The Muslim community in general and the Muslim youths in particular are being targeted in the name of fighting terrorism by the Indian police- this is how an apex body of Indian Muslim organisations commented in regard to the 'insensitive style of the police and security personnel functioning that creates terror and panic in the Muslim localities'. The Coordination Committee of Indian Muslims, representing all major Indian Muslim organisations, also criticised the move of 'security and intelligence agencies' rush to the media after any such incident with theories and conclusions before any real and proper investigation'.
Addressing the media persons in New Delhi at the Press Club auditorium on September 22, the leaders of the committee meanwhile expressed its 'sorrow and grief at the untimely death of Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma during the encounter' that took place at Jamia Nagar's Batla House on September 19. The community offers its sincere condolences to his family, stated in a press statement signed by a number of organisations namely All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat, All India Milli Council, Jamaat-e Islami Hind, Jamiat Ulama-e Hind, Jamiat Ahl-e Hadees, Muslim Political Council etc.
"The committee reiterates that Islam and Muslims are fundamentally opposed to terrorism as Islam and its holy book, The Qur'an, categorically forbid killing anyone unjustly and by unjust means. The Indian Muslim community through umpteen conferences and religious scholars and institutions, including the famous seminary of Darul UIoom at Deoband, has issued clear fatwas denouncing terrorism as an act totally forbidden in Islam. The Muslim community is opposed to terrorism whatever its source and shape," added in the statement.
Speaking to this writer, Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan, President of All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat, elaborated that the Muslims want to contribute to usher in a terror-free India. He however opposes the idea of providing unlimited power to the police in the name of anti-terror practices.
"We reject the legal sanctity to confessions given to the police and making bail applications more difficult for those accused of terrorism. No other law in India makes confessions to the police admissible in courts and this one must not be an exception. The Indian police, which normally resort to third degree torture, are highly discredited in the eyes of the public. In all terrorism cases, where the police fail to file charge-sheets within a reasonable time-frame (like six months), the accused should automatically get the right to apply for bail," Dr Kahn advocated.
The coordination committee, at the same time, express its 'displeasure at the print and electronic media (of India), which blindly reproduces leaks attributed to unknown security agencies and starts blaming the Muslim community minutes after any terrorist incident'. This leads to instability in the country and ill-will towards the whole Muslim community, it added.
The statement culminated with demanding 'stringent actions including immediate the ban against Hindutva terrorist outfits, especially VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shri Ram Sena, Hindu Munnani, Hindu Jagran Manch, Yuva Hindu Vahini, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Durga Vahini' etc, which are targeting Muslim and Christian communities in a number of states. The committee also asked the central government to 'probe all possible angles of terrorism in India, including local and foreign forces which benefit from instability and chaos' in the country.
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