By TCN News,
New Delhi: Civil society groups including Coordination Committee for Indian Muslims (CCIM), on Saturday condemned and protested against the arrest of journalist Syed Mohamad Ahmad Kazmi for his alleged involvement in the blast outside the Israel embassy in the national capital on February 13.
“The Indian Muslim community believes that the arrest of senior Urdu journalist Muhammad Ahmad Kazmi is a new escalation in the war against the community in the name of fighting terror,” said the press statement issued by CCIM.
Representatives of Muslim community addressing media on Saturday at the Press Club, New Delhi
Kazmi, 50 was arrested on March 6, under the Unlawful Activity Prevention Act, 1967, by the Special Cell of Delhi Police at Lodhi Road, southern part of the national capital, New Delhi and the very next day police produced him before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vinod Yadav at the Tis Hazari court. The court sent him in police custody till March 20 for further investigation.
Arguing that acquittals of umpteen Muslim youths across the country after spending years in jails on trumped up charges has proved the communal nature of the Indian police and security agencies, the Muslim group demanded that the “unheard of” 20-days police remand should be cancelled and bail should be granted to Journalist Kazmi who, it claimed has been cooperating with the Police.
“His over two decades’ impeccable record as a journalist is an open book. Not only writing for national and international publications, he also worked for the Doordarshan and had a PIB press card for which security clearance is required,” the press statement added.
Arguing that the Indian security agencies have nothing to date to incriminate Journalist Kazmi and the case against Kazmi is a clear cut instance of fabrication, the Muslim group demanded that the case must be urgently transferred to the NIA
IN this regard the group has also written to the Union Home Minister, Chairman of Press Council of India and the Commissioner of Police. It will hold a dharna at Jantar Mantar on 26 March to press its demands.