India - UP: Hindutva Lawyers attack Khalid Mujahid’s lawyer in Faizabad

The Milli Gazette

Hindutwadi Lawyers attack Khalid Mujahid’s lawyer

The Milli Gazette Online
Published Online: May 21, 2013

Faizabad: Hindutwadi lawyers here attacked and seriously injured a lawyer defending Khalid Mujahid who was murdered in police custody on 19 May while being transported from Faizabad to Lucknow.

A large march was organised yesterday, Monday, at Faizabad from the Eidgah to the Commissioner’s office to protest against the custodial murder of Khalid Mujahid, a terror-accused who, alongwith the co-accused Tariq Qasmi, was found innocent by the Nimesh Commission.

Yesterday’s march of around 700 people included some lawyers who had been defending the terror-accused despite opposition by Hindutwadi lawyers who had in the past attacked such lawyers in the court premises.

In yesterday’s march slogans were raised against such lawyers and the Faizabad bar association which has been opposing lawyers defending persons accused in terror cases.

This morning the Faizabad bar association passed a resolution condemning lawyers defending the terror-accused. Thereafter, the Hindutwadi lawyers attacked and seriously injured advocate Mohammad Saleem who was assisting Advocate Jamal Ahmad, the lawyer for Khalid Mujahid. The attack took place around noon today in the courts premises.

Police admitted Advocate Mohammad Saleem in the Faizabad district hospital in serious condition.

The photograph shows the seriousness of the attack by the Hindutwadi lawyers. The Hindutwadi lawyers were also on the look out for a number of advocates who defend the terror-accused but could find only Advocate Mohammad Saleem.

Meanwhile, the authorities have converted the whole city of Faizabad into a cantonment area with security forces fanning all over the city.

Faizabad

For more information, contact human rights activists Ghufran Siddiqi (09554040722) and Shah Alam (09454909664) in Faizabad.
Rihai Manch statement:

On the other hand, the Lucknow-based Forum for the Release of Innocent Muslims imprisoned in the name of Terrorism popularly known as "RIHAI MANCH", said today in a statement that the attack on Advocates in Faizabad is conspiracy hatched by SP and communal forces. It said in a statement issued this evening:

“Rihai Manch condemns the attack on Faizabad Advocate Salim and damaging chambers of Advocate Shakilur Rehman, Jamal Ahmed and Nadeem Ahmed. Rihai Manch demands the arrests of hooligans of SP, Bajrang Dal, Hindu Yuva Vahini and BJP who are responsible for the attack. The spokesperson of the Rihai Manch blames Samajwadi Party for encouraging the communal elements in order to stop the rising opposition and demonstrations in support of martyr Khalid Mujahid. But SP must understand that its countdown has begun, warns Rihai Manch. These communal elements are those who are named as accused in many FIRs related to the recent communal riot which occurred in October 2012. But the local administration on the direction of the high level political bosses not made any effort to arrest them.” (Issued by Shahnawaz Alam and Rajeev Yadav, Spokespersons, Rihai Manch 09415254919, 09452800752; Harinath Banerjee Street, Naya Gaon Poorv, Laatoosh Road, Lucknow – Email: rihaimanchindia[@]gmail.com)