Family, friends speak out in defence of arrested Delhi journo

New Delhi: Circumstances of the arrest of a Delhi journalist in relation to the car bomb attack on an Israeli diplomat are now emerging.

Mohammed Kazmi, 50, an accredited journalist working with an Iranian news agency, was picked up on Tuesday for his alleged role in the February 13 attack on the diplomat.

Kazmi is said to be from a village on the Ghaziabad-Meerut border.

Kazmi was detained on the Tuesday around noon when he was returning home. The Indian Express reported that police had arrived at Kazmi’s house at night and took away a laptop and scooty, left there by a friend two-three months ago.

Kazmi’s residence is now being watched closely by police. Addressing media persons outside their house in B K Dutt colony, Kazmi’s wife Jahanara said, “My husband has been at the fore of many social issues. The police have failed to arrest the real culprits and are now trying to frame him in this case. He is innocent.”

Kazmi’s second son is preparing for his class XII exams. “My priority now is to clear the stain the police have given to my father’s name. I will not take the exams this year. We will fight till the police clear my father’s name from their concocted story,” said Kazmi’s son who in class XII, reports the Indian Express. Shauzab, Kazmi’s elder son, is doing his MBA degree. Kazmi has been described by his neighbours as someone who kept to himself. Kazmi’s assignments included the morning news bulletin on Doordarshan.

Journalist Saeed Naqvi, speaking to the Express said, “He has a long and consistent record as an Urdu journalist. He is open about his views. He is shia, he knew Persian, Arabic and was invaluable for our show then. Are they after him only because he is from the Urdu world?”