Thane police sends cop on leave for allegedly detaining over 80 Muslim men

Following objections raised over the alleged ‘illegal detention’ of around 80 Muslim men who were rounded up by police in Mumbra, near Thane, the Thane police has taken action against the policeman who led the so-called combing operation, and sent him on compulsory leave on Saturday and has initiated a top level inquiry into the incident.

“We have sent assistant commissioner of police Amit Kale on compulsory leave from today. Also, the additional commissioner of police (crime) is conducting the inquiry into the matter. After completion of the inquiry, necessary action against Kale will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry report,” Pratapsinh Patankar, additional commissioner of police, Thane, told Firstpost.

The Mumbra police reportedly detained 80 Muslim men around midnight of 13 March 2014 without any apparent or reasonable cause. The men wereworking professionals, old people, some as old as 75 years, workers, students going to high schools , graduate students and others. They were taken to the Mumbra Police Station.

“The local police which was ostensibly on the lookout for certain persons belonging to Baloch Iranian descent with a criminal background, illegally and unjustly rounded up Muslim men of Rashid Compound (a group of seven predominantly Muslim residential buildings) around midnight and herded them into police vans. It took them to the local police station despite the fact that these men bore no resemblance whatsoever to the persons of interest. About a dozen police vans quietly reached Rasheed Compound and the street lights were cut off,” read the complaint registered by Shehzad Poonawala, a lawyer and activist, with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and National Commission for Minorities.

It added that the action was in blatant violation of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.

Locals said that the action was conducted under directions of ACP Amit Kale of Thane district. About 200 odd policemen, and two women constables joined the operation in which the police broke down doors to search houses and detained the men.

“After huge hue and cry and my petitions, Thane police has taken action against the erring officer and initiated an inquiry. But I continue to demand an independent probe as the role of the Home Ministry needs to be examined too,” said Poonawalla.