By Amit Pandey, TwoCircles.net
Lucknow: It has been over twenty days since fifty-two-year old Mohammed Naem Siddique from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh was arrested on charges of ‘sharing messages against French President Emmanuel Macron’, the family of Siddique told TwoCircles.net.
Mohammad Naem Siddique is the father of Zainab Siddique, a student activist. Zainab is a UGC-NET aspirant and currently working for the National Alliance of Peoples Movement, run by Medha Patkar. She was active in demonstrations against CAA and NRC held last year in Lucknow. “This is a clear attack on our identity. Police never took action in incidents like Hathras and Unnao. But, when it comes to the Muslims they become hyperactive. Police assaulted our family in front of everyone. It is a clear case of police brutality,” Zainab told TwoCircles.net
Arrest and ‘police highhandedness’
It was 5 pm on November 5 when Reshma was ironing her husband Naem’s dress. The husband-wife duo was planning to go for a jaunt trip as both of them had been confined to their home since the COVID-19 lockdown.
“But these dacoits (Police) turned our life upside down,” said Naem’s wife Reshma Bano while recalling the incident.
On 5 November evening, when Naem Siddique returned home from prayers, he found two police officers enquiring about his daughter Zainab near his house in Lucknow.
As per his Son Zainabdullah, Police arrived and were carrying Zainab’s photograph and asked his father about Zainab and her involvement in anti-CAA-NRC protests.
“After enquiring about my sister Zainab, more than ten cops along with Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officers returned and assaulted the family including women and minors,” Zainabdullah told TwoCircles.net.
According to Zainabdullah, Police arrested his father and younger brother Mohammed Shaad, who is a minor, without showing any notice.
Zainabdullah said that while his brother was later released from Hassanganj police station but alleged that, “he was beaten black and blue by the police.”
Reshma alleges that the male police officials manhandled her daughters, “When we ran towards Naem, the male police officials beat me and my daughters. We asked for their identity cards but they replied with scorn “Tu dekhegi hamara Id card? Aa dikhate hain.” (Will you see our identity cards? Come, we will show you!).
Zainabdullah further said that the cops used foul language with the family and harassed them.
“The police scornfully asked us, ‘You want to become socialists. You guys are very much interested in social service. Today we will teach you the lesson of socialism,’” he said.
Talking about her father’s custody, Zainab informs, “It has been 20 days and I still have no clue what will happen next. After the father’s arrest, we don’t know how to manage the daily errands. My younger siblings are still in school and colleges.”
Zainab alleges intentional delay by the administration in the case. “First, there were festival holidays that resulted in the delay in hearing and now there are transfers in police stations that make this delay longer,” she said.
Currently, Naem Siddique is lodged at GosaiGanj Jail in Lucknow after remaining quarantined for fourteen days.
S.R. Darapuri, National Spokesperson of All India Peoples Front condemned the police action and issued a statement.
“Uttar Pradesh government subjugating the people like Zainab and his family is sheer political vengeance. As per law, Police must inform the accused’s family and present him in front of the magistrate within 24 hours. But in this case, the Police did nothing. We condemn the Yogi government’s action and demand that the government should take the earliest action and follow the rule book,” Darapuri said.
Raju Vishwakarma, leader of Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch also criticised the police action against Zainab’s family. “Uttar Pradesh Police again revealed its anti-law and anti-human-rights face. After the Hathras incident, assault on social activist Zainab Siddique’s family is proof of this allegation. This is a condemnable act by U.P. police,” he said.
Talking about the arrest, DCP (central) Somen Barma told TwoCircles.net that, “Mohammed Naem Siddique was arrested in case of disturbing the communal harmony in the society. He was circulating WhatsApp messages for inciting the people against France President Emmanuel Macron. FIR has been registered under IPC sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups), 505 ( statements conducive to public mischief), 120 B ( Criminal Conspiracy), 109 and 66 IT act,”.
On the question of police brutality and harassment against the family, Somen said that he has no information about the use of force.
Speaking to TwoCircles.net, Station House Officer, Hasanganj police station, Amarnath Verma rejected the allegation of assault with minor Mohammed Shad and family’s women.
“Mohammed Naem Siddique is not in our custody. The special task force has taken him,” Verma said.
Additional Director General Dhruv Kanta Thakur agreed on the presence of Anti-Terrorism Squad ( ATS). “It was only for technical support,” he said.
Regarding the police allegations, Zainab said, “I have no knowledge about it. In court, my father told me that he forwarded the message to wear black badges in protest against Emmanuel Macron, but I don’t know how is it wrong to do so?”
On October 16, a teacher in France was beheaded after he allegedly showed the satirical cartoon of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). Before this incident, French President Emmanuel Macron issued a controversial statement saying, “Islam is a religion that is in crisis today all over the world” and “plagued by radical temptations”.
Following Macron’s statement, Islamic countries like Turkey, Pakistan and Bangladesh expressed concern and criticized Macron’s statement. Numerous protests were also held against Emmanuel Macron in Bangladesh. In India, West Bengal, Coimbatore and Madhya Pradesh also witnessed protest against Macron and comments on Islam.
Zainab says that the arrest of their father has left the family in shock. “My father is a daily wage earner and after his arrest, I have also not been going to work. Our family is suffering both economically and mentally. College and school fee of children is pending and they are in a situation of confusion and fear,” she added.
The case is currently in Sessions Court.