Mecca Masjid blast: Govt to apologise, compensate youth harassed by police

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy  on Thursday said that the state government was willing to apologise to the members of the Muslim community if allegations of police excesses against the community youth in the aftermath of the Mecca Masjid blast were proved.

KKR said that, “not only would the government apologise to the Muslim youth, but would also extend financial help to those who are found to have been wrongly implicated in blast-related cases.” The Chief Minister added that, “The government is concerned about innocent youths, not only of the Muslim community, but about all youths who are alleged to have been deliberately harassed by the police. The government is ready to apologise unconditionally if it was proved that anyone was deliberately harassed.”

KKR was responding to a point raised by Majsli-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi during the Question Hour in the Assembly. Mr Owaisi alleged that the police had harassed Muslim youth who were picked up on suspicion of being involved in the blast on May 18, 2007 and also those who were protesting in the aftermath of the blast outside the Masjid on that fateful Friday.

Mr Owaisi pointed out that the “CBI investigation had established that the Mecca Masjid blast was the handiwork of Hindu organisations.” He added that over a hundred Muslim youth had been acquitted in the case, but their future was marred since they had lost opportunities of employment.   The Chief Minister sought to assuage Mr Owaisi’s worry by saying that the government would extend financial help to all youths who had been found to have deliberately implicated in false cases and then acquitted so that “they may lead a normal life.”

Mr Owaisi’s charge was supported by Telugu Desam Party president and Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu who said that the government must pay financial compensation to the youths acquitted in blast related cases.

Responding to the discussion, Home Minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy added that the government will take action police officials found to have indulged in excesses in the aftermath of the blast while trying to control the protesting mobs outside the Masjid.

She said that the Justice Bhaskara Rao Commission is probing the alleged excesses by the police and the government would take action if any officer is found guilty of wrong doing.