The families of five Muslim youth who were arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) over the “Al-Qaeda module”, have outrightly denied the allegations made by the investigation agency and maintained that their kin is being falsely framed as terrorists with no firm evidence against them, demanding an immediate release of all the ‘wrongfully arrested.’
The two men, Minhaz Ahmad and Maseeruddin, were arrested on 11 July by UP ATS which claimed that the Muslim youth were “members of al-Qaeda’s Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind”. Three more Muslim men Shakeel Hussain, Mohammad Mustakeem and Mohammad Mueed were arrested subsequently from Kanpur, Sambhal and Muzaffarnagar districts in Uttar Pradesh. ATS claimed that they all were arrested for plotting to carry out terror strikes in the state including using “human bombs” before Independence Day. All are in the custody of UP ATS since the arrest.
Speaking to media, at the press club in state capital Lucknow on Thursday, the mother of Shakeel said her son, a daily wager, is being framed by Uttar Pradesh police. She has been unwell since the arrest of her son.
“Our life took a turn for the worse when the cops arrested my husband on terror charges,” Ambreen, Shakeel’s wife said.
“He has a clean record and never got involved in criminal activity in the past. He is being framed because of being from a particular community,” Shakeel’s brother Iliyas said. 35-year-old Shakeel was earning a livelihood by driving an e-rickshaw.
“He (Shakeel) picked up passengers for Rs 5 to feed his family. If he was working for a terror outfit, why would he be so poor? These charges have been framed with politics in mind,” he further said.
Uzma, wife of Mueed told reporters that her husband was arrested for a crime he didn’t commit.
“Both Hindus and Muslims in our neighbourhood are providing food to us since the day of my husband’s arrest. Isn’t it proof of his innocence?” asks Uzma.
50-year-old e-rickshaw driver Maseeruddin is the oldest among the arrestees.
At press club, Sayeeda, wife of Mohibullapur resident Maseeruddin shared her ordeal with investigating cops.
She said: “He (Maseeruddin ) was standing outside our house when ATS people took him with them. Our 11-year-old daughter ran after them to enquire. The cops just kept saying they were taking my husband for questioning and he would return soon. Later, they ransacked our house. In fact, they saw the pressure cooker earlier too and said it was not related to any terror activity. Shockingly, the ATS officials claimed it to be evidence.”
While speaking to media at the press club, Magsaysay award winner Sandeep Pandey said that the way the investigating officers’ recovery of pressure cookers was publicized after the arrests in the name of Al Qaeda, it seemed that “keeping this essential item in the house has become a crime under this government”.
30-year-old Minhaz Ahmad was arrested with Naseeruddin from Lucknow. Minhaz is a diploma holder in electrical engineering and was running a battery shop in Lucknow’s Dubagga locality.
Minhaz’s parents Siraj and Talat Fatima were present at the press meet. While denying the claims of ATS, the duo told reporters that their son had undergone surgery for a hernia in March and was on rest since then.
“They have framed my son and have made up a false story to accuse him of serious allegations,” said Siraj.
Another woman who was present at the press meet was a physically challenged person for the last 18 years. While interacting to presser, she said her husband Mohammad Mustakeem was framed by UP ATS. She discharged the ‘terror charges’ on her husband and said she had only her husband to support her.
The press conference organized by human rights group Rihai Manch. Manch’s president Advocate Mohammad Shoaib was also present at the press conference. Shoaib’s group has been providing legal help to victims of hate crimes and also those implicated in fabricated cases.
“The fresh arrests in the name of busting terrorism seem to be done after similar planning by security agencies,” Shoaib alleged. He said: “I was done during the 2017 elections by showing the encounter of Saifullah in Lucknow’s Haji colony.” (Maktoob Media)