PUNE: In just two months on the job Pune Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh has gotten considerable media coverage. First he proposed that women on motor scooters should not wear the niqab (face veil).
Now he’s gotten the local Muslim community angry once again over claims that about 300 locals have recently joined the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) in Pune. Critics say his latest comment was aimed at portraying the Muslim community as against the interests of national unity.
“Muslims do not object to investigation of suspected people who commit heinous crimes against humanity, but branding Muslims under the name of any outfit is unethical,” said Sayyed Bhai, the working president of Muslim Satyashodak Mandal.
“Muslims are afraid that everybody with a beard and a skullcap will be looked upon with suspicion. Though our community shares equal blame for the vicious atmosphere, police should be careful not to aggravate it.”
The Maharashtra State Waqf Board and Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa member Ahmed Khan Pathan went a step further by challenging the police to deliver evidence for the charges that have been brought against Muslims youths for subversive activities.
“The Muslim community is badly hurt over the way the police pick up and frame innocent youth under serious charges. Educated Muslims youth are deliberately targeted. I personally think the SIMI is not involved in terrorist activities,” Pathan said.
Mushtaq Ahmed Asar, a member of Pakistan-India People’s’ Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD), criticized the police for their alleged highhandedness. “The wounds of Gujarat riots and police atrocities are still fresh in minds of the people. Police being part of the ruling system nurture a grudge against Muslims, and it manifests itself after every major attack. I understand that investigation is necessary to get to the roots, but why are innocent Muslim youth targeted under the name of SIMI, which is not active anymore?” Asar said.
Shamshuddin Tamboli, general secretary of the Progressive Muslim Forum, maintained that the present developments in Pune are a bad omen for relationships between Hindu and Muslim communities.
