Apology To Harassed Youth

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday said that the state government was willing to apologise to members of the Muslim community if allegations of police excesses against the community youth in the aftermath of the Mecca Masjid blast were proved.

Kiran Reddy said, "Not only will the government apologise to the Muslim youth, but will also extend financial help to those who are found to have been wrongly implicated in blast-related cases."

The Chief Minister added, "The government is concerned about innocent youth, not only of the Muslim community, but about all youth who are alleged to have been deliberately harassed by the police. The government is ready to apologise unconditionally if it is proved that anyone was deliberately harassed."

The Chief Minister was responding to a point raised by Majsli-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi during the Question Hour in the Assembly. Owaisi alleged that the police had harassed Muslim youth who were picked up on suspicion of being involved in the blast on May 18th, 2007, and also those who were protesting in the aftermath of the blast outside the Masjid on that fateful Friday.

Owaisi pointed out that CBI investigation had established that the Mecca Masjid blast was the handiwork of Hindu organisations. He added that over a hundred Muslim youth had been acquitted in the case, but their future was marred since they had lost opportunities of employment.

The Chief Minister sought to assuage Owaisi's worry by saying that the government would extend financial help to all youth who had been deliberately implicated in false cases and then acquitted, so that they might lead a normal life.

Owaisi's charge was supported by Telugu Desam Party President and Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu, who said that the government must pay financial compensation to the youth acquitted in blast-related cases.

Responding to the discussion, Home Minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy added that the government would take action against police officials found to have indulged in excesses in the aftermath of the blast while trying to control the protesting mobs outside the Masjid.

She said that Justice Bhaskara Rao Commission was probing into the alleged excesses by the police, and the government would take action if any officer was found guilty of any wrong doing.

Courtesy: INN