SDPI, Jamaat cry foul at police action

The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the Jamaat-e-Islami, and the Popular Front of India (PFI) have criticised the State government over the action against those protesting against the rape and murder of a girl in Kathua and the decision to impose prohibitory orders in Kozhikode city.

In a press release here on Thursday, Jamaat-e-Islami State general secretary M.K. Mohammedali accused the police of witch-hunting Muslims under the guise of action against those involved in violence as part of a hartal called my social media groups on Monday in protest against the Kathua incident. Though the investigating agencies could easily identify those who perpetrated violence, the police action branding people as terrorists was shrouded in mystery, he said.

Mr. Mohammedali accused the police of registering cases related to disruption of communal harmony against people who were raising slogans against the Union government. Demanding that the government release the names of those involved in violence, he claimed that most of the protesters belonged to mainstream political parties such as the CPI(M), Congress, and the Indian Union Muslim League.

Meanwhile, condemning the prohibitory orders, SDPI State general secretary Ajmal Ismail said that the government should explain to the people why the police controlled by the CPI(M) was becoming intolerant when there was protest against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He alleged that the government was denying them their legitimate right to protest.

The PFI too has condemned the alleged police action. PFI State general secretary C.P. Mohammed Basheer said though people from different communities and political organisations were involved in the hartal on Monday, only those belonging to the Muslim community were being targeted by the police.