Author: Sukanya Shetty
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: November 17, 2008
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/muslims-mastermind-all-acts-of-terror-h.../386687/
While the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad
questions suspected radical Hindus who it alleges masterminded the September
29 Malegaon blast, policemen probing the October 5 riots in Dhule, while seeking
remand of one of the riot accused, have stated: "It is an established
fact that Muslims are the masterminds behind all terrorist activities across
India."
The statement was made while seeking remand
of a local Muslim leader Shaabir Khan alias Shaabir Bhangarwala who is accused
of instigating the communal violence in Dhule last month which claimed nine
lives and left many injured. Khan has been booked in two cases of murder,
rioting and looting while other male members of his family have been booked
in seven cases each.
The remand application for Khan was filed
before the Dhule Additional Sessions Judge A Baviskar. Stating that Khan was
one of the prime accused in the murder of one Imran Sheikh, police also tried
to justify the act of the hardline Hindu Rakshak Samiti (HRS) which is being
blamed for the violence in Dhule after the Malegaon blast. Seeking Khan's
custody, the police stated that what the Hindu group had done was "mere
retaliation to what has been happening in the country for past few years."
Two men of the HRS group have been under arrest since the riots.
Khan's advocate Runwal P S said: "In
the FIR, the police states that around 800-1000 people have been a part of
the riot but the remand has 50 names with 47 belonging to the Muslim community.
It is clear that the police is acting unconstitutionally and is hell bent
on giving the probe a communal twist."
When contacted, Dhule SP Sunil Kolhe said:
"We cannot make such a grave mistake and engage in such stereotyping.
I will look into the matter. If such an act has been done by our men, we will
see how to contain it immediately."
