Rashid Ahmed (19)

‘We are students, not terror masterminds’

• Rashid Ahmed is a second-year BCom student in Shibli College. He says he has political aspirations, and believes that he can give a voice to his community unlike existing politicians who do not understand the trials and tribulations of Muslims, especially those living in Azamgarh. “I want to put my town on the map. I want to tell India that we exist and that we are not terrorists. We are students and not the dreaded masterminds the police lead you to believe. What is happening now? The police catch one of us, torture him in jail and later release him for want of proof. What happens then? His career is destroyed. No company would hire him. It could happen to me tomorrow,” says an emotional Ahmed.

He says he does not know if the Batla Encounter is fake, but is not convinced that it is genuine either. “Why are they so afraid of a judicial enquiry? That is what puzzles me. If the encounter is fake, the truth should come out and the officers responsible should be punished. Is that a sign of terrorist sympathising with other terrorists, as claimed by media?” asks Ahmed.