Families of earlier three youth arrested cry foul play
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Mangaluru/Bengaluru: Bengaluru police have arrested yet another Bhatkal resident from Mangaluru, suspecting him to be an operative of the banned Indian Mujahidin (IM) outfit.
The arrest of Riyaz Ahmed, 34, a resident of Maghdoom Colony in Bhatkal, from the Mangaluru International Airport at Kenjar on Saturday, came two days after three other Bhatkal youth were arrested on similar grounds.
Police stationed outside the House raided in Bhatkal where recovery is made (Photo Courtesy: bhatkallys.com)
Syed Ismail Aafaque, 34, Saddam Hussein, 35, and Abdus Sabbuur, 24, were arrested on January 8 allegedly for their involvement in the December 28 blast at Bengaluru – in which a woman was killed and three others injured – but police, however, later claimed, the arrest was for their alleged involvement with IM.
Riyaz Ahmed was scheduled to take a flight to Dubai when he was arrested and later handed over to the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of Bengaluru City Police. His father Khwaja Saeedi told reporters at Bhatkal that his son was innocent. “We came to know about his arrest only through the media.”
Adv Akmal Rizvi appearing for three youth arrested earlier has alleged that police did not follow legal formalities while arresting and conducting raids. He also alleged that one of the accused, Hussein, was tortured by police after arrest.
“Judge has asked police to submit medical report of Hussein. Police have not followed settled procedure while raiding Sabur’s house. They could have asked locals to become witness while recovering alleged explosives but instead they did not allow them to even see what was going on there,” he said.
This was in reference to the police claim that they have found substantial quantities of explosives (ammonium nitrate), detonators, electronic timer devices, digital circuits, circuit-making material, gas-based explosive material and fuel from a rented house at Bhatkal.
Family members of this trio claimed at a press conference at Bengaluru on Saturday that the three Bhatkal youths are innocent and demanded a fair and open investigation in the case. They also alleged that their kith and kin are being targeted for being residents of Bhatkal. Police have always maintained that founders of the banned IM belong to Bhatkal.
Tanzeem plans and then cancels protest rally on request of police
Immediately after the arrest of Bhatkal youths, Tanzeem – a socio-political body of Muslim in Bhatkal – criticized police action terming it to be irresponsible. It had also declared to observe bandh on Monday (January 12) and to take out a peaceful protest rally after Asr prayers.
Addressing the media persons at Bhatkal, the organization’s general secretary Altaf Kharoori said, “For a long time, investigative agencies target Bhatkal town, especially Muslims here, by their continued campaign of humiliation in the name of terror. Tanzeem has always exerted efforts to restore peace in the town and nearby areas.”
Tanzeem contemplating over SP and DCPs request of calling off Mondays bandh
Tanzeem’s ex-Secretary Dr Haneef Shabab said, “The police, judiciary and the associated agencies will carry out investigation (related to three youth arrested). If they have committed any crime, they will be punished. They will be acquitted if not found guilty of any crime. We are not protesting it, but we have objections to the manner in which police raid took place.”
With an aim to convince people to cancel Monday’s bandh called by Tanzeem, Uttar Karnataka district Superintendent of Police R Dilip and Deputy Commissioner Ujwal Kumar Ghosh arrived at Bhatkal on Saturday evening and met the members from the community. During the meeting, they held detailed talk with Tanzeem members and requested them to consider their demand to call off Monday’s bandh.
Thereafter, members of Majlise Islah Wa Tanzeem met late on Saturday night and again held another meeting on Sunday morning, in which it was decided to postpone the bandh for now and to speak with the Chief Minister and the Home Minister in this connection.
Related:
Three IM suspects arrested for Bengaluru blast
Fear returns to Bhatkal as agencies arrest three youth for alleged IM connection