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| India-Pakistan |
| Indian Muslims fear imam being scapegoated |
| 2003-02-06 |
| Indian police on Thursday arrested a Muslim cleric they allege plotted a massacre of Hindus at a train station last year that set off the country’s worst communal riots in a decade. Maulana Hussain Umarji, a prayer leader in Gujarat, was arrested in Godhra, said J K Bhatt, superintendent of police for the Western Railways. He will be produced before a court shortly to seek a 14-day remand, Bhatt said. Maulanas have a talent for this sort of thing... As soon as the news about Maulana Hussain Umarji's detention spread, members of the minority Muslim community called a strike in the town. An uneasy peace held as the authorities tightened security. The rioting is scheduled for day after tomorrow... Police say the Imam gathered 12 young people at a mosque days before the train attack to plan the carnage, promising them each Rs 1,500 and making them swear to the plan on the Qur'an. Gas to burn the train was taken from a gas pump the night before and stored at a Godhra guesthouse, police said. The attack was originally planned for February 22, 2002 but on that day "there were too many policemen", said AK Bhargav, another police official. Police said the information against the Imam came from the confession of a man arrested last month over the attack, Zabir Bin Yamin Behra. Took 'em long enough to find somebody who was willing to spill the beans... But Muslim leaders in Godhra say Behra was known as a petty thief. "In all likelihood he must have been forced by the police to give such a statement," said prominent community figure Mukhtar Mohammad. "Umarji has been involved in many relief works and is a very respected leader. He is being framed," Mohammad said. If you're going to recruit people to start a riot, it's probably better to look among the petty thieves and other neighborhood tough guys than to try and line up a librarian or an electrician... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |