Indian Muslim Council-USA (IMC-USA), an advocacy group dedicated towards safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos, joined thousands of Indian Americans in demanding the full implementation of the recommendations made in the Advocate Ravi Chander Report. In 2007, the AP State Minorities Commission (APSMC) appointed a fact-finding committee to investigate the allegations of illegal arrests and torture of several Muslim youth by police. The committee has since submitted an interim report and a full report confirming illegal detentions and torture by police and also made recommendations to remedy and prevent such incidents in future. Additionally, the APSMC also recommended the creation of a 24-hour helpline in the state to register complaints against the administration and police.
In a statement released on April 9, IMC-USA expressed its dismay that the AP government has not taken any action on the report or its recommendations. So far, thousands of Indian Americans signed petitions demanding the AP Chief Minister to implement the recommendations by Advocate Ravi Chander. The statement mentioned that Indian Americans from several states of the United States also made phone calls, sent faxes and emails to A.P. Chief Minister and the State Minorities Commission Chairman.
IMC-USA mailed letters along with the signed petitions to the AP Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, Principal Secretary Jannath Husain, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, APSMC Chairman Yusuf Qureshi and National Minorities Commission Chairman Shafi Qureshi demanding immediate action.
An independent committee as well as the APSMC appointed fact-finding committee that included forensic expert Dr. Mahender Reddy has documented that several young Muslims were arrested after the bomb blasts in Makka Masjid and Lumbini Park in 2007 without being informed of any charges, no member of the family was informed, blindfolded, taken to unknown places, hands and legs tied up, suspended, beaten, stripped naked, shots given through a small machine at private places, repeatedly punched, dragged, beard pulled until tufts of hair fallen, blackmailed that members of the family will also be tortured. All this was done while the suspects were in illegal custody of the Hyderabad police for up to 10 days while the law requires producing all accused before a magistrate within 24 hours of the arrest.
While it is encouraging that these innocent Muslim youth were acquitted by the AP criminal court last year, so far there is no known effort from A.P. Government to consider the recommendations submitted by Advocate Ravi Chander to the APSMC.
IMC-USA was particularly dismayed at the silence of the Muslim leadership both religious and political. IMC-USA also noted that the United Muslim Forum, a body that claims to represent Muslims of A.P. rather than demanding the implementation of the Advocate Ravi Chander has called for yet another investigation at a public forum on March 27, 2009 which will only waste time and money. “Investigations are not the end; they are the means to improve the conditions and reform corrupt practices,” the IMC statement said on April 9.
IMC-USA condemned all violence including bomb blasts irrespective of who does it and regardless of the place or occasion. It also condemned the government officials and its agents who break the law and disregard the due process and undermine the fundamental constitutional rights and basic dignity of the citizens.