By TCN Staff Reporter,
Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu): Protests are brewing against the Tamil Nadu police following their reluctance to take action against a brutal attack by police against Muslims and allegations that they entered a mosque at Melepalayam in the district wearing shoes.
Police have, however, denied the allegation that any of their men entered the mosque with shoes.
The state witnessed huge protests in the two major cities – Chennai and Madurai – where the protesters urged the state government to dismiss police officers, who were found to have committed criminal excesses. The protests were held on June 9 under the aeigis of the Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath (TNTJ). Headed by TNTJ top leaders Moulavi P Zainulir T Abedeen in Chennai and state president Fakeer Mohammed Althafi in Madurai, the protest sought stringent action against the Assistant Police Commissioner Madhavan Nair and Sub-Inspector Shaik Abdul Kader, who led the brutal attacks on Muslims.
In Madurai, thousands of believers, including men and women, participated in the protest held at Palanganatham Bye-Pass. While addressing the media persons after the protests, TNTJ state president Fakeer Mohammad Althafi said, “For Muslims, mosques are holy places where sanctity should be duly considered. We will never tolerate this act of police violence, both against the mosque and the Muslims.”
“We have given a deadline to the state government and police officials concerned to initiate appropriate action against Assistant Commissioner Madhavan Nair and Sub Inspector Shaik Abdul Kader,” the leader said. Adding further, he warned the authorities saying if they fail, the Jamath will go on course by announcing the new round of protests.”
Meanwhile, in Chennai, the protest was held near Raja Rathinam Stadium, Egmore. Addressing the gathering, Moulavi P Zainul Abedeen said, “The government should remember that such kind of incident had happened in Golden Temple, which ultimately led to the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. It in turn led to long political chaos in the country.”
“Every place of worship should be paid befitting respect beyond the differences of religion,” the leader said, adding, the TNTJ believes in democratic credentials, followed by the state and the country and demands its youth activists to indulge in peaceful protest only.
TNTJ State General Secretary Yusuf
State speaker and former general secretary of TNTJ Moulavi Rahamatullah said, “TNTJ extends befitting respect to the police force. The incident doesn’t mean that our cadres are coward. Madhavan Nair is safe because he wears the police uniform and we know how to deal and safeguard our mosques,” Rahamatullah added.
Jamat functionaries said all recordings of attack, which are illustrative of the attack, were submitted to the higher police officials of the state. More than two lakh cadres participated in the protests, including large number women, held in Chennai and Madurai.
According to TNTJ functionaries, the problem started on June 1 evening when administrative committee chairman M Shamsul Luha and his son Usama were hit by a load auto near VST Pallivasal at Melapalayam when they were on their way to the Tirunelveli Junction. As Luha and Usama sustained injuries, TNTJ members demanded police action against auto driver Murugan from Karuppanthurai. Sub-Inspector of Police Shaik Abdul Kader, who rushed to the spot, used derogative language against TNTJ members.
The TNTJ functionaries claim that they kept silent though the police tried to provoke them. The members left the spot and entered Masjid-Ur-Rahman (TNTJ Markaz) in Melapalayam. Without any further provocation, the police team, headed by the Assistant commissioner Madhavan Nair and Sub-Inspector Shaik Abdul Kader entered with dirty boots inside the Masjid.
A local journalist Syed Ibrahim recorded the entire argument with the police in his mobile phone. “Even as the evening prayers were going on, the policemen entered the mosque with the dirty footwear and dared to beat TNTJ cadres including Maideen, Roshan and Usama (son of Shamshul Luha and engineering student), who were inside the mosque. Further, they took them to an undisclosed destination. The police also seized the mobile phone, by which the argument between the police and TNTJ members was recorded,” said Ibrahim. Police booked the youngsters under sections 147, 294b, 323 and 506 (2).
When the news spread, thousands of TNTJ cadres and members of other Jamaaths started assembling in front of Masjid-Ur-Rahman seeking immediate release of TNTJ cadres.
After prolonged talks held by Commissioner of Police, Tirunelveli city (In-Charge), S Murugan and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Tirunelveli city, T P Suresh Kumar, with the TNTJ state representatives, the four were released around midnight on bail.
Meanwhile, the incident drew heavy ire from other Muslim outfits functioning in the state. Nellai Mubarak, state vice-president and district coordinator of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), condemned the police lathi charge and their entry into the mosque.
In a press release, issued soon after the incident, Mubarak alleged that the city police lathi charged people and entered the mosque wearing shoes. The SDPI urged the police administration to take action against all those involved.
However, the police officials, while having talks with local media, denied the allegations levelled against them. Assistant Commissioner Madhavan Nair said, “Firstly, no one has the right to beat or punish a person even if she/ he has done something wrong. If the public take law and order in their own hands why do we have judiciary?”
“We arrested them from the TNTJ office and not from the prayer hall,” he added denying allegations that the police personnel entered the mosque.