By TwoCircles.net Staff reporter,
Lucknow: The indefinite dharna of Rihai Manch (Forum for the Release of Innocent Muslims imprisoned in the name of Terrorism) outside the UP Assembly completed three months today.
Since May 20 Rihai Manch is on indefinite dharna demanding arrest of police officers involved in Khalid Mujahid’s murder, issuing the RD Nimesh commission report and action report, and the immediate release of innocent Muslim youth imprisoned in the name of terrorism.
Anusha Rizvi speaking
Chairman of the Rihai Manch Advocate Mohammad Shoaib has exprssed his shock on the fact that the state government did not even bother to talk to protestors, which also included the families of victims. He added that they are willing to continue demonstration till their demands are met.
Renowned documentary film maker Anand Patwardhan, who extended his solidarity by participating yesterday in the programme, took a dig at the Hindutva forces and said that those who claim to end terrorism are the ones actually encouraging terroism in a different garb.
A day earlier famous film maker, director of Peepli Live, Anusha Rizvi alleged that the preparation for the 2014 general elections have begun from Gaya, referring to the recent blasts at Buddhist temple.
On the occasion of Eid, Rihai Manch had organised a public hearing on the theme “where are the pride sons of the nation” on the 67th Independence Day outside the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, where family members of those Muslim youths who have been behind bar on ‘fabricated’ terror changes, where they pleaded for justice.
Khalid had died under mysterious circumstances on his way back from Faizabad near Ram Sanehi Ghat on May 18. He was declared brought dead by the doctors at district hospital in Barabanki. Later, on the complain of his uncle Zahir Alam Falahi, a case was registered against 42 police officers including former DGP Vikram Singh, ADG Brijlal and others who were on duty during the time of Khalid’s arrest.
Anand Patwardhan speaking in Rihai Manch
Khalid along with Tariq Qasmi was arrested by Special Task Force (STF) on 20 December 2007 from Barabanki. Huge explosives were also shown as recovered from his possession. STF claimed that he was involved in the serial blasts which occurred in Gorakhpur, Faizabad and Lucknow. Later, Nimesh Commission was constituted headed by Justice R D Nimesh who in its report raised fingers over STF’s claim about the place of arres.
Khalid’s family and civil society groups are demanding CBI probe into Khalid’s custodial death and has compared his case with the fake encounter of Ishrat Jahan by the Gujarat Police. They have also questioned the role of the IB.
Rihai Manch is leading a sustained demonstration against the UP government for last three months now demanding actions on its poll promise of releasing innocent youths languishing in jails in fabricated terror charges.
Several rights groups and and politicians, including Prakash Karat, Subhasini Ali and other left leaders have also expressed their solidarity with the Manch demonstration and on different days made token participations.