New Delhi: Activists and MPs have urged the Rajasthan government to immediately suspend Alwar district Police Superintendent Terni Adrash Kumar Sidhu and initiate action against him for harassing Muslim families in the areas. Addressing a press conference here along with the victims including women, they also demanded that a high-level inquiry should be done into the role of CoBRA force personnel who have been committing atrocities on poor Muslims and making mid-night raids at their home since six months.
Janata Dal (U) MP Ali Anwar, Moe Panchayat chairman Mohammad Hanfi and social activist Shabnam Hashmi alleged that Police personnel have been harassing local Meo Muslim population without any crime or reason. Presenting the victims before the media, they said action should be taken against Rajasthan cops who allegedly conducted a violent raid at many houses Alwar district.
Narrating the incidents, they said on July 4, CoBRA force of Alwar district conducted raid on Ismail Vass house in Sirmoli area and brutally attacked and beaten up the members of his family. The police did not even spare an eight month old pregnant woman using lathis, their boots to attack them and using highly abusive and sexist language. A group people from Meo community met Ali Anwar requesting him to take up the matter in Parliament. Social activist Shabnam Hashmi, who accompanied the group also criticized the incident and said that the act is completely unlawful. She demanded strict action and suspension of both the SP and probationary IPS who are responsible for the act. An enquiry must be set up to look into that why was CoBRA force even deployed in Rajasthan if it was constituted especially for Naxal-hit areas.
She said a pregnant woman was hit in her abdomen and was pulled by her hair. The police did not stop at this only, they threw minor boy like anything; abuse women and thrashed members of Ismail Meo – the respected Muslim man of Sarmoli village of the district. Meo’s was called by the police after the latter seized a tractor filled with stone and a case was registered in this regard in his presence on July 4. Later in night 50-60 cops of Cobra team – SP Vikas Kumar has formed the team to curb crime – reached Meo’s house and created mayhem. Meo failed to understand anything and field a complaint with the local police station. Police personnel also entered into a mosque inebriated condition and they beaten up the Imam and hurled abuses against the Muslim community.
Describing it a part of conspiracy, Shabnam Hashmi said a complaint against Sidhu was lodged with the National Commission for Women. She said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been boasting that minorities will be given protection but under his party’ government in Rajasthan, minority community is feeling insecure. Ali Anwar assured the victims that he will raise the issue in Parliament.