Finally, cops book case against Akbar Owaisi
Sunday, 12 August 2007
Hyderabad, August 12: Coming under immense flak for going soft on MIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi who issued an open threat to ‘behead’ Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin, the Hyderabad city police at length snapped out of their sleepwalking spell and registered a case against the junior Owaisi on Saturday night.
After obtaining permission from the Magistrate, the Punjagutta police registered the case under section 506 IPC (criminal intimidation) against Akbaruddin who had made the threat just outside the Pubjagutta police station on Thursday, the day the writer was attacked at the Press Club.
Meanwhile, the police have obtained and are studying the video footage of the drama outside the police station. However, the MLA has not been arrested so far.
For its part, the Centre for Inquiry which had organised the book release function, has sent its own video footage of the proceedings to Taslima Nasrin in Kolkata to show that no derogatory references were made either to Islam or to Prophet Mohammed. The footage apparently belies Akbaruddin's claim that her briefing to the press was “inflammatory” and “created hatred among the peace-loving people of Hyderabad.”
Earlier, tremendous pressure from the powers-that-be and fear of a backlash from the Muslim community had led the Punjagutta police to register a case under Section 153 (A) IPC (making inflammatory speeches and creating hatred among communities) against Taslima for a “provocative speech” at the programme organised at the Press Club two days ago.
However, stung by criticism, it is likely that the police may not pursue this case further.
-Agencies