before public and court. It means before arrest they had no proof. In 98% cases they get confessionals in custody,” said Dr. Khan, who is also Editor of English fortnightly The Milli Gazette.
“This is violation of Indian law. Within 24 hours of arrest they must produce him before magistrate and inform the family. Today his family is running from pillar to post seeking information about Fasih, and all are saying they have no information. This is a shameful act that govt is doing. He could not be deported without the nod from the Indian govt. Family said Indian officials were there to arrest him, so they cannot get rid of responsibility.”
“This shows their dirty mind. They pick Muslims without proof, but police are not putting hand on those against whom the police have proof. Like Indresh Kumar of RSS. He has been named in charge sheet of Ajmer blast and Malegaon blast, the police have not even interrogated him, leave alone arrest,” said Dr. Khan.
Dr. Qasim Rasool Ilyas, General Secretary, Welfare Party of India termed the long detention of Fasih Mehmood as illegal.
“What they have done with Fasih is illegal. If they extradited him he should have been presented in the court and then they could have taken him on police remand or sent to jail. This is the responsibility of the government to protect every Indian. It is the duty of foreign affairs ministry to protect every Indian on foreign soil. The Govt. cannot run away from its responsibility,” he said.
Terror arrests have terrorized Muslim community: Jamaat Islami
Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Syed Jalaluddin Umri said: After every terror attack, suspecting Muslims is wrong, particularly when other groups have also been found involved in terror cases. First they pick and keep in illegal custody for several days, then announce their arrest and again keep in police custody wherein under duress youths are forced to admit crimes. This situation is very serious for the country. They are acquitted after years in jail and when they come out they have lost job and are not in position to work.
“On this issue, Muslim leadership, with wisdom and courage, should come forward and put their demands before the government: If you arrest someone, file charge sheet and proceed the case through fast track court for early disposal of the case. This should not happen that after years you say they were innocents.”
“The entire arrest campaign has terrorized Muslim community. They have arrested hundreds but have terrorized thousands and thousands. The govt has not taken any strong step to curb it,” said Maulana Umri.
No proof against Muslims in terror cases: Mushawarat
Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, President, All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat said the police have no proofs against Muslims in terror cases.
“I have come to conclusion that they have no proof against Muslims. They are arresting on mere suspicion or mobile number found in some other’s phone or diary or some said he is my friend. There is no strong evidence to present before the community or media or court,” he said.
The campaign was stopped after Hemant Karkare exposed Hindutva terror but again it has started. The reason is people of saffron mindset are in IB, Police and all departments and they think to disturb Muslims is their job and they are doing a good job. This also shows govt has no grip on machinery.
Arrest campaign was going on when elections in five states were being held earlier this year. The agencies wanted to show that whatever govt is saying they have different way to work. It caused defeat to Congress. Congress should take note of it, if not they will lose Lok Sabha elections also in 2014.
Cases against Muslims are fake: Welfare Party of India
Dr. Qasim Rasool Ilyas, General Secretary, Welfare Party of India said all terror cases against Muslim youths are fake and fabricated.
“All cases against Muslims in terror cases are fake and based on fabricated charges and they will not stand in any court. So they are involving Muslims in multiple cases, so thy will spend their lifetime fighting cases. They are simply targeting Muslims in the name of terrorism. First they targeted Azamgarh, then Bhatkal and now Darbhanga and Madhubani. Bihar was nowhere in the so called fight against terrorism in last 12 to 15 years, but all of a sudden they started targeting it.
If someone is involved in such case, govt should go through legal ways, why they first pick without warrant, and keep in custody and then produce in court.”
He said this campaign is part of a larger conspiracy. “Despite all odds, Muslims of late have shown political assert. Through this campaign they want to suppress that assert,” said Dr. Ilyas.