Police cautious on Muslim suspects

Unlike in the past when police teams raided Muslim neighbourhoods and picked up youths after the May 2007 Mecca Masjid blast and August 2007 blasts at Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat, the police have been careful this time. Still, four persons — who were arrested in the past, acquitted by trial court, and even got compensation from the state government — were allegedly detained for questioning.

"There were fears that the police would start whisking away youths like they did after the 2007 blasts. The police have shown a lot of restraint this time, still four youths who were arrested last time have been detained again," said Latif Khan of Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee.

A team of Cyberabad Police (special operations) allegedly picked up Ibrahim Junaid Ali, a Unani medicine doctor, and Rashid Qayam on Sunday for the Dilsukhnagar blasts. They were also detained by the Hyderabad police after the 2007 blasts at Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat, but were acquitted by the court.

The Muslim community, mourning the death of three of its people in the blasts and at least 18 injured, is angry that it is under suspicion once again. "Everyone always assumes that we are the culprits; the trial starts even before it reaches the courts. There is a difference between us and the terrorists. We do not support them although they may think wrongly that they are representing us. They only manage to create fear among innocent people, whoever they may be," says Shiraz Amina, a social activist from Charminar area.

In this backdrop of fear and anger, people gathered at Chanchalguda for the funeral of 55-year old Amanullah Khan, a businessman, who was injured in the blasts and succumbed on Friday. There was anger against the terror attack in Pattancheru on the outskirts, when the body of Mohammed Rafiquddin, a 21-year-old salesman working in Dilsukhnagar, arrived.

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