By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,
Kochi: The National Human Rights Commission is turning its attention to Kerala on the complaint that Muslim families are being tortured in the name of the investigation on the attack on professor, according to reports. The Commission has reportedly asked the state DGP to give an explanation on the matter within two weeks. The HR Commission’s move was prompted by the complaint filed by NM Siddique, Ernakulam district president of the NCHRO.
The complaint submitted at the HR Commission reportedly says that raids were being carried out in Muslim houses and home equipments were being taken away. Family members including small children are thus mentally and physically tortured. The police terrorism going on in the state in the name of a criminal case is unheard of in the history of Kerala. The police are hunting several Muslim families in the name of investigation into the attack on Professor Joseph, accused in a blasphemy case. The moves to insult and torture Muslims do have an implication of violation of human rights too, said the complaint, according to reports.
The Commission has reportedly informed that it was waiting for the explanation of the DGP. It would take serious action if the complaint that Muslim houses were being raided instead of finding out the real criminals and that costly equipments were taken away was proved right. The Commission reportedly issued a notice on the matter on July 16.
The complaint was filed by the NCHRO following the torture in the police investigation into the attack on the professor in Thodupuzha. Professor Joseph was attacked and his right palm chopped off by a group of men on July 4. The investigation into the attack led the police to certain persons, alleged to be members of the Popular Front of India. This was followed by widespread raid and questioning of several PFI activists in Ernakulam and nearby districts. The police reportedly went to houses for raids at night which created difficulties for the people. Raids were conducted by male policemen alone even in houses where men were not present, according to reports. This led to great discontent among Muslims as they felt they were being targeted. A big rally was organized under the banner of Muslim Aikya Vedi in Muvattupuzha to protest against the hunt and torture of Muslims. The state headquarters and several other offices of the PFI were raided. The complaint also reportedly says that the police had given false news to the media after the raids.