Minority Ministry for task force on Muslim terror cases

Sharing the perception of Muslims that they are being 'victimized', Minority Affairs Ministry will soon moot a proposal for setting up of a special task force to oversee the terror cases against the members of the community.

'Muslims believe their youth are being arrested but not tried for years... There is a perception Muslims are being victimised,' Minority Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan told PTI.

Contending that people should not be arrested without evidence, he said, 'There is a deep hurt in the community over what they believe is injustice and we cannot escape it.'

Khan said he would submit a proposal to the government soon for setting up of a task force.

'I will be writing to the government to set up a task force. It should have powers to monitor these cases,' he said.

Most suspects are released after five, seven or 10 years but their life is ruined, the Minister said.

He said delay in trial of terror cases is tantamount to 'denying basic rights to citizens' as long spell behind bars destroys their lives.

'It is also true that terrorism exists. Eliminating the menace is everyone's responsibility, including that of Muslims,' he said.

He said he would ask the government to involve moderate community leaders to deal with challenges facing Muslims.

The UK has taken a similar approach to deal with terrorism by taking community leaders onboard and he would ask the India government to adopt a similar approach, Khan said.