Date:10/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/10/stories/2006091003441000.htm

National

Jamaat plea for peace in town

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Condemning the blasts in Malegaon,the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and the All-India Muslim Majlis-e-Musdhawarat (AIMMM) on Saturday appealed to the people to maintain peace so as "not to set a spiral of violence into motion."

In separate statements here, the organisations urged the Centre and State to undertake an in-depth investigation into the blasts,identify and apprehend the culprits and prosecute them.

Mohammad Jafar, general secretary of the Jamaat, said: "The way some unseen hand is dividing people on communal lines is not a good omen for the country." He demanded adequate compensation for the kin of those killed and injured in the blasts.

Syed Shahabuddin, president of the AIMMM, called upon the people of Malegaon and Muslims in particular to bear the tragedy without rancour.

"If the object of terrorism is to generate communal violence and thus polarise votes on communal lines, there is no reason for the authorities to investigate such criminal acts with a fixation about Pakistan, the ISI, the SIMI and Muslims in general. They should be investigated with an open mind and with an eye on all possible alternatives. The State should direct investigating agencies to perform their duty without fear or favour," he said.