Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Dec 15: The family of Abubakker Siddique, who was recently arrested by Mangaluru rural police for his alleged involvement in an assault case of December 2014 in Ulaibettu, on Tuesday December 15 claimed that Abubakker was innocent and had been arrested as part of a 'conspiracy' by the police to fix innocents with 'false' cases.
Abubakker Siddique was arrested by Mangaluru rural police on December 7 in connection to an assault case in Ulaibetter on December 5, 2014. Following the arrest, circle inspector Pramod Kumar was allegedly sent on leave, only to resume duty after cops and locals protested.
Addressing a press meet here on Tuesday December 15, Abubakker's uncle Mohammed Shariq said that the police had arrested two other innocents in the case, and Abubakker was later arrested for complaining against this.
"On October 25 this year, Mohammed Iqbal and Mohammed Shahid were asked to come to Mangaluru rural police station. They were made to wait and then told that cases had been registered against them in connection with the Ulaibettu case of December 5, 2014. The police also tortured them in custody. Shahid was produced before the judge on October 28 and Iqbal on October 29 under IPC section 98. However, the complainant in the case had not mentioned either of their names in the FIR. They were arrested unlawfully without any reason," Shariq alleged, adding that Shahid had filed a complaint against Bajrang Dal activists on December 5 last year.
Alleging police atrocity against innocents, he said, "After the clashes, Mangaluru rural police had been barging into houses of innocent people of the minority community and filing cases against them. A few days after Shahid and Iqbal were arrested, senior leaders of the Ulaibettu Muslim Jamaat approached the police commissioner and gave a memorandum against their arrest. Abubakker Siddique, son of Sheikabba, was also among the delegation. Pramod Kumar of Mangaluru rural police came to know about this, he targetted Abubakker and arrested him, falsely accusing him of being involved in the Ulaibettu case.
"The actual complaint by the girl was filed against Abubakker, son of Usman, and not against Abubakker, son of Abubakker. But when the arrested man's relatives went to the police to bring this matter to their attention, they were abused and told that Abubakker was accused in sexual assault and theft also," he said.
"Ulaibettu Nagarika Samiti informed the same to the media, after which the complainant called a press meet and said that she had identified Abubakker and that he was not innocent. However, another person called Abul Khader, son of Husainar, was also accused in the case. But he is a resident of Kasargod and not Ulaibettu as alleged, and on the day of the clashes, he was visiting his relative's house. How did the complainant know the name of Abul Khader's father which is mentioned in the complaint? This is nothing but a conspiracy to fix innocents in the case," Shariq said.
"Last Monday, when we went to Pramod Kumar and told him that Abubakker was innocent, He told us to find one Ansar and bring him to the police station, and then he would release Abubakker," he alleged, in reply to a question from mediapersons.
"We are planning to file criminal and defamation case against the police," he added.
He also claimed that Abubakker Siddique, son of Usman who was named in the complaint, was also innocent. "When the incidnet occured, police had arrested some persons on December 5, 2014 and on December 6, they were released. The police commissioner and officials had admitted arresting innocents. Among those released were gram panchayat member Mohammed Siraj, Abubakker Siddique, son of Usman, and Jabbar, a religions leader, but their names were not removed from the FIR. This led to all the chaos."
Abubakker's relatives Nasiya, Asiba and Mohammed were present at the press meet.