Azamgarh (UP), May 31: Demonstrations were held here Wednesday to protest the arrest of two Kashmiri students of a reputed Madrassa - Jamiatul Falah.
Led by Maulana Tahir Madani, director of the Madrassa, hundreds of students, joined by locals gathered at Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar Park in Bilariyaganj area, holding placards with slogans seeking release of the Kashmiri students. They were shouting slogans against the police and the government.
The Rashtriya Ulema Council (RUC), UP had also announced its support to the protest demonstration. Addressing the gathering, Maulana Amir Rashadi, president of RUC threatened to hold state-wide demonstration if the two Kashmiri boys are not released safely within five days. Speaking on the occasion, Madani said the Kashmiri students are bona-fide and innocents. “They were going to Delhi to meet their elder brother when on 24th May morning they were picked up from Kaifiyat Express at Aligarh Railway Station reportedly by ATS of UP police,” he said.
Meanwhile, a petition was filed with National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seeking inquiry into the disappearance of the two Kashmiri boys.
Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) filed the petition with NHRC seeking investigation into the incident and protection of the boys. In its complaint with NHRC, the eminent civil rights group has urged the constitutional body to investigate the matter immediately and initiate an enquiry to protect the life of Kashmiri boys.
“We request you to kindly investigate the matter immediately and initiate an enquiry to protect the boys from the danger of life, so that the fundamental rights of the victims and their parents are upheld. This is clearly a violation of human rights and civil rights of citizens. Parents and relatives of the victims are wondering about the way police has arrested their sons in Aligarh. Uttar Pradesh Police and ATS have completely violated and ignored the directions of Supreme Court of India as provided under the case of DK Basu v/s State of West Bengal, 1997,” APCR said in the petition.
“This is our humble request to you to please take immediate action in the matter and protect the human rights of those young boys who are victimized by police in a very unjust manner,” the petition says.
Sajjad Ahmed Bhat and Muhammad Waseem Bhat, cousins from Tarzoo area of Sopore area in district Baramulla, had boarded Kaifiyat Express at Azamgarh on 23rd May to see their elder brother who was coming to Delhi for treatment. As soon as the train reached Aligarh Junction at 6:30 am on 24th May, armed sleuths of reportedly UP ATS entered the general coach, took the two boys and sped away.
Six days have passed. Neither their family nor the Madrassa have been informed about the detention/arrest. The boys haven’t been produced in any court either.
In related development a group of Indian Muslim leaders are planning to approach international human rights bodies as they say “all these detentions/arrests are illegal and brazenly violate human rights enshrined in Indian laws and constitution.”
Leaders of Muslim organizations under the banner of All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat expressed concern over the continued harassment and detention of Muslim youth. The community leaders elaborately discussed such incidents happened in last 10 years. According to Dr Tasleem Rahmani, president, Muslim Political Council of India, who also attended the meeting, it was decided to prepare a comprehensive document comprising details of all disappearances, detentions, arrests, and acquittals and then approach international human rights bodies.
The meeting also decided to set up a legal cell at national and state level to take up such incidents.
Two days back the Muslim leaders had sent a memorandum to P Chidambaram, Union Home Minister and Wajahat Habibullah, Chairman, National Commission for Minorities telling them that the Muslim community is alarmed at “the resumed serial, at random and unending saga of arrests of Muslim youth from various parts of the country on apparently no tangible charges, two more such recent incidents are agitating the community.”

Lastupdate on : Thu, 31 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 31 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 1 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST