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The details of the torture and humiliation endured by the 21 Muslim youths, who were detained after the twin blasts in Hyderabad last year, are finally coming out of the closet. These youths had remained tight-lipped about the inhuman treatment they suffered since the police allegedly threatened to kill them by staging encounters, if they confided in anybody.
The victims, who narrated their horrific tales to rediff.com, included auto drivers, an embroidery worker, salesmen and a welder. But their stories have striking similarities -- they were all picked up within days of the blasts, illegally detained in secret places and subjected to horrific torture. 'Missing' Hyderabad youth in police custody
Hyderabad blasts: Muslims say they are targetted
A year on, Hyderabad blast investigation flounders
In Hyderabad, terror accused get a second chance "Every time the police opposed our bail, claiming that we were involved in terrorist cases. But there was no such charge against us. The police had booked us in a fictitious case of criminal conspiracy," he said. These youths, all of them from poor families, could provide the surety for bail only after local Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi provided them Rs 50,000 each. They received further financial assistance from local legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi, who gave them Rs 50,000 each to start their own businesses, as nobody was willing to employ these 'terror suspects.' "Even a murderer or a rapist gets some respect from the society, but we did not even get any sympathy. Wherever we went to look for a job, we were turned away. Even our relatives refused to talk to us. Our lives have been completely destroyed by the false allegations of the police and the propaganda by the media," said Abdul Kareem. AP: Cops guilty of torturing Muslim youths go scot-free The only thing that these youths are seeking now is a fresh beginning. They have approached the state Minorities Financial Corporation for margin money under the self-employment scheme. The corporation has agreed to provide them Rs 30,000 and the Indian Bank [Get Quote] is giving them Rs 80,000 each to start their own businesses. "The minister's statement is wrong," said Abdul Kareem. "We have not asked for any compensation from the government because money can't compensate for our sufferings." But the government has refused to take any action against the guilty policemen. Shabbir maintains that the policemen were only doing their duty and investigating the blasts cases. Wronged by the state and turned away by society, these youths have now filed a case against the government, demanding Rs 20 lakh compensation each. |
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