By TCN News,
New Delhi: Taking a “strong stand” against the Police Action in Mumbra (Thane, Maharashtra) two days ago, the All India Muslim Majlise Mushawarat, the umbrella body of Indian Muslim organisations, demanded strict action against Thane ACP Amit Kale and 200 of his officers and policemen who raided a Muslim residential area of Mumbra two days ago.
President of Mushawarat, Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan, wrote today to the Union Home Minister, Chairman National Human Rights Commission, Chairman Maharashtra Human Rights Commission, Chairman National Commission for Minorities, Chairman Maharashtra Minorities Commission, Chief Justice of India and Chief Justice of Bombay High Court.
Enclosing details of the illegal raid. Dr Khan demanded strict action against the erring officers and policemen who raided the locality at 1:30-2 am on 13 March, broke doors and other house contents, arrested 80 men from school students to senior citizens and kept them under illegal detention for four hours.
Dr Khan said in his letter, “… this is a gross violation of the detained people’s human and civil rights as well as the standard police rules. If such behaviour is allowed and tolerated, our country will become a Nazi camp or a Soviet Gulag.”
Dr. Khan demanded appropriate action against the erring police personnel as well as issuance of clear guidelines about police’s limits and powers in a democratic country.
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Following is the full text of the letter sent to a number of Central and state officials:
15 March 2014
Hon’ble Union Home Minister
New Delhi
Dear Sir,
I wish to draw your kind attention to an incident which we did not believe could happen in a democratic country like ours. In a Gestapo-like operation, as reported by two websites and the Indian Express, Thane (Maharashtra) ACP Amit Kale led around 200 policemen in a raid against the residents of Rashid Compound of Kausa, Mumbra in the early hours (1.30-200 am) of 13 March 2014. He herded some 80 men from school and college students to office-goers and senior citizens – all Muslims — to the area police station. In the process, the police contingent reportedly broke doors and damaged house contents. During the raid, electricity was cut off from the area. Reportedly, the detained Muslims were released four hours later reportedly at the intervention of the Mumbra MLA Mr Jitendra Awhad. The detained Muslims were abused, called “aatankwadi” (terrorists) apparently to provoke them in order to create a situation where the police could start firing at them.
We think this is a gross violation of the detained people’s human and civil rights as well as the standard police rules. If such behaviour is allowed and tolerated, our country will become a Nazi camp or a Soviet Gulag.
We approach you to kindly take immediate and serious notice of this blatant violation, take appropriate action against the erring police personnel and issue clear guidelines to the police about its limits and powers in a democratic country.
I am attaching herewith screenshots of the reports in twocircles.net and bhindibazar.asia as well as the Indian Express report which have carried this news with photographs and videos.
Yours sincerely
Dr. Zafarul-Islam Khan
President