New Delhi, Jun 13 (IANS): The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has demanded an impartial probe into custodial torture, police excesses and demolition of houses, and punishment to the guilty at the earliest.

Condemning the high-handedness of the police and administration in Ranchi, Prayagraj and other places over protests by Muslims against derogatory remarks on the Prophet, JIH president Syed Sadatullah Husaini said, "What police have done in Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand concerning the democratic protest by Muslims on June 10, amounts to throttling of democracy and rule of law."

He also appealed to the Muslim community not to fall into the trap of anti-social elements and those who wish to create division within society while exercising their democratic rights for conducting peaceful protests.

He said, had timely and appropriate action been taken against the blasphemy accused, these untoward incidents would not have taken place. And also, if the kind of stone-pelting that took place as shown in some videos that are circulating on social media, then some kind of conspiracy is also visible in the entire chain of events. He demanded an impartial enquiry into the whole chain of events.

The JIH said it feels that the action was taken against Javed Mohammed, a well-known social and human rights activist in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, smacks of vendetta politics. He also reminded that Javed and his family denied that any of them had taken part in Friday's (June 10) protest and that the house demolished was also owned by his wife and not him.