Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Every encounter death may be a homicide’

A CAMPAIGN AGAINST STIGMA: Members of Jamat-e-Islam Hind participating in the ‘Caravan for Peace and Justice’ in Bangalore on Saturday.

Bangalore: “Every encounter death may be a homicide because the police are operating under tremendous pressure,” said U.R. Ananthamurthy, Jnan Pith-Award winner, addressing a large gathering of activists of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH).

He was speaking at the converging conference and public meeting organised by the JIH to mark the arrival of its “Caravan for Peace and Justice” in the city.

Mr. Ananthamurthy started his address by telling the Muslim community that “India is yours and you should live here without fear”. He was critical of the media and requested journalists to refrain from using the names of the accused before they were convicted. “Phrases like ‘Muslim terrorists’ must be avoided,” he said.

The Caravan for Peace and Justice has been going around the country propagating the ideas of peace and justice and according to Mohammed Abdullah Javed, president of the JIH (Karnataka and Goa),85,000 people participated in the rallies organised by the caravan in 35 towns throughout the State from November 10.

Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari, JIH president, accused the State of targeting the Muslim community. “How do the investigating agencies know that the crime was committed by a Muslim?,” he asked.

Swami Agnivesh came down harshly on targeting Muslims and tried to frame it in the context of the international war on terror.

N.V. Narasimhaiah, vice-president, Forum for Democracy and Communal Amity, and Rev. Vincent Rajkumar, director, Christian Institute for Study of Religion and Society, spoke.

According to the JIH, over 5,000 members took part in the rally.

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