Ensure Muslim youth not held wrongfully, Shinde asks CMs

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde Monday asked all chief ministers to ensure that no innocent Muslim youth is arrested in the name of fighting terror and prompt action should be taken in any such case that comes to light.

In a letter to the chief ministers, Shinde said strict and prompt action should be taken against erring police officers when malafide arrests are made of any member of a minority community.

He said a person wrongfully arrested should not only be released immediately but suitably compensated and rehabilitated to join the mainstream.

Shinde said the central government has been receiving representations about alleged harassment of innocent Muslim youth and it has to be ensured that no innocent person is subjected to undue harassment by law enforcement agencies.

He said a section of the minority youth has a feeling that they are being deliberately targeted.

Shinde called upon the state governments to constitute special courts for trial of terror-related cases and give priority to terror cases over other pending cases.

The home minister said law enforcement agencies should be satisfied about communal and social harmony while ensuring zero tolerance for terrorism.

Minority Affairs Minister K. Rahman Khan is among the Congress leaders who have expressed concern over wrongful arrests of Muslim youths in terror cases.