Death threats to Advocate Pracha and intimidation of online media are unacceptable, say Indian Americans
Attempt to force news portal to withdraw interview critical of Police chief undermines freedom of press
Friday, March 21, 2014
The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC – www.iamc.com), an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos, condemned the threats to senior lawyer Mr. Mehmood Paracha by vested interests operating through underworld goons. IAMC has demanded the state administration nab the culprits and take immediate measures for the safety and security of the senior lawyer. Advocate Paracha is representing German bakery bomb blast case convict Mirza Himayat Baig.
Besides fighting to prove Himayat Baig’s innocence, Mr. Paracha has been fighting many terror related cases of Muslim youth across the country. Mr. Paracha reported he is getting threatening messages from the underworld don Ravi Pujari since his recent interview appeared on the TCN site. In the exclusive interview to online news portal TwoCircles.Net (TCN – www.twocircles.net) Advocate Paracha, had courted controversy by demanding that that the current Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria be “arrested as a terrorist” and tried under anti-terror laws.
The senior lawyer had stated, “The fact remains that three investigating agencies (NIA, Delhi Police’ Special Cell and Central Crime Branch, Bangalore), my own understanding of the case, the charge sheet and the subsequent events, all point to one fact that the Maharashtra ATS led by Mr. Rakesh Maria was responsible in not only falsely implicating Himayat Baig, but also in the process actively saving the real terrorists,” adding, “the police officers involved, including Mr Rakesh Maria should be arrested for conducting activities which are terror related. He has committed offense prima facie which are terror cases and he should be arrested as a terrorist.”
Mr. Paracha’s case is following the same pattern as the case of late Advocate Shahid Azmi, who was killed in broad daylight in his office by vested interests inimical to the rule of law. “The fact that there are threats to the life of the senior advocate demonstrates how the rule of law is disregarded with impunity when those struggling for justice start to take on the mighty and powerful,” said Mr. Ahsan Khan, President of IAMC.
IAMC also condemned the Mumbai police department’s attempt to intimidate the online news portal TCN by demanding the removal of Mr. Paracha’s interview wherein he made the bold and stunning revelation about the dubious role of Police Commissioner and former Maharashtra ATS chief Rakesh Maria in terror related cases. “The Mumbai Police’s demand that the online portal withdraw the interview with Mr. Paracha is an unacceptable attack on the freedom of the press. It strikes at the very roots of our existence as a democracy where the state security apparatus is supposed to operate under the law and help uphold it, ” added Mr. Khan.
IAMC has called on the media, civil society institutions, legal fraternity and people of conscience, to strongly resist attempts by the Mumbai Police to infringe on the due process of law and on the freedom of media institutions.
Indian-American Muslim Council (formerly Indian Muslim Council-USA) is the largest advocacy organization of Indian Muslims in the United States with 15 chapters across the nation. For more information please visit our new website at:http://www.iamc.com
REFERENCES:
Rakesh Maria should be arrested for conducting activities which are terror related: Advocate Paracha
http://twocircles.net/2014mar18/rakesh_maria_should_be_arrested_conducting_activities_which_are_terror_related_advocate
Block articles against Maria: Police to US site
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/block-articles-against-maria-police-to-us-site/
Mumbai Police wants TCN articles removed; Support for TCN comes from all quarters
http://twocircles.net/2014mar20/mumbai_police_wants_tcn_articles_removed_support_tcn_comes_all_quarters.html
Remove Maharashtra ATS Chief Rakesh Maria: JTSA
http://twocircles.net/2010may04/remove_maharashtra_ats_chief_rakesh_maria_jtsa.html
6/11 call record issue may suffer under Maria: Kamte’s wife
http://www.firstpost.com/mumbai/2611-call-record-issue-may-suffer-under-maria-kamtes-wife-1395627.html
CONTACT:
Ishaq Syed
Phone/Fax: 1-800-839-7270
Email: info@iamc.com
ADDRESS:
6321 W Dempster St. Suite 295
Morton Grove, IL 60053
Phone/Fax: 1-800-839-7270
Email: info@iamc.com
