NCM concerned over reports of harassment in blast probe

New Delhi, Aug 9 (UNI) Expressing concern over reports about members of a particular community being harassed in the investigations into the Mumbai train blasts, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) today urged the authorities to correct the impression and safeguard human rights of all citizens.

The Commission appealed to all citizens and society to spare no effort to reinforce the secular fabric of the nation.

''The media reports have caused consternation and alarm....

the authorities must correct expeditiously impression that might have been created erroneously,'' the Commission said.

The Commission views with serious concern the targeting of a particular community in the investigation process and the impression being created that ''a whole group is stigmatised''.

''India is a plural, secular and democratic society, based on the rule of the law... The concept of presumption of guilt, and of group-guilt, is alien to it and must not be allowed, even by default to enter official functioning and public discourse,'' it added.

It said every effort must be made to identify and punish those responsible for the July 11 carnage.

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