How else can one explain the hysterical condemnation without a trial, of a Delhi MLA Tahir Hussain, by most of the Indian public and the Indian media, behaving like the Roman mob after Caesar’s assassination, baying for the blood of Cinnna the poet, even if they could not get hold of Cinna the conspirator?
An FIR was filed by the father of the Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma, whose body was found with multiple injuries in a drain, accusing Tahir Hussain of the murder. It was alleged that Tahir Husain led a mob which killed Sharma. Videos went viral showing Hussain holding a stick, and allegedly directing stone pelters from his terrace. It was alleged that stones, acid pouches and petrol . bombs were found in his house.
Tahir Hussain, of course, has denied all these allegations, and has said that in fact he was trying to dissuade Muslim youth from violence. There is nothing to connect Hussain with the murder of Sharma.
I was a lawyer for 20 years and a judge for another 20. So I am well aware of the functioning of the Indian police, about whom Justice A.N.Mulla of the Allahabad High Court had commented so eloquently. It is well known that the police in India nowadays is not a neutral, independent organisation (as it was meant to be), but has been politicised, and acts as directed by its political masters. It often fabricates false evidence and tutors witnesses, to get a conviction.
The stones, acid pouches and petrol bombs may have all been planted and concocted. The video which went viral showing Hussain with a stick is asserted as being conclusive proof of Hussain’s culpability. But a stick can be used both for offensive and defensive purposes.
The Central and State Government In UP are both controlled by the BJP, and the BJP is well known to be rabidly anti Muslim. So all kinds of false cases will be filed and registered against Muslims in India, and they may have to spend long years in jail, even if ultimately found innocent ( e.g. the case of Nisar ud din who spent 23 years in jail on a charge of terrorism, before the Supreme Court found him innocent, or Amir who spent 14 years).
Communalism was present in Indian society even before the BJP came to power in 2014, but thereafter it has increased exponentially, and the society has become polarised. So having a Muslim name in India is nowadays dangerous.