Misuse Of Anti-Terror Laws

Eminent personalities from various fields have demanded that the UPA government take immediate measures for the release of innocent youth lodged in different jails across the country.

Addressing the 3rd National Convention of People's Campaign against Politics of Terror (PCPT) here on Sunday, former MP and columnist Mani Shankar Aiyer said that several Muslim youth have been languishing in different jails across the country just on the suspicion of having terrorist links. In many cases, the police have failed to file charge sheets for the lack of evidence while several youth have been acquitted by the court. Stating that innocent youth were being implicated in false cases, he demanded that the government make the police accountable.

Mani Shankar Aiyer said that Muslims constitute about 10% of the total population in Maharashtra. However, they constitute about 36% of those in jails. Quoting a survey, he said that about 89.6% of the youth arrested by the police on terror charges were illilterate and poor, and at least 25% of them were not capable of even hiring a lawyer. He said that over 75% of the youth had no criminal background. However, merely on suspicion, hundreds of Muslim youth were booked under serious charges, and they were still languishing in jails.

The columnist demanded that the government take immediate measuers to release and rehabilitate the innocent youth. He demanded to know why a government that could give tax exemptions of over Rs. 5 lakh crores to big corporates, could not spend money to rehabilitate innocent victims.

He also expressed concern over the growing tension between Pakistan and India.

Communist Party of India's former General Secretary A B Bardhan enthralled the Muslims, dalits and girijans to launch a massive agitation against the atrocities and injustices being meted out to them. He said that the recent world events have indicated that justice could not achieved in courts, but on the streets. Therefore, he said, Delhi's Jantar Mantar should be converted into Tahreer Square.

Rajya Sabha MP Mohammad Adeeb said that at least 168 Muslim youths have been languishing in different jails on the charges of being associated with terror-outfit Indian Mujahideen. However, he said, the police and Intelligence Agencies have no clue about its office or organisation. He said that the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) enacted by the UPA government was more dangerous that the earlier laws implemented by the BJP-led NDA government. Stating that UAPA might be misused on a large scale against the minority communities, he demanded that a system should be introduced to punish the guilty within one year while releasing and compensating the innocent youth.

Prof Manisha Sethi of Jamia Millia Islamia said that the provisions of UAPA could be misused against the Muslim NRIs when they transfer funds to their home. Siasat Editor Zahed Ali Khan said that a model needs to be set up to counter the misuse of law against the innocent Muslims and those from other communities.

Kisan Sabha president Atul Kumar Anjan, senior journalist Ajit Sahi, Editor Sahara Group Syed Faisal Ali, BBC Senior Correspondent Iqbal Ahmed, former MP P Madhu, BV Raghuvulu (CPI), K Narayana (CPI-M) and others also spoke. (INN)