Acting on detention

Activists Feroze Mithiboriwala (41) of Awami Bharat and Aslam Gazi (57) of Jamat-e-Islam were detained by the police apprehending some offence during the recent visit by the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

There’s nothing surprising about police resorting to using the archaic detention powers under Section 151 of the Criminal Procedure Code. But now,following the petition moved by the activists,the court will dissect the section to streamline the detention powers of the police,a move that is expected to shrink the number of illegal detention cases.

A strong believer in the Gandhian movement,Feroze feels that it is their strong anti-American and anti-Zionist school of thought that prompted the reaction from the police.

While Feroze,who started his activities in 1987 and worked with various organisations,believes in creating a meeting point between Gandhi’s and Ambedkar’s ideologies to bridge the gap between Muslim and Non-Muslim communities,Gazi and his organisation are committed towards safeguarding the rights of Muslims and preventing fascist parties from reaching the helm of affairs.

“We are being targeted for our extremist and fundamentalist ideas. We are being targeted for our America-Israel quit India policy,” Feroze says.

Explaining the rationale behind their thoughts,Feroze explains that the people of India do not understand the ideologies of Zionism and neo Imperialism.

“The police asked me why I was posing questions on 26/11,” Feroze says. Both the activists through their organizations are also working for rehabilitation of riot victims and working to bring together different communities by way of education.

Gazi’s organisation currently runs over 300 schools and 30 colleges,in both Urdu and English medium,in the country.

Recalling the night he was detained,Gazi admits that he was scared. “I was scared. I thought they were going to finish me off in an encounter,” Gazi states. “They said my life is in danger and I have to stay in the police station that night.” So what about tomorrow,Gazi had asked the police. Gazi’s fears mobilized when he was told that the cops wanted to take him for a medical check-up at 2 30 in the morning. “When I heard about Feroze it clicked me that it must be because of the Clinton visit as we were vocal about the nuclear agreement and generally against the American agenda.”

Feroze,who had a similar harrowing experience that night says,“The police told me I should know why I have been brought to the station. This is ridiculous. If this is happening to activists,then what about others,” Feroze snapped.

“We’re working through a democratic framework and everything including our demonstrations is publicized,” he adds.

Feroze concluded that their case would definitely “empower the people”.