We will not Rest Until 70 Innocent PFI, SDPI Protesters are released – Haneef
Mangaluru: “The protesters who were protesting peacefully in front of the Police Commissioner’s office were lathi charged and later arrested by the police. The Social Democratic Party of India will not rest until the innocent people who have been arrested by the police will not be released. We have given the deadline till 6 pm to release all the arrested protesters, if they will not be released we will intensify our protest,” said the district president of SDPI Haneef Khan Kodaje in a press meet held at the SDPI Office here on April 4.
Addressing the mediapersons Haneef said, “More than 70 members of the PFI and SDPI have been arrested when they were protesting against the arrest of Ahmed Quraishi. When they were sitting on the road and protesting the police resorted to lathi charge injuring many of the protesters. The police are alleging that the protesters pelted stones, Let they check the CCTV footage in the area, the protesters did not pelt any stones, nor have they assault any of the policemen. One policewoman was injured by her own lathi when using it on the protesters. But five of the police have been admitted to the hospital blaming that the protesters had assaulted the police which is not true.”
Haneef also said, “We had met the Police commissioner and both the DCP’s and requested them to release the innocent who have been arrested by the CCB police. According to the meeting, they have assured of releasing the youth. The Popular Front of India has intimated the Pandeswhar Inspector about the protest. The protesters were urging the police commissioner to release Quraishi because he is suffering from 60% kidney failure. But when the protesters were sitting in front of the Police commissioner office they were lathi-charged. The Police commissioner is a responsible officer and he should be impartial in dealing with such cases. Our demand is that the CCB Inspector along with five other police constables should be suspended. If they will not be suspended, in the coming days we will intensify our protest. We have not demanded the release of the accused but demanded the innocent who is suffering from kidney problems to be released. If anyone is involved in crime let the police arrest them and take action,” he said.
Haneef also said, “We have tried to contact the district minister in-charge Ramanath Rai and minister U T Khader but they did not respond. The minorities are the highest vote bank for the Congress and Congress is directly responsible for all the untoward incidents in Mangluru. If such incident continues, in the coming election, the Congress party will lose. Because in our district there are seven MLA’s and not a single minister or MLA has reacted on the attack or atrocities on minorities.”
Haneef further said, “We have intimated the police because when we asked permission to hold a protest or any programme the police department does not give permission. Such a situation has been created iIn the commissionerate where minorities do not get permission to protest. The Police commissioner could have listened to the plea of the protesters and assure justice, instead of giving justice the protesters had been assaulted. We demand Quraishi be released and served justice. SDPI General Secretary Athaulla Jokatte who was in our office was asked by the inspector to come down to talk, but was taken into custody by the police.”
PFI state committee member Anwar Sadath said, “In the coming days we will hold “Mangaluru Chalo” because the atrocities on minorities have increased. We will take the support from like-minded people and intensify our protest”.
State secretary SDPI Alphonso Franko, Dalit leader State committee member SDPI M Koosappa, District Secretary SDPI Iqbal Bellare, Nasir Sajipa, Iqbal I M R, Ayaz Krishnapur and Nishad were also present.
In sah Allah..We don’t have rest in this feeld
The timing of these protests, as the 2018 state elections are approaching, makes one wonder if there is a secret understanding with the BJP to polarize voters in the coastal district.