Following the report released by the State Minorities Commission, the Andhra Pradesh government has admitted that the 21 Muslim youth were illegally detained and tortured by the police. “Now compensation worth Rs 30,000 is being paid to them in the form of auto-rickshaw,” said Minister for Minorities Welfare, Mohammad Ali Shabbir. Another step the State Government is likely to take is to start a 24-hour helpline which will specifically record arrests made by the police after communal skirmishes or riots, in all 23 districts of the State. The first of its kind helpline has been suggested by the AP State Minorities Commission after investigating the allegations of indiscriminate arrests of Muslim youths after the Hyderabad blasts. On August 25, 2007, nearly 44 people were killed, over 100 were injured when explosions ripped through the recreational centres in Lumbini Park and Hyderabad’s famous Gokul Chat Bhandar in Kothi locality. Over the next two days, the city police took 25 people into custody. They were picked up from various lodges and hotels in Hyderabad on suspicion.
AP GOVT. ADMITS MUSLIM YOUTH ‘WRONGLY HELD’
Following the report released by the State Minorities Commission, the Andhra Pradesh government has admitted that the 21 Muslim youth were illegally detained and tortured by the police.
