[Reader-list] Statement of Support to Jamia Milia Islamia University Teacher’s Solidarity Group

[Saheli Women]

*Statement of Support to Jamia Milia Islamia University Teacher's Solidarity
Group -
Condemning Communal Discrimination and Illegal Detention*

The developments since the bomb blasts in Delhi on September 2008 are a grim
challenge to the social fabric and democratic practices of the country.
While we all feel concerned about increasing terrorist attacks and deaths of
innocents and strongly condemn them, we also feel that terror cannot be
fought with mass hysteria and high pitched politics. The actions of the
police, various sections of media and Hindu right wing forces have resulted
in branding a particular community as anti-national, have given legitimacy
to indiscriminate and illegal detention of members of that community, and
led to deep communal divide. The alleged encounter at Batla House on
September 19, 2008, following bomb blasts in Delhi, where two alleged
terrorists were killed, two escaped, two captured and a police inspector
died of injuries inflicted during encounter is full of many loop holes. The
majority of the alleged terrorists were students in Jamia Milia Islamia.
Since then a large number of students and inhabitants of Jamia Nagar have
been picked up by police. National Human Rights Commission has issued notice
to Delhi Police to give a report of the Batla House encounter at Jamia Nagar
in view of the discrepancies in police versions and loop holes. **

The unanimous decision of the Academic and Executive Council of Jamia Milia
Islamia University to request the government to initiate a separate judicial
enquiry into Batla House encounter on September 19, 2008 is well with in the
democratic practice of due process of law. Further the legal support being
extended to arrested students of the University is also well with in the
purview of the right to defend oneself. Any attempts to stop this need to be
strongly condemned. In a democracy with different faiths, languages and
culture the need is for reason and rational approach and dialogue. We
support the efforts of the Vice Chancellor, teaching faculties and students
of the Jamia University for extending legal and other support to those who
will be unable to defend their rights otherwise.

*Neelima Aryan and Kalpana Mehta, Saheli Women's Resource Centre, Delhi*
-- 
Saheli Women's Resource Centre
Above Unit 105-108
Defence Colony Flyover Market
New Delhi 100 024

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