The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Families of blast suspects pour out woes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 27, 2007
ePaper

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Families of blast suspects pour out woes

Special Correspondent

Parents interact with social activist Harsh Mander

PHOTO: Satish H.

Holding out hope: Social activist Harsh Mander (centre) at an interaction programme with parents of twin blast suspects in Hyderabad on Wednesday. -

HYDERABAD: If the families that lost their kin in the twin bomb blasts of August 25 are mourning the death of their dear ones, the reality is no better for scores of families whose children have been rounded up by the police in the aftermath of those deadly terrorist strikes.

With no word about the whereabouts of their children for weeks together after they were “illegally whisked away” by plain-clothed policemen, several traumatised Muslim families could trace them in Cherlapalli jail, with “tell-tale signs of torture” and “false cases” foisted on them. But for families of Md. Abdul Majeed and Shakeel, the excruciating suspense continues even after three weeks.

These were the details narrated by the parents of over 25 youths ‘languishing in jail because of false cases foisted on them’ to IAS official of Gujarat turned social activist Harsh Mander in a meeting organised by the Siasat daily here on Wednesday.

Majeed, brother of twin bomb blasts suspect Shahed alias Bilal, was allegedly picked up from his Moosarambagh residence on September 1. But his parents -- Md.Abdul Wahid and Hafeeza Begum -- have not yet set their eyes on their son even after a habeas corpus petition was filed. While other boys lodged in Cherlapalli reportedly disclosed to their relatives that they had seen the badly tortured and bruised Majeed, the police continue to keep mum about his whereabouts. Similar is the fate of Shakeel who was “rounded up” on September 8.

State’s apathy shocking

Same was the case of Arifunnisa’s son Ibrahim Ali Junaid, a student of Unani Medical College, who too was “picked up by the police from his hostel at Yakutpura”. “The State Government’s apathy is shocking. Our sons are being tortured and subjected to wrongful confinement on false charges. They have no connection with bomb blasts. The police should be ashamed of their lies,” said a distraught Ibrahim’s father Fiaz Ali. Mr. Harsh Mander, who fought for justice on behalf of Muslims following Gujarat carnage, said the government should take up responsibility for violation of law and harassment of innocent people. It was not proper to demonise one community and persecute them without proof and evidence.

Disclosing his intention to create a platform to fight for justice for the hapless families, Mr. Harsh Mander advised the gathering not to lose hope and be bold to speak out against injustice together

“We should seek justice through the systematic legal action based on truth and as per Constitution,” he said. Siasat Managing Director Zaheeruddin Ali Khan was present.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail