Indian Mujahideen suspects have LeT link: Cops

Suspects spill beans on LeT link: Cops
15 Oct 2008, 0536 hrs IST, S Ahmed Ali , TNN

Mumbai: Some of the 20 Indian Mujaheedin (IM) suspects, who were arrested recently for various blasts since 2005, have told the police that they were actually associated with the Laskar-e-Toiba (LeT), according to investigators.

Sadiq Shaikh, co-founder of IM, told police that mastermind Riyaz Bhatkal himself is a key operative of the LeT. However, they wanted to avoid being called LeT operatives as the organisation is associated with Pakistan. Bhatkal, founder of the IM, wanted to send a message that they were Indian terrorists and therefore named his organisation Indian Mujahideen.

Shaikh himself had taken nine months of training in Bahavalpur in Pakistan, where he is believed to have met Amir Raza, a main operative of the LeT. Bhatkal has been directly taking orders from Raza, according to investigators . Shaikh told police that the entire training, ranging from indoctrination to handling arms and ammuniation, had been done in camps operated by the LeT.

The accused decided to form the IM only after the Jaipur and Ahmedabad blasts. The accused first sent a terror email to a media channel claiming responsibility after the Ahmedabad blasts. “Prior to the Ahmedabad blasts, Bhatkal had already planned to take such credit and hence he formed the media wing, led by Mansoor Peerbhoy from Pune,” said joint commissioner of police (Crime) Rakesh Maria. Peerbhoy and his two associates, Mubin Kadar Shaikh and Asif Bashir, designed the IM logo.

The media wing of the IM, which has also been charged with aiding and abetting the blasts, is allegedly responsible for sending all three terror emails. Maria said the lead role was played by Peerbhoy, a software engineer in Pune who was actually indoctrinated by Bhatkal.ources said.

History of Communal Riots In Ahmedabad

History of Communal Riots In Ahmedabad

If we take the history of Ahmedabad for last five centuries, the city was ruled by Muslims and Mughals for about 340 years the rest by Marathas & The British coming to the incidents of communal riots during this era of five centuries, the major incidences are:

(1) 1714: Holi Riots:
A Hindu named Hari Ram while celebrating Holi with his friends at his residence sprinkled ‘Gulal’ a red powder on one muslim, which was strongly protested by Muslims. A mob got assembled near Jumma Masjid under the leadership of Sunni Bohra Mulla Abdul Aziz. Afghan soldiers of the Muslim viceroy also joined the mob seeing the situation. A Kazi interfered for cooling down the angry mob.  But the mob set on fire the house of this Kazi. The rioteers thereafter looted the shops of Hindu Mohalla, Shops and set their houses to fire. The rioters could be controlled only by armed guards of a Hindu, Kapurchand Bhanshali.

(2) 1715: Another Communal Riot:
The 1715 communal riots were due to looting of shops of Hindus by Muslim soldiers. The riot came to an end with replacement of Muslim viceroy Daudkhan.

(3) 1716:  Id riots:
Consequently during the third year also, communal disturbances broke out during id in 1716.

Bohra community Muslims gathered cows and buffallows for id celebration. A Muslim Havaldar just out of pity released one of such gathered cows. The Muslim protested before the Kazi Khairullakhan seeing no outcome to their expectation, the Muslims resorted to riots arson and mass looting of Hindu establishments. The situation could come to normally with Hindu viceroy Ajitsinh’s concerted efforts.

(4) 1750: Temple Demolition:
1750 riots by Muslims were provoked simply with an excuse that their Namaz was being disturbed due to noise of ringing of bell in the adjoining temple. The Muslims while returning from Masjid after Namaz, totally destroyed the temple and thus played with the Hindu sentiments.

(5) 1941: Riots:
Communal disturbances broke out on 18th April 1941. The Muslims diverted to Muslim league programmes after incidence of these riots.

(6) 1946: Rath Yatra Riots:
1st July, 1946, was a Rath Yatra day. Rath Yatra as usual was passing through Shaher Kotda Police Station Area, on this auspicious day. There took a hut exchange between a Hindu Akhada man and a Muslim watching the procession. The incidence turned into breaking out of communal violence, viz. arson, stone throwing, stabbing etc. There was also a police firing and curfew was finally imposed, to control the situation.

(7) 1965: Shikh incidence:
The 1965 riots were resulted out of murder of two Shikh Rickshaw drivers by Muslims. The agrieved Sikhs took out funeral procession of both these dead bodies. The situation got disturbed at Delhi Darwaja and got converted into a communal riot soon.

(8) 1969: Historic Communal Riots:
These riots were biggest of its type having taken lives of about 560 persons.

It was 18th Sept. 1969, the last day of Urs. The violence crept up in the evening time on the ground that Jagannath Mandir cows going back to temple premises disturbed the URS. It may be mentioned that movement of cows was a daily routine irrespective of URS celebration taking place simultaneously. A hot discussion took place which provoked communal tension with a series of violent, incidences killing, linking, and soon in various parts of the city.

Islamic leaders: Let’s have surrender policy for Muslim terrorists

Remember the Deobandi fatwa against terrorism. It did not work. Nor would this policy. For the same reason that they don’t treat the root of Islamic terrorism which is Islam itself. Click here. But moron Hindus would sure fall for such gimmicks.

Let’s have surrender policy for terrorists
Danish Khan

Admitting that the youth of their community had been led astray, top
intelligentsia and Islamic leaders have decided to press for a
‘surrender policy for boys who have strayed’ in a bid to bring them
back into the fold.

At a conference organised at the sea-facing ground of Islam Gymkhana
on Friday, prominent leaders, lawyers, educationists, Ulemas and
social workers of the Muslim community gathered to debate on
“Secularism and Terrorism”, during which they agreed in no uncertain
terms that the time had come for decisive action.

“We want a mechanism through which our boys who have strayed can be
taken into confidence and brought back home.

The authorities should draw up a plan for this,” said former minister
Nawab Malik, who set the tone of the meet.

Congress MLA Yusuf Abrahani said, “We have to accept that there are
certain youth from our community who have gone astray. But why and how
this is happening is a question which needs to be addressed urgently.”

Malik said, “In the early ’90s, when a lot of members left SIMI due to
a change in its working style, no policeman or intelligence officer
cared to find out the reasons.

“The boys who left the organisation openly said that Pakistan had
started taking an interest in the organisation and the boys are being
trained. But nobody from the police did anything,” said Malik.

A former housing minister in the state, Malik said the ISI could also
be blackmailing the youth. “The ISI is asking them (youths trained in
Pakistan) to carry out the attacks or else they would pass on their
details to the Indian government,” said Malik.

Maulana Zaheer Abbas, a prominent cleric, said while killing people is
no solution to any problem, the involvement of educated and
well-placed individuals shows they have no confidence in the
administrative mechanism.

“Maybe they are thinking that risking and sacrificing their lives is a
better option,” said Abbas.

“Let us raise our voice against terrorism. Mumbai crime branch chief
Rakesh Maria has said that many of the arrests would not have been
possible without the help of Muslims who supported the police in their
operations,” Abbas added.

Muzaffar Hussain, Congress MLC from Mira Road, chided the Urdu media
for focusing too much on international conflict.

“While the English press should be more responsible, the Urdu press
too should stop focusing on America, Israel, Pakistan, Hindustan,
Musalman and Kabrastran. There are other burning issues too,” he said.

Muslim protests new sculptures in Bangladesh airport, plan to install Hajj minar instead

Sculptures Removed from Bangladesh Airport After Muslim Protests
By ARTINFO
October 16, 2008

DHAKA, Bangladesh—Authorities in Bangladesh were forced to remove new sculptures installed at the international airport in the capital, Dhaka, after protests by Muslims threatening to destroy them, Agence France-Presse reports.

The five statues of local folk singers were created by Mrinal Haq, the country’s best-known sculptor, for a government commission meant to enliven the dull Zia International airport. But thousands of Muslims came out to protest the sculptures, calling them idols and threatening to attack them with power tools.

“They formed an idol resistance committee and threatened the workers. They also set a three-day ultimatum to remove the sculptures,” said Sirahul Islam, the airport’s police chief.

According to Haq, the installation of the sculptures became one of his most dangerous projects: “They became so hostile that it became increasingly dangerous and risky to work there,” he said. “I agreed to remove them as I did not want to see any clashes.”

He added, “I’ve done a lot of works, including the city’s largest sculpture. But never have I faced such bigotry.”

The folk singer statues will replaced by a fountain, Islam said.

Removal of sculptures sparks protests
Staff Correspondent, http://www.thedailystar.net, Friday, October 17, 2008

Various political and socio-cultural organisations yesterday condemned the removal of the five sculptures of bauls (folk singers) in front of the Zia International Airport (ZIA).

They urged the people to launch movement against the fundamentalists who are posing threats to Bengali culture and heritage.

Meanwhile, Bimanbandar Golchattar Murti Protirodh Committee that forced the authorities concerned to remove the sculptures said the government has to begin the task of erecting a hajj minar by October 23 in place of the sculptures removed on Wednesday.

They also demanded removal of Mahbub Jamil, special assistant to the chief adviser, for taking initiative to erect the sculptures.

Committee Chairman Mufti Nur Hossain Nurani, also the chairman of Khatme Nabuwat Andolon, at a press conference at a city restaurant said if the government fails to meet their demands they would hold a grand rally at the north gate of the hajj camp on October 24.

The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) were forced to remove the five sculptures in the face of protests of the Murti Protirodh Committee on Wednesday.

“We will not accept anything but a hajj minar at that place and its design must be finalised upon our consent,” said Mufti Nur Hossain.

He said all khatibs across the country will bring out processions from mosques today demanding punishment of those who took the initiative to erect the sculptures in front of ZIA.

Sculptor Mrinal Haque said the task of erecting the sculptures began about three and a half months back.

Almost 50 percent work of the project had been finished at a cost of Tk 50 lakh, said Mrinal, who was supposed to sign an agreement with United Commercial Bank Ltd on Wednesday for getting funds.

A CAAB official said they removed the five sculptures of bauls holding ektara on instructions of the ministry concerned.

Ain O Salish Kendra in a statement expressed concern over the removal of the sculptures and said such incidents raise questions about the present government’s commitment to protecting Bengali culture, upholding non-communal spirit and democratic values.

Workers Party of Bangladesh President Rashed Khan Menon and its General Secretary Bimal Biswas in a joint statement also condemned the removal of the sculptures.

They said the present caretaker government has compromised with the fundamentalists on various issues but the people will thwart all attacks on the Bengali culture.

Bangladesh Udichi Shilpi Gosthi, Charan Sangskritik Kendra, Jaybangla Sangskritik Oikya Jote and Bangladesh Students’ Union also condemned the incident.