By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Lucknow: On the 117th day of Rihai Manch dharna on Sunday outside Uttar Pradesh Assembly, flambeau were lit by protesters demanding release of innocent Muslim youths languishing in jail for years on ‘fabricated terror charges.’
Since May 20 Rihai Manch (Forum for the Release of Innocent Muslims imprisoned in the name of Terrorism) is on indefinite dharna outside UP Assembly 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.
Chairman of the Rihai Manch, Advocate Mohamamd Shoaib siad that these mashaal (flambeau) are in solidarity with the those who have been denied justice in collusion of the political class with the Intelligence Agency and police officers.
Mohammad Suleman of the Indian National League commended the Rihai Manch for fighting for the causes of the underprivileged Muslim youths who do not have even basic resource to pay the legal expenses.
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 last 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 leaders of Welfare Party of India have also expressed their solidarity with the Manch demonstration and on different days made token participations.