Surat: In-charge CP accused of calling anti-CAA protesters ‘Pakistanis’

SURAT: Raking up a major controversy, in-charge city commissioner of police (CP) D N Patel has allegedly labelled a group of Muslim representatives as being “Pakistanis, Bangladeshis”.
According to the allegations, the representatives went to Patel’s office on Friday seeking approval to hold a dharna against CAA and NRC in Rander area. Patel allegedly insulted them saying: “You are from Pakistan and Bangladesh.”
Jamiat E Ulema E Hind (JUH) Gujarat has taken severe offence against Patel’s comment, and submitted a memorandum to the senior state police and home department officials demanding stringent actions against Patel for his insulting language.
Aziz Malam, one of the member of group that went to submit the application, said that Patel started asking all Muslims in the group where they hail from — UP, Bangladesh? “He asked our names and where we were born. Later he started talking with two members from scheduled caste community who had accompanied us for support and started calling us Pakistani and Bangladeshi," Malam said.
"He also told us that every bit of India is ours and do you know what is being done in your Pakistan with Hindu girls?" Malam added.
However, Patel has denied all allegations. “I was explaining to the group that this act is not for Indian citizens but only for those who need citizenship in India. Those from Pakistan and Bangladesh who are illegally living in India should worry, not others,” he claimed.
Abdul Quiyum Haq, general secretary of JUH, said: "The in-charge police commissioner told the group members whether they are from Pakistan or Bangladesh when they went to seek permission to hold dharna. Jamiat has written a letter to state DGP and home secretary to take actions against the officer for using insulting language.”
For the past 22 days, women from Muslim community have been sitting on anti-CAA protests in Rander similar to Shaheen Bagh of New Delhi. They sit on dharna from afternoon till evening on a daily basis. Meanwhile, police have asked them to discontinue the protest and also denied permission when locals sought necessary police permission to hold a dharna.
The group of representatives went to meet CP R B Brahmbhatt, but as the latter was on leave, they submitted the application in office for submission of applications. Later, as they were leaving the office, a cop from Patel's office approached the group in the parking area on the campus and told them that Patel wanted to meet them.
The group of around seven persons went to meet Patel, whose regular posting in city is of joint commissioner of police sector II.
Parikshit Rathod, state general secretary of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) who was among the group, said: “Patel started asking us why scheduled caste people were getting involved in it (anti-CAA protest). He indirectly told the representatives that they are Pakistani and Bangladeshi and refused to give us permission to continue dharna. He also denied to give the refusal in writing," Rathod alleged.
The group members claimed that they left their mobile phones outside Patel's office as they were instructed by staff to do so.