[GOTFIVEONIT]

HYDERABAD

AP govt refutes Muslim youth being harassed

Saturday, 27 October 2007

Hyderabad, October 27: Andhra Pradesh government today refuted allegations that some Muslim youth arrested in connection with terror blasts in the city were being harassed.

"The fact is about 60 people were questioned based on valid information after the blast at Mecca Masjid in May and twin blasts in August," State's Home Minister K Jana Reddy told reporters after a high level meeting, convened to review
law and order situation, which was chaired by Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy
Of the 60 people, 32 were let off and remaining 28, including 22 Bangladeshi citizens, were remanded, he said.

Earlier, in the meeting Reddy expressed serious concern over the misinformation campaign by vested interests about the alleged torture of Muslim youth after the terror blasts in the city.

"Misinformation campaign and untrue reports were being carried by vested interests and some parties who wanted to gain political mileage out of the issue and their intention was to politicise the issue and provoke a section of the
people," he said.

The Chief Minister said his government has given clear instructions to police not to detain anyone without valid information.

Reddy also expressed unhappiness that police failed to counter the misinformation campaign and bring the facts before the people, official sources said.

When the bomb blasts of international ramifications have killed as many people, questioning people based on valid information is quite normal and absolutely essential, he said.

Andhra Pradesh Minorities Commission in its interim report submitted to the government recently has accused the state police of torturing and harassing some Muslim youth arrested in connection with the recent bomb blasts here. PTI




The Siasat Daily, 2004.
Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Abids, Hyderabad - 500001, AP, India
Tel: +91-40-24744180, Fax: +91-40-24603188
contact@siasat.com