Framing innocent Muslims, destroying lives: Police, security agencies' strong bias against Muslim youths

1. Nisar Ahmad was barely 19 when he was framed in a false case of train bombing. Once arrested, agencies kept booking the college student from Gulbarga, in other unsolved cases and it took 23 years before he got acquitted.

2. Mohammad Amir was just 20. The Delhi youth was picked up by plain-clothed personnel in 1998, kept in illegal detention, tortured and falsely implicated in 19 terrorism related cases. He got released in 2012.

3. In the most recent case, 10 youths were picked from national capital. Immediately, they were accused of 'Jaish-e-Mohammad' links. Media was told that they had terrorist links, they were adequately defamed and thrown in lockup. Had it not been a strong reaction, they might have also had a similar fate.

Luckily in this case, the Home ministry acted and 'Special Cell' of Delh police, which is known for such arrests, released them. It was said that they didn't have terror links. So easy it is to detain, arrest, condemn, brand, jail Muslim youths and ruin their lives!

It is often said that post 9/11, police and security agencies became more suspicious of Muslims and the community bore the brunt of the 'profiling'. But the cases of Nisar Ahmad and Mohammad Amir predate the twin tower attack.

The role of police has been biased during communal riots, and it has been acknowledged by top police officers--both serving and retired, in the past. Unfortunately, it has been very easy for agencies to implicate Muslims, ruin their lives, families and careers.

Why cops implicate Muslim youths?

By claiming to arrest criminals or 'terrorists', police officials get credit. Headlines like 'mastermind arrested', help police officials within the department.

The cops also do it when the heat is on them in failing to solve cases. Besides, in unsolved cases, there is pressure from superiors to work out the case.

It is an age-old practice that innocent and poor who don't have social support or financial means, are made sacrificial goats. This helps cops in easing the pressure.

Why cops have no qualms in framing innocents, destroying their lives?

Further, it takes years before case goes to court. Police use torture to get 'confessions'. It takes years for a case to reach trial and hence cops have no fear of getting exposed.

By implicating a person in several cases, they succeed in terming him as 'mastermind' and when name appears in headlines, judges also get affected and are more tough on such persons. Despite torture, doctors examining them, ignore and take no note of the injuries.

No action on  policemen who ruin lives of innocents

One of the reasons, this systematic targeting of Muslims continues, is because there is no action against guilty police officers.

Cops have nothing to fear. Even after acquittal, the maximum a judge will do is to reprimand the 'police'. No penalty or action on the cops who destroyed lives. The fear of cops stops others from standing for victims.

Judges also don't question detainees despite seeing that the person has injury marks or swollen face. Hence, even if there is no evidence, such persons rot in jail for years, in fact, decades.

Failure of politicians, Indian Muslim leadership

It is a tragic situation in the world's biggest democracy. In a country where Muslims form the second biggest population, the failure of the 'system' in getting justice to innumerable Muslim youths, should have led to corrective measures.

Alas, nothing has happened. There are at least, 55 [30+25] Muslim MPs in both houses of Indian Parliament, always. But they have failed to come together, ever, on the serious issue, which concerns all Indian Muslims.

While activists from different sections of society raised the issue and Muslim clergy did take it up, there was no collective movement from all sections of Muslims, especially, the political leadership. Individually, some did speak up, but there was no strong stand taken by them.

It is a shame that how agencies continue to arrest and some of its officers manage to get away despite such biased action against Muslim youths. There have been documentation of such cases and arrests by Special Cell, Delhi. Yet, this has been happening for decades now.

*Nisar Ahmad's photo, courtesy: Indian Express. Story link
*Amir, framed in 19 terror cases: Story link

Ajit Singh: From Satrap to small player in UP politics, frittered away Charan Singh's legacy

Once upon a time, Ajit Singh, was considered a major figure in North Indian politics.

In fact, in late 80s, it was common for people to remark that if not Prime Minister of future, he would certainly be UP's chief minister.

After all, he had the legacy of none other than his father Chaudhary Charan Singh, the influential Jat leader who had become prime minister.

Ajit Singh was the unquestionable leader of Jats, a community that wield(ed) influence. He also had support of Muslims.

However, Muslim support was something he always took for granted.

In Janata Dal, he had tiffs with other leaders as he always considered himself a 'national and big leader'.

Though Muslims were solidly behind him, he rarely raised voice or stood with them.With the emergence of SP and BSP, Muslim voters got more options. Jat support alone couldn't ensure him victory anymore.

Upper Caste leadership was no longer enough for politicians to become CM. While other backward caste leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav, Kalyan Singh and Mayavati became chief ministers, many times in UP, Ajit Singh, lost the race.

He stood nowhere compared to these leaders. He raised the demand for 'Harit Pradesh' because of his 'influence' in the region, but the fact was that he was no longer having influence in even Western UP or his pocket-borough.

No one anticipated then, that Ajit Singh, whose father had stitched a rainbow coalition of castes, would end up losing the turf, so easily. While politicians are known for party-hopping, Ajit Singh took it to another level.

Ajit Singh was prepared to bargain with anyone and to such an extent that he lost his image and credibility. Though he managed to become union minister often, his influence was waning very fast.

RLD [Rashtriya Lok Dal] was no longer a force to reckon in UP. Those who have closely worked with him and were his most ardent supporters, feel the most for him. His fall is an interesting aspect for students of politics, particularly, in North India.

While politicians build on legacies and are creating dynasties, Ajit Singh frittered away Chaudhary Charan Singh's legacy. He tries his best to stay relevant but the reality is that he has become totally irrelevant in UP's politics.

24.88 crore families in India: Just 3.12 crore or 31.2 million Muslim families, yet such worries about increasing population of Muslims!

The latest Census report has revealed that there are 24.88 crore or 248 million families in India.

Among these 24.88 crore families, just 3.12 crore families are Muslim. There are 20.24 crore Hindu families.

There are 63 lakh Christian families 41 lakh Sikh households and 19 lakh Jain families. Clearly, Hindu population in India, is huge.

While on an average, a Muslim family had 5.6 members, a Hindu family has 4.9 members. However, this has also seen a fast decline.

The fastest decline has come among Muslims. In fact, Hindustan Times reported that 'Muslim families shrinking fastest' in India. The size of Muslim family is now getting smaller.

Still, right-wing leaders, especially, BJP and VHP rabble-rousers have been talking about 'rising Muslim population' and are fearful of a 'Muslim takeover' and that 'Hindus will become a minority'.

Now, if someone is so scared, despite clear data showing number of Hindu families six times the number of Muslim families in India, what can anyone do?

Hindus are nearly 79.8% of India's population. Muslims account for just over 14% of India's population.

Census was conducted in the year 2011, the report was released in 2014-15. Since then, Census department has been regularly releasing other details and information too.

120 Muslim lawmakers elected in five state Assemblies in India: Can't elected Muslims exhibit leadership qualities, become leaders in true sense?

Over 120 Muslims have been elected as MLAs in the recent Assembly elections.

The five states that went to polls included Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

It was an election to elect 822 members of legislative assemblies [MLAs] in these states.

India has around 14-15% Muslim population. However, three of these states that went to poll had a much higher percent.

Assam has around 37% Muslims, West Bengal has 29% and Kerala has 27%. Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have nearly 6% each.

Even in this backdrop, the figure of Muslims elected is not too less, though it should have been higher. Two of these states have 'Muslim parties' too.

Kerala has Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Assam has Badruddin Ajmal's AUDF. Also, SDPI, AIMIM, INL and IUML had contested in Tamil Nadu and other places.

There are 56 Muslims elected to WB Assembly [294 member house] on this occasion. In West Bengal, Muslims supported Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress. Also, they voted for Congress and Communists [Left] at a few places.

In Assam, 29 Muslims have been elected [out of a total 126 members in the house]. Muslim MLAs from Congress and AUDF have won. Also, one Muslim candidate of the BJP has also been elected in the State, this time.

30 Muslim MLAs have been elected in Kerala. In Kerala, Muslim vote was divided between Left and UDF. Though UDF lost, there are Congress and Indian Union Muslim League MLAs apart from LDF.

IUML sent 18 MLAs to Assembly including 16 Muslims and two non-Muslims. The strength of Kerala Assembly is 140.

Muslim candidates have won in Tamil Nadu and also Puducherry. In Tamil Nadu, winners include from DMK, AIADMK and IUML. Strength of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Assemblies is 232 and 30 respectively.

The number of elected Muslim MLAs isn't too low

Frankly, the figure is not bad, specially, when it was felt that Muslim representation may have gone down even more. The fact is that if an MLA works hard, takes interest in area's problems, raises the voice about constituency, he/she can do a lot.

The legislator has ample powers to make a lot of difference. Through his leadership, funds, voice in house and on the streets, the legislator can get popular and bring positive change in lives. Can't some of the MLAs do it?

Did 70 Muslims MLAs in UP Assembly make any difference?

Once again 'numbers' alone don't make a big difference. In UP, Samajwadi Party's 65-odd MLAs have made little difference in the lives of ordinary Muslims.

Most of them have remained silent, didn't take up issues of education and health, or even the points in the SP's manifesto. Clearly, Muslims need good leadership.

MLAs ought to be leaders, on the ground, they must act as social leaders. And not just MLAs of Muslims but command respect from people of all sections because of their work, to become true leader.

Else, this talk of numbers is just useless.

Tarun Gogoi whose regime oversaw worst communal riot in Assam in a decade, loses: Recalling Bodoland 2012 massacre in Assam

For Muslim electorate it was a tough situation in Assam.

BJP's campaign was being termed as openly communal but how can anyone forget that Tarun Gogoi regime had presided over the worst riots [anti-Muslim massacre] since 2002.


Outsiders remember less of Assam but in Bodo areas, lakhs [1.5-3 lakh]of Muslims suffered and had to become refugees in their own country. The official death toll was around 50-60. The loss of property was huge.

It was also a fact that Badruddin Ajmal's AIUDF is strong in his pocket borough, the particular region of Assam, but is not in a position to form government on his own.

Clearly, Muslims were not enthusiastic about anyone. Choice-less, perhaps. 

The issue with Muslims is that when they wish to become 'aspirational', there is a massacre or major riot, and they come back to the situation that their basic demand becomes--no riot please, else everything is fine.

In Gogoi rule, government acted in a strange manner when BTAD areas were burning. Army was called much later, when situation went out of control. Armed with AK47, legislator was caught on video, but tough action was not taken.

Again, BJP seems to be a communal party, openly, but it was under Congress that the worst Nellie massacre in Assam, had also taken place when thousands were killed.

For BJP, it will be not an easy task to rule such a sensitive state. It is a border state and here the food-culture is not in sync with BJP's 'Hindutva' agenda. Hopefully, they'll ensure that there is law-and-order. As far as Congress, it can't learn anything, no lessons from any setback.

The less said, the better.

READ: Recall of 2012 Assam massacre: Massacre in  Bodoland in Assam