Minister denies allegation

Hyderabad, Feb 29 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Home Minister K Jana Reddy today denied the allegations that people belonging to a particular community were arrested and harassed in the recent bomb blasts cases in Mecca Masjid, Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat in the city.

Replying to a question raised by P Nageswara Rao (CPI) and others in the Council, the Minister said Andhra Pradesh Minorities Commission has appointed an Advocate Commissioner to investigate and report on the alleged harassment of Muslim youths by the police.

The Advocate Commissioner submitted an interim report to the Commission, which stated that some of the Muslim youths arrested by the police in various cases alleged that they were illegally arrested and harassed by the police.

An officer of the rank of Additional Commissioner of police, Hyderabad city, had been ordered to conduct an inquiry into those allegations.

He said the inquiry was in progress and that no police officials were specifically named in the report, submitted to the government by the state Minorities Commission.

When the members asked him to place the report before the Council, the Minister said the National Commission for Minorities was also probing the matter and after receiving its report, the government would consider placing it before the House.

He clarified that the police had picked up some persons on suspicion and they were released later when it was proved after a thorough enquiry that they had no connection with the blast.

He said in Mecca Masjid case, the department had interrogated 72 people, out of which 58 were released and nine persons were arrested on some other cases like fake passport and others.

He said the department had also questioned 58 people on suspicion of their involvement in blasts took place in Lumbini park and Gokul chat and released 40 people. The remaining were in police custody for enquiry.

He said out of 39 Bangladeshi nationals, cases were booked against 26 for residing with false passports.

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