Clerics rubbish terror link allegations on Khasmi; demand CM’s intervention

Bengaluru, Jan 11: More than 150 Muslim clerics and heads of mosques and madarsas across Karnataka held a meeting at Eidgah grounds in Bengaluru to discuss the arrest of moulvi Anzar Shah Khasmi, and decided to extend legal help for his release.

Maulana Anzar Shah Khasmi has been arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police in connection with a terror probe.

The clerics who believe that Khasmi cannot involve in any terror activity, decided to submit a representation to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G. Parameshwara seeking their intervention for a fair probe.

Representatives from Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Tableeghi Jamaat, Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind, Sunni Jamaat, Huda Muslim, Ahle Hadees and Shia Jamaat attended the meeting.

Expressing doubt over his arrest procedures, the members said the Delhi police linking him to the terrorist outfit was not reasonable.

“We do not support anti-national activities and the manner in which he was arrested and portrayed as a terror suspect merely on suspicion is very disturbing,” Syed Shafiulla, convener of the meeting, said.

Even the city Police Commissioner admitted that they did not have information pointing to his involvement in anti-national activities, they said.

His arrest has caused resentment among the youth of the community and we have appealed to them to keep calm, while legal course to secure Khasmi’s release will start at the earliest, they added.

One of those present at the meeting said, “We have seen and have worked with Shah from many years. As we know, he was never involved in anti-national activities. His arrest has really shocked us. Bengaluru City police commissioner N S Megharikh had also stated that they did not have any information about him being involved in terror activities. Shah was following Islam, but he never created disharmony nor was he linked with terror outfits.”

“We don’t oppose his arrest as the Delhi police picked him up based on some information, but we oppose the nature of his arrest and the subsequent developments,” another leader said.

He went on, “In the past, police have arrested many people across Karnataka based on some leads and jailed them. But they were hardly able to prove the charges. We have not come across any act by Khasmi which could encourage unlawful activities. He would deliver sermons for the welfare of the community.”

The leaders said Indian Muslims were always opposed to any form of terrorism and never encouraged or supported unlawful and anti-national activities. They said charges against Khasmi were of serious nature and added they still had faith in the country’s judiciary.

Also Read: Terror link: No evidence against arrested cleric, says Bengaluru police chief