Bhatkal: -The arrests of the youths which took place in Bangalore and Hubli on the name of terrorism are completely illegal and against the laws of constitution. The police needs to have evidence against the offenders if they need to arrest them. Also the police have to provide the arrest warrant against the person. And if the arrest of any person takes place without all these formalities, it is completely illegal-, said Mr. Irshad Ahmed Desai, the convener of Karnataka APCR. Speaking to the press persons at the Bhatkal Dawat Centre, he said that the police had no any evidence against the youth who were recently arrested under the tag of terrorism. This information was leaked by none other than the Director General of Police in a press conference which was held at Bangalore. According to Mr. Desai, when one of the press reporters questioned the DG whether the police had any evidence against the arrested youth, the DG answered that the police were trying hard to collect the evidencess against them. Mr. Desai questioned that when a responsible and a graded officer gives such an irresponsible statement, what does it prove? His statement, ‘evidencess are being collected’ gives a clear cut meaning that the police had nothing against them at the time of their arrest. By this, it can be said that those arrests were illegal.

Praising the constitution of our nation, he said that our constitution gives equal rights to all the citizens, no one is discriminated here, there is no person big or small, but unfortunately the police themselves go against the constitution and make fun of it. Drawing the curtains from the dark deeds of the police officers, he said that the police officers forcibly enter into the people’s homes, ill treat them, use abusive language against them and forcibly take the youth along with them. Also, they are kept into the police custody illegally for ten to fifteens days, which is strictly not allowed in the constitution of our country. According to the law, if the police has to arrest some body, they need to initially collect evidencess against him, go to the person’s home along with the arrest warrant, introduce themselves prior to entering the house, show them the evidencess which are available, and then take the concerned person along with them after informing the family to which particular police station he is being taken.

Mr. Desai said that if the police arrests some person without following the law, and follows their own rules, then there is a law even regarding it. If the police arrests some person without informing the family of the concerned, immediate telegram should be sent to the Chief Justice of Karnataka, Director General of Police and the District Commissioner informing them about the details. As soon as the telegram is received, the Chief Justice of Karnataka sends a notice to the police, asking for the details about the whereabouts of the arrested person and what is being carried out with him. He informed that the same thing had happened in the case of youths who were arrested in Bangalore and Hubli. The police forcibly took the youths along with them, the telegram was sent through APCR as soon as the news was received. When the police received the notice from the Chief Justice, the arrested youth were immediately presented in the court blaming them of being connected with terrorism. The claims which were made by the police after the arrests of these youths were completely false. The police claimed that two pistols were egressed from them. Mr. Desai said that when they found out the details about those pistols, it was known that one pistol dates back to 1936 and other one was used to shoot mice. The police had also claimed that the pistol was kept in the back pocket of the pants of the arrested youth; he said that we very well know that what kind of pants were worn by the youth of today’s generation. He further added that those pant pockets would not have the space even for a comb, then how can the police claim of finding a pistol in it. Jeering at the police who claimed such things about these arrested youths, he said that the youths who were arrested from their respective homes at JC Nagar in Bangalore at 8.30am in the morning were claimed to be arrested from Bashweshwar Nagar at 12.30pm and 3pm. He also mocked at police saying that Dr. Nayeem Siddiqui was back to Bangalore from Delhi after attending a patient; he was on his way out from Majestic Railway station when he was arrested by the police. But the police falsely claimed that he was arrested from the Bangalore airport while he was trying to elope. Mr. Desai questioned that the police does not even have sense that a person who has proof of going to and fro from Delhi was arrested alleging that he was trying to elope, and the higher police officials in the state were silent on the issue?

According to him the innocent youths who were arrested by the police at Malegon, Hubli and Hyderabad under the blame of terrorism were proved innocent after so many years and were finally reconciled by the court, in the same way the Bangalore youth will also be released. He said that the APCR is providing all kind of legal help and support to the arrested youth in this matter.

In the press conference, he initially gave an introduction about the APCR. He said that it was a National level NGO and is working in all the states to make awareness about the law. Also that APCR is visiting all the places in the state to create the awareness about the law among people. And the team was here in Bhatkal on the same mission and had arranged a program here in this regard. He said that whether the person is guilty of a crime or not, it is decided by the court, but when the police arrests somebody illegally and tries to degrade them, the APCR is always ready with its help to all the victims irrespective of their caste and religion.

The members of APCR Sameer Shaikh, Mushtaq Ahmed, and District incharge of Karwar Qamruddin Mashaiqh and others were present on the occasion.