A
replay of Nazis in Hitler's Germany hauling Jews for being Jews
In Mumbra. a Muslim ghetto suburb of Mumbai, police has carried out a mid-night raid and combing operation in which practically an area's all families, women, children, old people are dragged and abused and loaded in trucks and carried to police station to supposedly check for some suspects in the area. Muslims were targeted and humiliated just for being Muslims. The way police has treated common civilians in that raid is atrocious and open challenge to Indian constitution's right of citizens to live a life of freedom and dignity. In its monstrosity it was a replay of Nazis in Hitler's Germany hauling Jews for being Jews. Nothing can restore the self-respect and dignity of the victims unless the responsible police and its minions spewing hate cries of terrorists for innocent Muslims, are hauled up for justice. Such public display of communal role inflicted by police cannot be condoned in any civilized society. Government of Maharashtra and the National Congress Party's Home Minister should take the matter seriously lest it may spread the poison in the community and result in further unrest.
In Mumbra. a Muslim ghetto suburb of Mumbai, police has carried out a mid-night raid and combing operation in which practically an area's all families, women, children, old people are dragged and abused and loaded in trucks and carried to police station to supposedly check for some suspects in the area. Muslims were targeted and humiliated just for being Muslims. The way police has treated common civilians in that raid is atrocious and open challenge to Indian constitution's right of citizens to live a life of freedom and dignity. In its monstrosity it was a replay of Nazis in Hitler's Germany hauling Jews for being Jews. Nothing can restore the self-respect and dignity of the victims unless the responsible police and its minions spewing hate cries of terrorists for innocent Muslims, are hauled up for justice. Such public display of communal role inflicted by police cannot be condoned in any civilized society. Government of Maharashtra and the National Congress Party's Home Minister should take the matter seriously lest it may spread the poison in the community and result in further unrest.
Ghulam Muhammed, Mumbai
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The Indian Express
To catch one chain-snatcher, 80 Muslims held in Mumbai
Written by Sukanya Shantha
| Mumbra | March 15, 2014 4:09 am
In an unprecedented “combing operation” launched by Thane police in
the wee hours of March 13, more than 80 Muslim males, including several
minors, were detained at the Mumbra police station for over four hours,
apparently to nab chain-snatchers.
But those who were detained, all residents of Rashid Compound in the Kausa area of Mumbra, alleged it was done to instigate them and stoke communal feelings. Mumbra is 30 km from Mumbai and 80 per cent of its 9 lakh people are Muslim.
“Police kept abusing us and screamed aatankwadion ko bahar nikalo (terrorists, come out). We stood there dumbfounded, unable to comprehend anything,” said Shamshad Nasir Pawaskar, one of those detained.
Angry residents have filed a complaint, based on which Thane Police Commissioner Vijay Kamble has ordered an inquiry. “The residents have complained of police excesses and highhandedness. But it is too premature to comment,” Kamble told The Indian Express.
Sameena Khan, who lives in Akbar Apartments from where 45 people were detained, said, “I was fast asleep. My husband, who is recuperating from typhoid, was discharged from hospital the same night. The police came screaming at our doors, dragged my husband out, shoved him inside the van and drove away. They did not even let him change his clothes.”
She claimed policemen were waving batons at those who resisted and used bolt-cutters to break into a few houses.
“If they were looking for just two men, why did they need seven vans,” asked Gulam Abbas Irani, 25, an IT consultant, who feels he was detained because of his last name.
“Many of us have lived here for over 20 years. But this incident was one of its kind,” said Farida Shaikh, who was alone with her three children when the police came.
“I kept telling them I am alone and that my husband is in Saudi Arabia. They did not budge. Two women constables stayed outside and men entered the house. I was in my night dress and it was humiliating to have men walk inside the house and search,” she said.
Police claimed they were looking for “two men from Balochistan” who apparently stayed in Mount View building within Rashid compound. “Most of them have criminal cases. They engage in theft and chain-snatching. Two men have been in hiding and are notorious,” said a police officer.
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But those who were detained, all residents of Rashid Compound in the Kausa area of Mumbra, alleged it was done to instigate them and stoke communal feelings. Mumbra is 30 km from Mumbai and 80 per cent of its 9 lakh people are Muslim.
“Police kept abusing us and screamed aatankwadion ko bahar nikalo (terrorists, come out). We stood there dumbfounded, unable to comprehend anything,” said Shamshad Nasir Pawaskar, one of those detained.
Angry residents have filed a complaint, based on which Thane Police Commissioner Vijay Kamble has ordered an inquiry. “The residents have complained of police excesses and highhandedness. But it is too premature to comment,” Kamble told The Indian Express.
Sameena Khan, who lives in Akbar Apartments from where 45 people were detained, said, “I was fast asleep. My husband, who is recuperating from typhoid, was discharged from hospital the same night. The police came screaming at our doors, dragged my husband out, shoved him inside the van and drove away. They did not even let him change his clothes.”
She claimed policemen were waving batons at those who resisted and used bolt-cutters to break into a few houses.
“If they were looking for just two men, why did they need seven vans,” asked Gulam Abbas Irani, 25, an IT consultant, who feels he was detained because of his last name.
“Many of us have lived here for over 20 years. But this incident was one of its kind,” said Farida Shaikh, who was alone with her three children when the police came.
“I kept telling them I am alone and that my husband is in Saudi Arabia. They did not budge. Two women constables stayed outside and men entered the house. I was in my night dress and it was humiliating to have men walk inside the house and search,” she said.
Police claimed they were looking for “two men from Balochistan” who apparently stayed in Mount View building within Rashid compound. “Most of them have criminal cases. They engage in theft and chain-snatching. Two men have been in hiding and are notorious,” said a police officer.
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