Bhatkal not a terror hub': Police clarify at protest meet against reports in media

Bhatkal, September 11: The city of Bhatkal is normal as usual and there are no terror-related activities happening in the city, Sudhir Kumar Reddy, Assistant SP, said.

He was speaking at a meet organised by representatives of various Jamaaths and organisations including Majlis-e-Islah-o Tanzeem in Bhatkal in condemnation of a report published in a Kannada daily about terror-related activities in Bhatkal.

The report had stated that there is free movement of RDX, AK-47s, and grenades in Bhatkal and that certain places in the town including mosques are 'prohibited zones'. Mr. Reddy said that there are no such prohibited zones in Bhatkal and no terror-related activities are taking place in the town. Apt action would be taken against the newspaper for attempting to disrupt harmony in society, he assured.

Mohiddin Altaf Kharouri, General Secretary of Tazneem, said that baised reports against Muslims and the Bhatkal town have hurt the sentiments of the people of Bhatkal. If such activities are taking place in Bhtakal, action should be taken against such miscreants but publishing false reports is unwarranted, he said. A systematic attempt to tarnish the image of Muslims and Bhatkal is being made by certain Kannada dailies, he alleged.

Inayatullah Shabandri, Vice President of Tanzeem, said that journalists should be jailed for writing such false reports and testing the patience of the people. The people of Bhatkal will carry out a peaceful agitation against attempts to defame the city, he said.

Parvez Kasimji, Former Presidnt of Tanzeem, read out the contents of memorandum and demanded that action be taken against the newspaper under Section 153(a). Representatives of the various jama'ths will register separate complaints against the newspaper each, he said.

Subhash Gudimane, Additional SP, accepted the appeal. Action would be taken against anyone who disrupts peace in the society, he said, stating that he would discuss the matter with higher officials. He congratulated the representatives of the various organisations for exhibiting their concern peacefully and not giving opportunity for untoward incidents.