Date:18/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/18/stories/2008111860010500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Independent tribunal for terror cases mooted

Staff Reporter

‘Muslims being linked to bomb blasts even before investigations are done’
Efforts on to provide legal aid to those facing false charges

HYDERABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) on Monday demanded that the government constitute an independent tribunal for investigating terror-related cases, police atrocities and encounters during the last one decade.

At a press conference here, JIH national president Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Omri said, there was increasing sense of insecurity among minorities, especially Muslims with the police foisting false cases on them after the bomb blasts in different parts of the country. Muslims were directly linked to a bomb blast occurring either in a mosque, marketplace or other public places even before proper investigation was done, he alleged.

Mr. Jalaluddin said, efforts were also on to provide legal aid to those who were facing false charges in connection with bomb blasts that took place across the country. The JIH demanded the Centre to fulfil its electoral promise of enacting an anti-riot legislation which should be in accordance with the recommendations of National Commission for Minorities along with recommendations made by different Commissions that earlier probed such riots.

Senior political analyst Amresh Mishra, sought an explanation from the Andhra Pradesh government for harassing innocent Muslims in connection with the Mecca Masjid blast case.