[Reader-list] Hounding Muslims in the name of ...

[Prabhakar Singh]

Let us not mix things like this and confuse the basic issue.Making improvement and insulting motherland are two different issues.It needs no further discussion.
Prabhakar



----- Original Message ----
From: S.Fatima <sadiafwahidi at yahoo.co.in>
To: radhikarajen at vsnl.net; Prabhakar Singh <prabhakardelhi at yahoo.com>
Cc: sarai <reader-list at sarai.net>
Sent: Sunday, 10 August, 2008 7:34:05 AM
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Hounding Muslims in the name of ...

Dear Prabhakar Singh
I am not sure if I am proud of my motherland, but I certainly try to make improvements by paying my taxes, not bribing the traffic cop, not dirtying the roads, and not participating in any kind of hate-mongering or violence. Why should one leave one's homeland. How can one make improvements in one's country if one is not allowed to criticize it. 

I don't think being proud of one's motherland is a pre-requisit of being a citizen of a country.



--- On Sun, 10/8/08, Prabhakar Singh <prabhakardelhi at yahoo.com> wrote:

> From: Prabhakar Singh <prabhakardelhi at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Hounding Muslims in the name of ...
> To: sadiafwahidi at yahoo.co.in, radhikarajen at vsnl.net
> Cc: "sarai" <reader-list at sarai.net>
> Date: Sunday, 10 August, 2008, 3:07 PM
> If India as a country is so bad why do we choose to live
> here at all? We don't deserve to be called Indians if we
> are not proud of our nation.We should try to make improvemet
> rather than codemning our own motherland.Freedom of
> expression does not mean that one can insult our nation like
> this.Such outrageous comments should not be allowed.The
> moderator of the forum needs to explain this now.
> Prabhakar
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: S.Fatima <sadiafwahidi at yahoo.co.in>
> To: radhikarajen at vsnl.net
> Cc: sarai <reader-list at sarai.net>
> Sent: Sunday, 10 August, 2008 2:24:56 AM
> Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Hounding Muslims in the name of
> ...
> 
> Dear Radhika
> I don't wish to enter a unending debate with you, but
> the fact is (which you will never acknowledge) that more and
> more sincere people are realizing that this image of terror
> for Muslims and Islam has mostly been fabricated by the
> mainstream media. They keep inventing new terms everyday.
> So, now the word "fasadi" has entered your
> rhetoric today - probably learnt it from a recent TOI
> editorial? Do you even know what the word fasadi means. If
> common muslims are fasadis then who are the activists of
> RSS, Shiva Sena, Bajrang Dal and VHP who spread terror
> during the fasads. Are they not trained for all their
> subversive activities. I know your immediate answer would
> be: "they are defending themselves". Fine, you
> must defend against the armed mob. But killing 5900 Muslims
> in Gujarat in retaliation of 59 Hindus in Godhra is surely
> more than defending. That's planned genocide of a
> community.
> 
> Look, these debates will never end. And your notions of
> India never having invaded anyone for 5000 years is all
> humbug (earlier, someone said, 10,000 years!) India is
> invading the lives of its own people everyday - what to say
> of the outside world. Go and ask a tribal in eastern India
> whose livelihood will be crushed soon to provide us (and
> MNCs) luxurious minerals. That's fassadi.
> 
> 
> 
> --- On Sun, 10/8/08, radhikarajen at vsnl.net
> <radhikarajen at vsnl.net> wrote:
> 
> > From: radhikarajen at vsnl.net
> <radhikarajen at vsnl.net>
> > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Hounding Muslims in the
> name of fighting terrorism
> > To: sadiafwahidi at yahoo.co.in
> > Cc: "sarai" <reader-list at sarai.net>
> > Date: Sunday, 10 August, 2008, 2:09 PM
> > Dear Sadia,
> > 
> >    your query looks absurd on the face of it because
> > hindus have been always tolerent, never once went on
> > offensive in their civilised history of over 5000
> years,
> > always tolerent of the invaders be it  the moghuls or
> later
> > christian missionaries converting to increase the
> numerical
> > strength of the "community.
> > 
> >    Muslims demanded a land and nation for
> themselves, a
> > islamic nation, birth of Pakistan was exactly that,
> but
> > majority of muslims did stay back, thus making India ,
> free
> > india,  secular nation, not a hindu nation,
> showcasing the
> > tolerence of hindu society. So, without resorting to
> blame
> > games , the onus is on muslims to keep up their
> promise when
> > they stayed back in a nation which gave them space to
> stay
> > back.
> > 
> >  Next, as a community, why muslims are not
> identifying the
> > "fasaadis" in their community who are
> terming
> > themselves as jihaadis when in actual fact they are in
> to
> > fassaad of killing innocents which islam does not
> tolerate,
> > ? Let them come out, identify these fasaadis who try
> to
> > legitimise their acts of violence using the faith of
> islam,
> > thus actually giving bad name to a good religion.? let
> the
> > muslim community take steps to identify the
> terrorsists or
> > fasaadis in their midst, isolate them and then law of
> rule
> > will take care of such deviant fasaadis.
> > 
> >  In society, it is sad to see that such fassaadis are
> > sheltored by communal NGOs, "criminal"
> lawyers
> > defending them for bigger fee and muslim who is in no
> way
> > connected to these fassadis is also the sufferer of a
> > jihaadi by default.!
> > 
> >  regards. 
> > 
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "S.Fatima"
> <sadiafwahidi at yahoo.co.in>
> > Date: Saturday, August 9, 2008 8:54 pm
> > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Hounding Muslims in the
> name of
> > fighting    terrorism
> > To: radhikarajen at vsnl.net
> > Cc: sarai <reader-list at sarai.net>
> > 
> > > Dear Radhika
> > > 
> > > "muslims forgot their solemn oath to father
> of
> > the nation, mahatma 
> > > that they will stay back in India as brothers
> with
> > their hindu 
> > > community"
> > > Why should only Muslim need to take a solemn oath
> to
> > live as 
> > > brothers? Isn't that oath required by others
> as
> > well?
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > --- On Sat, 9/8/08, radhikarajen at vsnl.net
> > <radhikarajen at vsnl.net> 
> > > wrote:
> > > > From: radhikarajen at vsnl.net
> > <radhikarajen at vsnl.net>
> > > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Hounding Muslims
> in
> > the name of 
> > > fighting terrorism
> > > > To: sadiafwahidi at yahoo.co.in
> > > > Cc: "sarai"
> > <reader-list at sarai.net>
> > > > Date: Saturday, 9 August, 2008, 6:25 PM
> > > > All muslims are not terrorists, but all
> those
> > terrorists who
> > > > are caught with acts of terrorism are
> muslims.
> > > > 
> > > >      When the community of muslims forgot
> their
> > solemn oath
> > > > to father of the nation, mahatma that they
> will
> > stay back in
> > > > India as brothers with their hindu
> community,
> > many were
> > > > sceptical, for one, as the population
> increases
> > the muslim
> > > > community  along with other segments of
> sovciety
> > also did
> > > > not get their due in good governance, thanks
> to
> > the politics
> > > > of votebanks, society was further divided in
> > linguistic ,
> > > > caste and faith segments, the national
> exchequer
> > never
> > > > reached the grass root level of the populace
> and
> > citizens in
> > > > sixty years of freedom kept gasping for good
> > governance
> > > > without bias , without fear or favour.
> > > > 
> > > >    The muslim community in general had
> lower
> > percentage of
> > > > educated men and women, who instead of
> having
> > concern for
> > > > their community, is seen more in nesting
> their
> > own homes
> > > > than the society. The unaccounted cash
> > transactions,
> > > > unwillingness to be accountable to society,
> > wherever the
> > > > muslims are majority, trying to impose their
> > rules on
> > > > society are all the reasons along with
> political
> > > > appeasements and false promises and gestures
> of
> > patronising
> > > > the mullas for votes left a common muslim
> > wondering where he
> > > > belonged to. !
> > > > 
> > > >    The subsequent generations of muslims,
> > particularly
> > > > youth started to vent their anger, demanding
> more
> > say in the
> > > > governance along with dalits and other
> suppressed
> > and
> > > > oppressed castes, thus a fertile ground for
> > breeding of
> > > > terrorism. the mullas instead of addressing
> the
> > issues used
> > > > their friday prayers only to arouse the
> passions
> > on some
> > > > danish cartoons and percieved and imagined
> > dangers from
> > > > "communal  "  parties totally
> loosing
> > sight of
> > > > communalism played by so called secular
> parties.!
> > > > 
> > > >    In the entire process, the muslim youth
> who is
> > found
> > > > wanting a job is easy prey for those
> elements in
> > society who
> > > > do not risk themselves of being seen as
> > terorists, use the
> > > > youth to terrorise the society. 
> > > > 
> > > >  Only solution to terror is handle the
> elements
> > who
> > > > organise the youth to terrorise the society,
> > terrorise them
> > > > and democratic rule of laws should handle
> the
> > deviant
> > > > behaviour of the culprits without fear or
> favour
> > of vote
> > > > banks.
> > > > 
> > > >  regards.
> > > > 
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: "S.Fatima"
> > <sadiafwahidi at yahoo.co.in>
> > > > Date: Friday, August 8, 2008 6:54 pm
> > > > Subject: [Reader-list] Hounding Muslims in
> the
> > name of
> > > > fighting terrorism
> > > > To: sarai <reader-list at sarai.net>
> > > > 
> > > > > All The Wrong Men
> > > > > A cleric’s dubious arrest over the
> > Ahmedabad blasts
> > > > is just the 
> > > > > tip. A three-month investigation by
> AJIT
> > SAHI exposes
> > > > the random 
> > > > > targeting of Muslims by the police
> > > > > (Tehelka: 
> > > > >
> > > > 
> > >
> >
> http://www.tehelka.com/story_main40.asp?filename=Ne090808coverstory.asp)>
> > > AS HE’D done unfailingly every Friday for two
> > > > decades, Maulana 
> > > > > Abdul Haleem cleared his throat and
> began to
> > speak to
> > > > the faithful 
> > > > > on July 25. It was near 2 pm, and the
> > soft-spoken,
> > > > revered aalim, 
> > > > > or Islamic scholar, had just led scores
> of
> > Muslims in
> > > > the hour-
> > > > > long juma namaaz at his packed mosque
> in one
> > of
> > > > Ahmedabad’s Muslim 
> > > > > localities where the preacher and many
> in
> > his
> > > > congregation live. 
> > > > > His sermon this afternoon was on a
> > Muslim’s duty
> > > > towards his 
> > > > > neighbours. “You cannot fill your
> stomach
> > if your
> > > > neighbour is 
> > > > > hungry,” Haleem spoke in his
> unhurried
> > tone. “You
> > > > cannot 
> > > > > discriminate between your Hindu and
> Muslim
> > > > neighbours.”
> > > > > Thirty hours later, within minutes of
> the
> > serial
> > > > blasts that 
> > > > > killed 53 people in Ahmedabad on
> Saturday,
> > policemen
> > > > stormed 
> > > > > Haleem’s house barely a km from the
> mosque
> > and
> > > > dragged him away as 
> > > > > his stunned neighbours watched. On
> Monday,
> > as a local
> > > > magistrate 
> > > > > gave the Crime Branch his custody for
> two
> > weeks,
> > > > police claimed 
> > > > > Haleem is a crucial link in the
> Saturday
> > blasts and
> > > > that grilling 
> > > > > him would unravel the execution of and
> the
> > conspiracy
> > > > behind the 
> > > > > terror act.
> > > > > In a time of tragedy and terror,
> everybody,
> > > > justifiably, wants 
> > > > > answers, culprits, punishment. The
> challenge
> > then is
> > > > not to reach 
> > > > > for the quick routes, the easy
> > demonisations.
> > > > Unfortunately, the 
> > > > > Indian State has not quite met that
> > challenge. Over
> > > > the years, for 
> > > > > instance, SIMI has come to be a dread
> > acronym for most
> > > > Indians — 
> > > > > Students’ Islamic Movement of India,
> a
> > hotbed of
> > > > terrorism, a 
> > > > > lethal and shadowy organisation intent
> on
> > destroying
> > > > the nation. 
> > > > > Quick on the back of every horrific
> blast,
> > that name
> > > > is thrust 
> > > > > upon the public mind like a deadly
> innuendo
> > —
> > > > stretching outwards 
> > > > > to embrace the entire community. But
> how
> > true are
> > > > these allegations?
> > > > > In the struggle for a just and safe
> society,
> > it is
> > > > crucial to find 
> > > > > real perpetrators and correct answers;
> > crucial to
> > > > cleave doggedly 
> > > > > to the idea of fair play and rule of
> law;
> > crucial not
> > > > to fall prey 
> > > > > to overblown and false psychoses. In
> pursuit
> > of this,
> > > > in an 
> > > > > attempt to sift fact from prejudice,
> TEHELKA
> > conducted
> > > > an 
> > > > > investigation across India over three
> months
> > and 12
> > > > cities. 
> > > > > Serialised here, starting this week,
> the
> > disturbing
> > > > investigation 
> > > > > found that an overwhelming majority of
> > terrorism cases
> > > > — 
> > > > > especially those related to the
> outlawed
> > SIMI — are
> > > > based on 
> > > > > either non-existent or fraudulent
> evidence
> > and are an
> > > > affront to 
> > > > > both law and common sense.
> > > > > The investigation found that entrenched
> > prejudices in
> > > > the 
> > > > > executive and the judiciary, an abject
> lack
> > of
> > > > political will 
> > > > > against framing scapegoats, and a 24x7
> news
> > media that
> > > > demands 
> > > > > instant whodunit answers and
> unquestioningly
> > > > copy-pastes every 
> > > > > unproven police and intelligence story
> on
> > terrorist
> > > > networks has 
> > > > > morphed into a tragic persecution of
> > hundreds of
> > > > people falsely 
> > > > > accused of terrorism. Nearly all of
> these
> > are Muslim;
> > > > nearly all 
> > > > > of these are poor.
> > > > > “We will rise to the challenge and I
> am
> > confident we
> > > > will be able 
> > > > > to defeat these forces,” Prime
> Minister
> > Manmohan
> > > > Singh said as he 
> > > > > walked about in the debris at
> Ahmedabad’s
> > civil
> > > > hospital, where 
> > > > > two blasts had inflicted the worst
> > casualties. He
> > > > urged political 
> > > > > parties and police and intelligence
> agencies
> > to work
> > > > together 
> > > > > against efforts aimed at “destroying
> our
> > social
> > > > fabric, 
> > > > > undermining communal harmony.”
> > Unfortunately, given
> > > > their 
> > > > > staggering record of false cases
> against
> > innocent
> > > > people, it 
> > > > > appears that incompetent police and
> > intelligence
> > > > agencies are 
> > > > > doing exactly the opposite.
> > > > > Maulana Abdul Haleem’s story,
> chronicled
> > below, is a
> > > > searing 
> > > > > example why.
> > > > > SINCE SUNDAY, in anonymous plants in
> the
> > stenographic
> > > > news media, 
> > > > > police have claimed that Haleem is a
> SIMI
> > member
> > > > linked with 
> > > > > Pakistan- and Bangladeshbased
> terrorists.
> > Gujarat
> > > > government’s 
> > > > > lawyer told the remand magistrate that
> > Haleem sent
> > > > Muslim youth 
> > > > > from Ahmedabad to Uttar Pradesh to
> train as
> > terrorists
> > > > to avenge 
> > > > > the 2002 mass killings of Muslims in
> the
> > state. He
> > > > said they 
> > > > > planned, among others, to assassinate
> BJP
> > leader LK
> > > > Advani and 
> > > > > Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
> Police
> > have said
> > > > Haleem was 
> > > > > absconding since he was named an
> accused in
> > this case
> > > > in 2002.
> > > > > TEHELKA’s investigation in Ahmedabad
> > following the
> > > > cleric’s arrest 
> > > > > has thrown up strong evidence,
> documentary
> > and
> > > > circumstantial, 
> > > > > that far from absconding, Haleem has
> lived
> > at his
> > > > house — which is 
> > > > > less than a km from the local police
> station
> > — for
> > > > years and led a 
> > > > > public life within his community. The
> charge
> > against
> > > > him that he 
> > > > > sent Muslims to train as terrorists is
> > highly dubious
> > > > based as it 
> > > > > is on just one letter from Haleem whose
> > contents
> > > > don’t remotely 
> > > > > reflect a link with terrorism. And
> until
> > Saturday’s
> > > > bomb blasts, 
> > > > > Ahmedabad police had never called
> Haleem a
> > SIMI
> > > > member.
> > > > > If anything, Haleem’s family and
> followers
> > say
> > > > police have 
> > > > > harassed him for years for his role in
> > helping victims
> > > > of the 2002 
> > > > > anti-Muslim violence. This year, on May
> 27,
> > an
> > > > inspector from the 
> > > > > police station sent Haleem a onepage
> > handwritten
> > > > notice in 
> > > > > Gujarati. It said: “An office of
> Markaz
> > Ahle-Hadis
> > > > [the Islamic 
> > > > > sect to which Haleem and his followers
> > belong] Trust
> > > > has been 
> > > > > opened in Shop no. 4 in the Alishan
> Shopping
> > Centre.
> > > > You are its 
> > > > > head… Many members have been
> appointed in
> > it. You
> > > > are directed to 
> > > > > submit a list of their names, addresses
> and
> > phone
> > > > numbers.”
> > > > > Apart from the gross illegality of such
> a
> > demand on a
> > > > trust 
> > > > > constituted as per law with no criminal
> > charge against
> > > > it, the 
> > > > > letter proves the police knew
> Haleem’s
> > whereabouts
> > > > and were in 
> > > > > touch with him as late as two months
> ago.
> > Indeed, the
> > > > notice 
> > > > > mentions Haleem’s home address: 2,
> Devi
> > Park
> > > > Society, near 
> > > > > Baikunth Dham Temple. Haleem’s family
> has
> > proof that
> > > > the police 
> > > > > received his reply the next day.
> > > > > A month later, on June 29, Haleem
> rushed
> > telegrams to
> > > > Gujarat’s 
> > > > > director-general of police and
> Ahmedabad’s
> > police
> > > > commissioner 
> > > > > claiming that the police forcibly
> entered
> > his house
> > > > that day and 
> > > > > harassed his wife and children in his
> > absence. “We
> > > > are peace-
> > > > > loving and law-abiding citizens and
> have
> > never been
> > > > part of any 
> > > > > illegal activity,” Haleem wrote the
> > telegram in
> > > > Hindi. “The police 
> > > > > are unlawfully harassing me and my
> family
> > without
> > > > appropriate 
> > > > > cause. This is aviolation of our civil
> > rights.”
> > > > Predictably, he 
> > > > > didn’t hear from either officer.
> > > > > In April, when a local outfit called
> Social
> > Unity
> > > > & Peace Forum, 
> > > > > which has both Muslims and Hindus as
> its
> > members,
> > > > organised a 
> > > > > socio-religious meeting, it wrote to
> the
> > police
> > > > seeking permission 
> > > > > to use loudspeakers. That application
> > clearly
> > > > mentioned that 
> > > > > Haleem would be the main speaker at the
> > event.
> > > > Haleem’s family 
> > > > > also offers his driving licence,
> renewed by
> > the
> > > > Ahmedabad 
> > > > > transport office on December 28, 2006,
> as
> > proof that
> > > > he led a 
> > > > > normal life all along. Three years ago,
> in
> > July 2005,
> > > > the Gujarati 
> > > > > newspaper Divya Bhaskar had published
> > Haleem’s
> > > > picture with a 
> > > > > statement he released at a press
> conference
> > giving his
> > > > views on a 
> > > > > raging controversy over the alleged
> rape of
> > a woman,
> > > > Imrana, by 
> > > > > her father-in-law in a village in Uttar
> > Pradesh.
> > > > > “It is crazy that we have to prove
> Maulana
> > > > Haleem’s innocence,” 
> > > > > says his friend Haneef Shaikh, who has
> > appealed to the
> > > > Gujarat 
> > > > > governor to secure the cleric’s
> release.
> > Adds Nazir,
> > > > in whose 
> > > > > house Haleem has lived with his family
> as
> > tenant: “I
> > > > have known 
> > > > > Maulana most closely. He is a man of
> > religion and has
> > > > never 
> > > > > indulged in terrorism.” Says
> Haleem’s
> > wife Noor
> > > > Saba: “I swear by 
> > > > > my children that my husband is not a
> > terrorist. He is
> > > > being framed.”
> > > > > Outrage and disbelief is unmistakable
> in the
> > > > cleric’s 
> > > > > neighbourhood. “Maulana Haleem has
> helped
> > hundreds
> > > > in their daily 
> > > > > lives by imparting them the skills of
> > patience and
> > > > fortitude,” 
> > > > > says a shaken Ehsanul Haq, a
> 27-year-old
> > embroiderer.
> > > > Haq fishes 
> > > > > out his marriage certificate, the
> nikaahnama
> > the
> > > > Maulana signed 
> > > > > after presiding at his wedding on June
> 1, to
> > show that
> > > > Haleem 
> > > > > wasn’t any absconder. Haleem had
> delivered
> > a sermon
> > > > to the guests 
> > > > > at Haq’s wedding over loudspeakers
> that
> > Haq had
> > > > installed — with 
> > > > > police permission.
> > > > > Abdul Haleem, who turned 43 on July 13,
> > hails from
> > > > Uttar Pradesh 
> > > > > and has lived in Ahmedabad from 1988.
> He is
> > a preacher
> > > > with a 
> > > > > puritanical Islamic sect called Ahle
> Hadis
> > that began
> > > > on the 
> > > > > subcontinent some 180 years ago and has
> > survived a
> > > > frowning Sunni 
> > > > > orthodoxy. The sect lays its store by
> the
> > Hadis —
> > > > the oral 
> > > > > narrative of Prophet Mohammad’s life
> —
> > as a
> > > > guiding principle for 
> > > > > Muslims in addition to the Quran. The
> news
> > media have
> > > > long 
> > > > > parroted the police’s insinuation
> that
> > Ahle-Hadis is
> > > > a terrorist 
> > > > > outfit linked with Lashkar-e-Tayaba.
> The
> > police claim
> > > > its members 
> > > > > include many terror accused such as
> those of
> > the July
> > > > 2006 Mumbai 
> > > > > train blasts. The sect, with a claimed
> > membership of
> > > > 30 million in 
> > > > > India, denies the charge. It points out
> that
> > Union
> > > > Home Minister 
> > > > > Shivraj Patil was the chief guest at
> its
> > national
> > > > symposium two 
> > > > > years ago at New Delhi.
> > > > > In Ahmedabad, Haleem led the 5,000-odd
> Ahle
> > Hadis
> > > > followers for 14 
> > > > > years, resigning three years ago to
> minister
> > a small
> > > > mosque so he 
> > > > > could begin life as a scrap dealer to
> earn a
> > regular
> > > > income to 
> > > > > feed his wife and seven children, the
> oldest
> > two of
> > > > whom study at 
> > > > > a madarsa in Delhi.
> > > > > HALEEM’S TROUBLES had begun soon
> after the
> > 2002
> > > > anti-Muslim 
> > > > > violence in Gujarat as he involved
> himself
> > in relief
> > > > work at the 
> > > > > camps housing hundreds of Muslim
> refugees.
> > An
> > > > Ahmedabad native 
> > > > > named Shahid Bakshi, who lived in
> Kuwait and
> > was
> > > > visiting his 
> > > > > home, came to meet Haleem with two
> other
> > Muslims. One
> > > > of them was 
> > > > > from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh who
> also
> > lived in
> > > > Kuwait. The 
> > > > > other was a small-time trader from
> > Moradabad. The
> > > > three wanted to 
> > > > > help 10-year-old Muslim orphans of the
> 2002
> > violence
> > > > by bringing 
> > > > > them free education and care, so Haleem
> took
> > them to
> > > > four refugee 
> > > > > camps. A week later, one camp responded
> > saying it had
> > > > found 34 
> > > > > children for such care. Haleem phoned
> the
> > Kuwait
> > > > expatriate, who 
> > > > > was then in Moradabad, and also wrote
> to him
> > about the
> > > > offer. But 
> > > > > getting no response, the plan died and,
> > importantly,
> > > > no children 
> > > > > were ever sent.
> > > > > Three months later, in August 2002,
> Delhi
> > Police
> > > > arrested Shahid 
> > > > > Bakshi and the other expatriate from
> Kuwait
> > allegedly
> > > > with 4.5 kg 
> > > > > of the explosive material, RDX. The
> > Moradabad trader
> > > > was also 
> > > > > arrested from his hometown. All three
> were
> > charged
> > > > under the 
> > > > > Prevention of Terrorism Act for
> conspiring
> > to carry
> > > > out terrorist 
> > > > > acts. Delhi Police found Haleem’s
> letter
> > (about the
> > > > camp’s offer 
> > > > > of the orphan children) with the
> expatriate
> > from
> > > > Kuwait. As both 
> > > > > Bakshi and Haleem were from Ahmedabad,
> > police there
> > > > were informed. 
> > > > > Immediately, Ahmedabad police officer
> DG
> > Vanzara
> > > > called in Haleem 
> > > > > and detained him — illegally — for
> five
> > days.
> > > > (Vanzara is now in 
> > > > > jail, accused of killing Gujarat
> businessman
> > > > Sohrabuddin in cold 
> > > > > blood in 2005 and trying to pass him
> off as
> > a
> > > > terrorist.) Haleem’s 
> > > > > family frantically filed a petition
> with the
> > Gujarat
> > > > High Court to 
> > > > > secure his release. “The judge
> ordered the
> > police to
> > > > bring Haleem 
> > > > > to the court in two hours,” recalls
> the
> > > > > family’s lawyer, Hashim Qureshi. The
> > police
> > > > instantly released 
> > > > > Haleem who rushed to the court where
> his
> > statement on
> > > > his illegal 
> > > > > detention was duly recorded and is part
> of
> > official
> > > > documents.
> > > > > Even as Delhi Police created the ‘RDX
> > case’
> > > > against the two 
> > > > > expatriates visiting from Kuwait and
> the
> > Moradabad
> > > > trader, police 
> > > > > in Ahmedabad created a parallel case
> against
> > the same
> > > > individuals 
> > > > > for “luring Muslim youth to train as
> > terrorists in
> > > > Moradabad”. 
> > > > > This is the case the police and the
> media
> > have
> > > > referred since 
> > > > > Haleem’s arrest for the July 26 bomb
> > blasts to argue
> > > > that the 
> > > > > cleric was involved in “sending
> Muslim
> > youth to
> > > > train as 
> > > > > terrorists”. The Gujarat government
> lawyer
> > was
> > > > openly lying on 
> > > > > Monday when he told the magistrate that
> > Haleem had
> > > > sent “30 youth” 
> > > > > toMoradabad for training as terrorists.
> The
> > > > charge-sheet in the 
> > > > > case clearly admits that the so-called
> > conspiracy had
> > > > remained on 
> > > > > paper and no children ever travelled
> from
> > Ahmedabad to
> > > > Moradabad.
> > > > > While Delhi’s ‘RDX case’ named
> Haleem
> > a witness,
> > > > Ahmedabad’s 
> > > > > ‘terrorist training case’ named him
> an
> > accused and
> > > > said he was 
> > > > > absconding. The law says the police
> have to
> > follow due
> > > > legal 
> > > > > process before declaring an accused as
> > absconding.
> > > > This includes 
> > > > > searches at his house and workplace in
> view
> > of
> > > > independent 
> > > > > witnesses, and recording statements
> from
> > neighbours to
> > > > establish 
> > > > > that the accused has not been seen for
> a
> > long time.
> > > > The Ahmedabad 
> > > > > police did not bother with this
> exercise.
> > > > > The entire case against Haleem is based
> on a
> > letter he
> > > > wrote to 
> > > > > the expatriate from Kuwait, Farhan
> Ahmad
> > Ali. Dated
> > > > August 7, 
> > > > > 2002, the letter makes no reference to
> > terrorist
> > > > training or any 
> > > > > other unlawful activity. It simply
> said:
> > “You had
> > > > come [to 
> > > > > Ahmedabad] with an ‘ahem maqsad’
> > (important
> > > > goal).” With a giant 
> > > > > leap of imagination, the police claim
> that
> > the words
> > > > “ahem maqsad” 
> > > > > can only mean a conspiracy for
> terrorist
> > training.
> > > > Haleem wrote 
> > > > > that six of the children were orphans
> and
> > the rest
> > > > poor. He 
> > > > > concluded the letter saying: “I
> believe
> > that by
> > >> god’s grace you 
> > > > > will certainly help me in this
> educational
> > and
> > > > constructive 
> > > > > mission to propagate Islam.” In his
> > deposition
> > > > before a Delhi 
> > > > > court in the ‘RDX case’, Haleem
> said he
> > was told
> > > > the children will 
> > > > > get “a good education and decent
> living”
> > in
> > > > Moradabad, and had no 
> > > > > clue if Bakshi and the others aimed to
> train
> > the
> > > > children as 
> > > > > terrorists.Last year, the Delhi judge
> > hearing the
> > > > ‘RDX case’ found 
> > > > > Shahid Bakshi and the other expatriate
> from
> > Kuwait,
> > > > Farhan Ahmad 
> > > > > Ali, guilty and sentenced each to seven
> > years in jail.
> > > > The court 
> > > > > accepted the police version even though
> the
> > only
> > > > witnesses to the 
> > > > > alleged recovery of RDX were policemen.
> > Ahmad Ali had
> > > > claimed that 
> > > > > he was arrested at the airport as he
> was to
> > board a
> > > > flight to 
> > > > > Kuwait, and said he had tickets as
> proof.
> > The judge
> > > > ignored that.
> > > > > Both Bakshi and Ahmad Ali appealed at
> the
> > Delhi High
> > > > Court against 
> > > > > their conviction. Here is an incredible
> > twister: while
> > > > they got 
> > > > > bail from the Delhi High Court despite
> being
> > convicted
> > > > by the 
> > > > > lower court, they were denied bail by
> the
> > Gujarat High
> > > > Court in 
> > > > > the ‘terrorist training case’
> although
> > no guilt
> > > > has yet been 
> > > > > established in that case and the
> Gujarat
> > crime branch
> > > > admits their 
> > > > > crime never went beyond hatching the
> alleged
> > > > conspiracy. That’s 
> > > > > not all.
> > > > > The Moradabad trader, a frail
> 56-year-old
> > man named
> > > > Hafiz Mohammad 
> > > > > Tahir, was acquitted in the ‘RDX
> case’.
> > He proved
> > > > doubly lucky 
> > > > > when the Gujarat High Court granted him
> bail
> > in the
> > > > ‘terrorist 
> > > > > training case’ in June 2004. In its
> > eye-opening bail
> > > > order, the 
> > > > > judge said: “… All that remains
> against
> > the
> > > > present applicant 
> > > > > [Tahir] is that he visited Ahmedabad
> and had
> > visited
> > > > camps to 
> > > > > identify the children so that they can
> be
> > better
> > > > looked after. 
> > > > > That by itself cannot be considered an
> > offence.”
> > > > > Since Bakshi and Ahmad Ali are accused
> of
> > exactly the
> > > > same crime, 
> > > > > the argument should be valid for them,
> too.
> > Yet,
> > > > another Gujarat 
> > > > > High Court judge denied them bail and
> both
> > continue to
> > > > languish in 
> > > > > jail. Tahir has, meanwhile, moved to
> > Ahmedabad because
> > > > the Gujarat 
> > > > > High Court’s 2004 bail order said he
> must
> > report to
> > > > the Crime 
> > > > > Branch office in Ahmedabad every
> Sunday. On
> > Sunday,
> > > > July 27, the 
> > > > > morning after the blasts, Tahir visited
> the
> > crime
> > > > branch office 
> > > > > with trepidation. “They grilled me
> four
> > hours on the
> > > > blasts,” 
> > > > > Tahir told TEHELKA. “I was glad when
> they
> > let me
> > > > go.”
> > > > > The hearing in the ‘terrorist
> training
> > case’ is
> > > > nearly over. It is 
> > > > > to be seen if a separate trial will be
> > called against
> > > > Haleem, 
> > > > > since he is no more “absconding”.
> > Meanwhile,
> > > > Haleem’s family is 
> > > > > worried stiff over the next meal and
> the
> > next
> > > > month’s house rent 
> > > > > of Rs 2,500. Haleem’s wife says she
> has no
> > savings.
> > > > His lone 
> > > > > employee, a daily labourer, is trying
> to run
> > > > Haleem’s scrap shop.
> > > > > SADLY, MAULANA Abdul Haleem’s story
> is
> > anything but
> > > > rare. One 
> > > > > glaring case concerns a “family of
> > terrorists”. On
> > > > July 15, a 
> > > > > posse of policemen arrested 28-year-old
> > Mohammad
> > > > Muqeemuddin Yasir 
> > > > > as he returned home at night from his
> > father’s
> > > > workshop in 
> > > > > Hyderabad. Ten days later, when serial
> bomb
> > blasts
> > > > rocked 
> > > > > Bangalore on July 25 killing two
> people,
> > Hyderabad
> > > > Police 
> > > > > Commissioner Prasanna Rao told the
> Hindustan
> > Times
> > > > newspaper that, 
> > > > > during interrogation, Yasir had
> confessed
> > that before
> > > > his arrest, 
> > > > > he had taken terror “operatives” to
> > Karnataka and
> > > > “arranged safe 
> > > > > houses” for them. Of course, Yasir
> denies
> > the
> > > > confession. “I 
> > > > > haven’t told them anything,” Yasir
> told
> > his
> > > > mother, Tasleem 
> > > > > Fatima, when she visited him at the
> jail on
> > July 29.
> > > > “The police 
> > > > > are lying.” Fatima told TEHELKA her
> son
> > was tortured
> > > > during what 
> > > > > the police commissioner calls
> > “interrogation”.
> > > > “He was hung upside 
> > > > > down and beaten,” she said.
> > > > > Apart from the fact that a confession
> made
> > to the
> > > > police is 
> > > > > inadmissible as evidence before a judge
> > (never mind
> > > > that the news 
> > > > > media accept confessions as gospel),
> > Yasir’s alleged
> > > > confession, 
> > > > > if true, should be a slap on the face
> of the
> > Hyderabad
> > > > Police. 
> > > > > After all, Yasir is an ex-SIMI member
> whose
> > father and
> > > > one brother 
> > > > > are jailed on charges of terrorism.
> > Yasir’s father,
> > > > 56-yearold 
> > > > > Maulana Mohammad Nasiruddin, is a
> > wellrespected cleric
> > > > who has now 
> > > > > incarcerated in Sabarmati jail in
> Ahmedabad
> > for nearly
> > > > four years 
> > > > > and has been denied bail all the way up
> to
> > the Supreme
> > > > Court. 
> > > > > Yasir’s younger brother, Riasuddin
> Nasir,
> > is jailed
> > > > in Karnataka’s 
> > > > > Belgaum district since he was arrested
> in
> > January.
> > > > > With his brother and father suspected
> as
> > dreaded
> > > > terrorists, the 
> > > > > Hyderabad Police should have kept tabs
> on
> > Yasir all
> > > > the time and 
> > > > > instantly known if he was aiding
> terrorists.
> > That the
> > > > police 
> > > > > didn’t catch Yasir “arranging safe
> > houses” for
> > > > terrorists in 
> > > > > Karnataka is because he probably never
> did
> > any such
> > > > thing. This 
> > > > > reporter interviewed Yasir in Hyderabad
> a
> > month before
> > > > his arrest, 
> >> > > on his birthday on June 12, at an
> > engineering workshop
> > > > that his 
> > > > > father had set up three decades ago
> with
> > borrowed
> > > > money and skills 
> > > > > picked up as an assistant to a roadside
> > mechanic. In
> > > > the din of 
> > > > > machines, Yasir was happily engaged in
> > managing
> > > > customers crowding 
> > > > > the small front office. “My father
> and
> > brother have
> > > > been framed,” 
> > > > > he forcefully told TEHELKA.
> > > > > A shy man with a Boy Scout smile, Yasir
> > seems a victim
> > > > of patently 
> > > > > bogus cases against him. He was a
> member of
> > SIMI when
> > > > it was 
> > > > > banned by the Centre on September 27,
> 2001.
> > (Given the
> > > > relentless 
> > > > > government propaganda against SIMI, the
> > reader might
> > > > find it hard 
> > > > > to believe that no court in India has
> yet
> > upheld the
> > > > charge of 
> > > > > terrorism against SIMI as an
> organisation.)
> > Yasir
> > > > echoed dozens 
> > > > > others interviewed by this reporter
> across
> > India in
> > > > saying that 
> > > > > SIMI was a platform for “deep
> religious
> > training and
> > > > self-
> > > > > purification”, and not for acts of
> > terrorism or
> > > > anti-India 
> > > > > conspiracies. “SIMI took up issues of
> > atrocities on
> > > > Muslims from 
> > > > > Chechnya to Kashmir,” Yasir said.
> “It
> > never gave
> > > > up the issue of 
> > > > > the Babri Masjid, and this attracted
> many of
> > us.”
> > > > > 
> > > > > ON THE night before SIMI was banned,
> the
> > police
> > > > arrested Yasir and 
> > > > > booked him with the other two SIMI
> > representatives in
> > > > Hyderabad 
> > > > > under the Unlawful Activities
> (Prevention)
> > Act. A
> > > > magistrate gave 
> > > > > them bail the next day. A day later,
> the
> > police
> > > > slapped another 
> > > > > case against the three, alleging that
> one of
> > them was
> > > > arrested 
> > > > > making a speech against the government.
> The
> > other two,
> > > > including 
> > > > > Yasir, were shown as absconding. They
> went
> > back to the
> > > > court and 
> > > > > were sent to jail, where Yasir spent 29
> days
> > before
> > > > securing bail. 
> > > > > Seven years have gone by. Trial is yet
> to
> > begin.
> > > > > Worse is the fate of Yasir’s father,
> a
> > firebrand
> > > > cleric who never 
> > > > > held his tongue in public speeches
> against
> > the
> > > > government, 
> > > > > especially on issues such as the Babri
> > Masjid
> > > > demolition and the 
> > > > > 2002 anti-Muslim violence of Gujarat.
> > Embroiled in
> > > > cooked-up 
> > > > > cases, in several of which he was
> > subsequently
> > > > acquitted, Maulana 
> > > > > Nasiruddin was asked by the Hyderabad
> Police
> > to report
> > > > at their 
> > > > > office regularly.
> > > > > On one such day in October 2004, when
> > Maulana
> > > > Nasiruddin reached 
> > > > > the police station, he was arrested by
> a
> > police team
> > > > from 
> > > > > Ahmedabad for his alleged involvement
> in a
> > terror
> > > > conspiracy in 
> > > > > Gujarat, including the March 2003
> murder of
> > former
> > > > Gujarat Home 
> > > > > Minister, Haren Pandya. (The only
> evidence
> > against
> > > > Maulana 
> > > > > Nasiruddin is his confession, which, in
> a
> > letter to
> > > > the court, he 
> > > > > has denied making.)
> > > > > Local Muslims who had gone with the
> Maulana
> > to the
> > > > police station 
> > > > > began protesting as he was led out. At
> this,
> > Gujarat
> > > > police 
> > > > > officer Narendra Amin took out his
> service
> > revolver
> > > > and shot dead 
> > > > > one protestor. All hell broke loose.
> > Nasiruddin’s
> > > > supporters 
> > > > > refused to move the dead protestor’s
> body
> > unless the
> > > > police filed 
> > > > > an FIR against Amin. Finally, Hyderabad
> > police filed
> > > > two cases 
> > > > > back to back: One, their own, against
> the
> > protestors
> > > > for blocking 
> > > > > the Maulana’s arrest; and the other,
> under
> > pressure,
> > > > against 
> > > > > Narendra Amin, for shooting the
> protestor.
> > > > > The case against Amin hasn’t moved an
> inch
> > in four
> > > > years. The 
> > > > > Hyderabad police ought to have seized
> his
> > revolver and
> > > > sent it for 
> > > > > a forensic examination, along with the
> > bullet
> > > > recovered from the 
> > > > > dead protestor’s body. They should
> have
> > arrested and
> > > > produced Amin 
> > > > > before a magistrate. This is an
> > open-and-shut case if
> > > > there ever 
> > > > > was one: with the weapon of homicide
> > matching the
> > > > bullet, and 
> > > > > dozens of eyewitnesses. Of course, none
> of
> > this
> > > > happened. Amin 
> > > > > proceeded to Ahmedabad with Maulana
> > Nasiruddin in his
> > > > custody. The 
> > > > > FIR against him has become a dead
> letter.
> > > > > Amin is the same police officer who was
> > subsequently
> > > > accused of 
> > > > > killing Kausar Bi, the wife of Gujarat
> > businessman
> > > > Sohrabuddin who 
> > > > > was killed by police officer Vanzara in
> 2005
> > (as
> > > > mentioned above 
> > > > > in Haleem’s story). Like Vanzara,
> Amin,
> > too, is now
> > > > in jail.
> > > > > MEANWHILE, A tragedy has befallen the
> main
> > complainant
> > > > against 
> > > > > Amin in the Hyderabad shootout case.
> This is
> > none
> > > > other than 20-
> > > > > year-old Nasir, Maulana Nasiruddin’s
> > youngest son
> > > > and Yasir’s 
> > > > > youngest brother. On January 11 this
> year,
> > Nasir was
> > > > arrested by 
> > > > > police in Karnataka with another person
> and
> > was
> > > > accused of 
> > > > > stealing the motorcycle they were
> allegedly
> > riding.
> > > > Claiming a 
> > > > > knife was found on the two, the police
> > slapped charges
> > > > such as 
> > > > > ‘waging war against State’ on Nasir
> and
> > his
> > > > co-accused.
> > > > > Amazingly, the police filed seven
> > confessions from the
> > > > two accused 
> > > > > over the next 18 days. Not one showed
> them
> > saying they
> > > > were SIMI 
> > > > > members. Police then filed their eighth
> > confessions in
> > > > which they 
> > > > > allegedly accepted being SIMI members
> and
> > the
> > > > attendant terror 
> > > > > charges. Ninety days later, when the
> police
> > failed to
> > > > file a 
> > > > > charge-sheet, Nasir’s lawyer landed
> at the
> > > > magistrate’s house who 
> > > > > then had no option but to grant bail as
> per
> > law. But
> > > > by this time, 
> > > > > the police had implicated Nasir in
> another
> > case of
> > > > conspiracy, so 
> > > > > he continues in jail. Of course, Nasir
> has
> > retracted
> > > > his 
> > > > > confessions alleging torture. Yet, he
> has
> > little hope
> > > > against 
> > > > > biases in the judicial system.
> > > > > Magistrate B. Jinaralkar, who sent the
> two
> > accused to
> > > > police 
> > > > > custody, told TEHELKA reporter Sanjana
> the
> > following
> > > > in an interview:
> > > > > “Even as I was signing the necessary
> > papers
> > > > remanding them to 
> > > > > judicial custody, Asadullah [the other
> > accused]
> > > > stepped forward 
> > > > > requesting to speak with me. He told me
> that
> > the
> > > > police denied 
> > > > > them food and water and subjected them
> to
> > repeated
> > > > beatings. He 
> > > > > proceeded to show me the bruises on
> > Nasir’s body.
> > > > The two 
> > > > > repeatedly made a reference to human
> rights
> > violation
> > > > by the 
> > > > > police and demanded medical attention.
> > > > > “I was very surprised by three
> things:
> > they were
> > > > talking of their 
> > > > > fundamental rights in an authoritative
> > manner, they
> > > > spoke English 
> > > > > and, further, they readily admitted
> that
> > they had
> > > > stolen the bike, 
> > > > > something most thieves never do in my
> > experience.”
> > > > > When a police sub-inspector phoned the
> > magistrate
> > > > “warning” that 
> > > > > the accused shouldn’t be sent to
> judicial
> > custody,
> > > > the magistrate 
> > > > > asked the evidence to be brought to
> this
> > house. “The
> > > > materials 
> > > > > produced before me included duplicate
> > identity cards,
> > > > a fancy 
> > > > > dagger, a map of South India with red
> marks
> > against
> > > > Udupi and Goa, 
> > > > > an American dollar, two pieces of paper
> with
> > www.com
> > > > written on 
> > > > > one and ‘Jungle King behind back
> me’ on
> > another.
> > > > > “When I looked at these materials in
> their
> > entirety,
> > > > I felt that 
> > > > > these were definitely not just bike
> thieves.
> > Why would
> > > > bike 
> > > > > thieves carry around duplicate identity
> > cards and a
> > > > map of South 
> > > > > India? The fact that they had an
> American
> > dollar
> > > > seemed to suggest 
> > > > > they had international links. The paper
> with
> > www.com
> > > > indicated to 
> > > > > me that they were tech-savvy. The other
> > piece of paper
> > > > had a 
> > > > > message that seemed to be a sort of
> code
> > that I could
> > > > not 
> > > > > immediately decipher. Also, when I
> examined
> > the South
> > > > India map, 
> > > > > Udupi had a sort of indication with a
> red
> > marker
> > > > against it. 
> > > > > Perhaps they were planning to strike at
> the
> > place
> > > > during a 
> > > > > religious function.
> > > > > “All these suggested that there were
> > definitely
> > > > enough grounds in 
> > > > > my opinion to grant the police custody
> of
> > Nasir and
> > > > Asadullah to 
> > > > > facilitate further investigations.”
> Go
> > figure.
> > > > > So is there hope for Maulana Haleem,
> > Muqeemuddin
> > > > Yasir, Maulana 
> > > > > Nasiruddin and Riasuddin Nasir? The
> boys’
> > mother
> > > > doesn’t think so. 
> > > > > “Why don’t the police put us all
> > together in
> > > > jail,” she told 
> > > > > TEHELKA, her voice shaking with rage.
> > “Then they can
> > > > shoot all of 
> > > > > us dead.” •
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > >      Unlimited freedom, unlimited
> storage.
> > Get it now,
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> > > > >
> > > >
> >
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> > > > >
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