‘DK Police Illegally Detaining Muslim Youths in RSS Activist Murder’-SDPI
‘-Dakshina Kannada District Police are Illegally detaining Muslims Youths in connection with the murder of RSS Activist Sharath Madivala’-Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI)
Mangaluru: Police investigation into the month old murder of RSS activist Sharath Madivala has ruffled feathers of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). Addressing the media persons during a press meet held at Hotel Woodlands-Mangaluru, A M Athavullah-district secretary of Social democratic Party of India (SDPI) said, “SDPI condemns the action of Dakshina Kannada district police for illegally detaining nearly 50 youths (Muslims) from minority community and harassing them and their families in the name of ongoing investigation of Sharath’s murder and creating a sense of fear and uncertainty among members of the minority community.”
“While SDPI is not opposed to police questioning anyone in connection with the incident or formally charging them if their involvement is made out, our party is totally opposed to their ‘illegal detention’. Among many, one example is where the police have picked the family members of Sajipamunnur residents – Shafi, Muhammad Sahad and Abdul Nasir, at Kadabahalli in Mandya on August 9, and until now no one knows where these family members are. Police have not given any information about either their detention or their arrest to their family members, and the family are in a state of quandary. The law mandates that police inform next of kin of any one detained in connection with a case and produce them before the magistrate within 24-hours, but the district police authorities are not following any of these laid down procedures in this particular investigation causing angst to the families” added Athaullah.
He further said, “The Bantwal sub-divisional police are passing the buck, in this case, adding to the agony of the families, and SDPI has list of at least 50 such youths who have been detained in connection with the murder investigation- and police have subjected some of the youth to physical and mental torture. We warn that if the police do not follow due process in this and any other case, the party will be forced to undertake democratic means of protest against such illegalities.” Other members of SDPI were also present during the press meet.
