Rihai Manch is on indefinite dharna in Lucknow for last 86 days for justice to slain Khalid Mujahid.
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Lucknow: Rihai Manch (Forum for the Release of Innocent Muslims imprisoned in the name of Terrorism) today held a public hearing on the theme “where are the pride sons of the nation” on the 67th Independence Day outside the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.
Since May 20 Rihai Manch is on indefinite dharna demanding arrest of police officers involved in Khalid Mujahid's murder, issuing the RD Nimesh commission report and action report and the immediate release of innocent Muslim youth imprisoned in the name of terrorism in Lucknow.
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After unfurling the tricolour, Chairman of the Rihai Manch Advocate Mohammad Shoaib said, “From here on this auspicious day, we condemn and the undeclared war that the government has unleashed against innocent minorities, tribals and dalits. ”
He also announced the Manch plan to lead nationwide movement for against the capital punishment.
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Magsaysay award winner and Gandhian social activist Sandeep Pandey derided the way the war rhetoric is going on in the country and said that freedom does not imply fighting war with neighbours, in which poor sons of peasant die.
Khalid had died under mysterious circumstances on his way back from Faizabad near Ram Sanehi Ghat on May 18. He was declared brought dead by the doctors at district hospital in Barabanki. Later, on the complain of his uncle Zahir Alam Falahi, a case was registered against 42 police officers including former DGP Vikram Singh, ADG Brijlal and others who were on duty during the time of Khalid's arrest.
Khalid along with Tariq Qasmi was arrested by Special Task Force (STF) on 20 December 2007 from Barabanki. Huge explosives were also shown as recovered from his possession. STF claimed that he was involved in the serial blasts which occurred in Gorakhpur, Faizabad and Lucknow. Later, Nimesh Commission was constituted headed by Justice R D Nimesh who in its report raised fingers over STF's claim about the place of arres.
Khalid’s family and civil society groups are demanding CBI probe into Khalid’s custodial death and has compared his case with the fake encounter of Ishrat Jahan by the Gujarat Police. They have also questioned the role of the IB.
Rihai Manch is leading a sustained demonstration against the UP government for almost three months now demanding actions on its poll promise of releasing innocent youths languishing in jails in fabricated terror charges.
Several rights groups and and politicians, including Prakash Karat, Subhasini Ali and other left leaders have also expressed their solidarity with the Manch demonstration and on different days made token participations.
