SIT move to quiz local youths draws ire from families

The move by Special Investigation Team SIT to question local youths suspected to have met Indian Mujahideen IM operative Syed Maqbool

The move by Special Investigation Team SIT to question local youths suspected to have met Indian Mujahideen IM operative Syed Maqbool during his two visits to Hyderabad is not going down well with the locals. The police said it is questioning the youths to identify those who attended a meeting a religious institution in Pahad-e-Sharif in January 2012,where they were introduced to Maqbool. But locals said this has resulted in harassment and illegal detention of youths who have nothing to do Maqbools activities.

The SIT has rounded up at least 16 youths from various parts of Hyderabad,many of them who were arrested and later acquitted in the Mecca Masjid blasts. They are being shown video footages,sketches and asked if they know anyone. They are not telling family members where and which police station they are being taken to. Some have been released 30-40 hours later. It is traumatic for family members as they do not know where they are and cannot meet them, said Lateef Khan of Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee.

Since the blasts,Mohammed Rayeesuddin,a driver and a meat supplier of Hashimabad in Chandrayanguta,was picked up for the second time on Sunday. He was earlier arrested after the Mecca Masjid blast in 2007 but was acquitted by a local court. The state government had even given him a good conduct certificate.

First they came home and said they wanted to ask a few questions. But they released him nine hours later, said Zahira Begum,his mother. She said on Sunday someone called on his phone. When he confirmed that he was at home,he was taken away. It is more than 15 hours and he has not returned, she said. On February 24,the police while questioning him had mentioned a few names asked him if he knew them. He was also shown sketches and videos,and asked identify.

In the aftermath of Mecca Mosque blasts,Rayeesuddin was kept in illegal detention and allegedly tortured. He was made accused number 2 and remained in jail for eight months before he got a bail. After attending court hearings for 22 months,he was acquitted.

However,the police believe that he would be able to name or identify at least a few of those present at the Maqbool meeting and later helped him with recce of Dilsukhnagar,Tank Bund,Begum Bazaar and Rani Gunj on motorcycles.

Ex-gratia disbursed

The state government Monday disbursed ex-gratia cheques of Rs 6 lakh each to the families of 16 persons who were killed in the Dilsukhnagar twin blasts. Cheques of Rs 50,000 each were given to 39 people injured in the blasts; 23 injured persons received cheques of Rs 1 lakh each. ENS