By TCN News,
Lucknow: On the ninth day of the Rihai Manch’ protest outside the UP Assembly national secretary of People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Kavita Srivastava came out in support of the movement.
Rihai Manch (Forum for the Release of Innocent Muslims imprisoned in the name of Terrorism) is on indefinite dharna demanding prosecution of police officers involved in the custodial death of Khalid Mujahid, tabling of the Nimesh Commission Report and release of Muslim youths languishing in jails in fabricated terror cases. It appealed to people to join in greater numbers and contribute in the struggle for justice for Khalid.
Speaking at the dharna, Kavita Srivastava wondered why state government was hesitant on making the RD Niemsh Commission report public.
Khalid had died under mysterious circumstances on his way back from Faizabad near Ram Sanehi Ghat last Saturday. 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.
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 arrest.
Socialist Front leaders Mohamamd Affaq and Haji Faheem Siddiqui today also released the banner containing photographs of Khalid Mujahid after his death.
PUCL national secretary further said that in the name of terror intelligence officials are randomly picking Muslim youths from smaller towns like Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Darbhanga, etc and creating suspicion about a community in the minds of the people.
Nation President of the Students Islamic Organization (SIO) Ashraf Shareef, who was also present today at the dharna, said state government’s attitude has proved that Samajwadi Party’s all poll promises have fallen flat and that they have not only allowed over 27 riots to occur, now connived in the custodial death of Khalid.
Yesterday, Rihai Manch had organized a candle vigil at the GPO, Hazratganj demanding tabling of Nimesh Commission report and justice for Khalid Mujahid.
Meanwhile, State government has officially admitted that it is seriously considering to make the Nimesh Commission report public. The R D Nimesh Commission was constituted in 2008 to probe the arresting of Khalid Mujahid and Tariq Qasmi on charges of serial blasts in 2007. Nimesh Commission had submitted its report on 31 August 2012.