AIMMM Statement on the Ahmedabad police’s claims

New Delhi, Tuesday, 19 August 2008: The All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat (AIMMM) President Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan said here in a statement that the Muslim community is not impressed at all by the dramatic announcements of the Gujarat police about the culprits of the recent terrorist explosions in Ahmedabad. The Muslim community, he said, has lost faith in the security agencies, especially the Gujarat police, probing terrorist attacks. These lazy, inept and communal forces go for ready-made results while probing such crucial matters.

The head of AIMMM, the umbrella body of Indian Muslim organisations, observed that the powers that be are using Gujarat police to kidnap Muslim youths from other states and bring them to Gujarat where tried and tested torture techniques are employed in order to make any detainee “confess” and sign on the dotted line.

Dr Khan demanded a CBI enquiry into both the Ahmedabad explosions and Surat bomb plantings. He also demanded access for senior Muslim community leaders and human rights activists to meet and speak to the accused.

Dr Khan reiterated AIMMM’s demand that the central government should form a high powered neutral panel of retired judges, human rights activists, top lawyers and journalists to oversee the investigations into all terrorist acts. Such a neutral panel is needed to restore the Muslim community’s faith in the investigations by security and intelligence agencies which, due to their consistently one-sided probes after each such criminal act, have totally forfeited the confidence of the Muslim community.

Dr Khan also reiterated AIMMM’s demand that offices of foreign intelligence agencies like Mossad and FBI should be closed down forthwith as their continued presence on our soil is not in the interests of the peace and security of the country. The flight of the former American soldier Kenneth Haywood, from whose computer and flat in Navi Mumbai the so-called “Indian Mujahidin” email was sent, shows not only the role of foreign agencies in what is happening in our country but also that elements in our own security agencies are hand-in-glove with foreign agencies. Needless to say, many in the world do not look kindly at the prospects of India emerging as a world political and economic power. What better way to stop this process than to keep us on our toes with an ever-worsening security scenario?