27 Aug 2008,TNN MUMBAI: What was initially restricted to the infamous Naya Nagar in Mira Road has now been extended to the entire Mira-Bhayandar area. All mosques in this belt have started making regular announcements asking the Muslim community to look out for 'suspicious-looking ' persons in their locality.The initiative was first taken by residents of Naya Nagar who made headlines for housing one of the accused in the Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts. The accused Tauqeer alias Abdul Qureshi and his family were residing at Narendra Park in Naya Nagar. In the past too, several persons arrested for having terrorist links have lived in Naya Nagar, said sources. While Naya Nagar is now under the police scanner, the residents have undertaken a social combing operation to flesh out those with terrorist links. The chairmen and secretaries of the over 400 housing societies in Naya Nagar have been asked to check the credentials of those purchasing flats or living on rent.The 27 masjids located in Mira Road and Bhayandar areas have for the past few days been asking their members to keep a vigil in and around their locality. The imams of all these masjids have personally written letters to their members informing them about the initiative. "People have welcomed the move. No one wants to be seen as encouraging terrorists. Naya Nagar, especially, has got a bad name due to the arrest of few accused having terrorist links,'' said Imam Maulana Mansoor Ahmed of Sham's masjid.The telephone numbers of the mosques' Imams and that of the local police stations have also been displayed at these mosques. At Naya Nagar , a team of women residents has been visiting homes where women live alone. "At least in case of 25% of families in Naya Nagar, the men are out of the city or country. We are gathering information about the occupations and other details of such households,'' said a woman resident of the area.Locals, however, say that such social combing measures are undertaken each time a terrorist is arrested . "After the Mumbai train blasts too housing societies were directed to check the credentials of flat occupants. But within a month the enthusiasm fizzled out,'' said Mira Road resident Shakil Sheikh who received a letter from his local mosque to look out for people who appeared suspicious. Two prime accused Faisal Shaikh and Muzammil Shaikh who were arrested for their role in the 7/11 Mumbai serial train blasts, were also residents of Naya Nagar.Legislator Muzaffar Hussain and a resident of Naya Nagar had called for a meeting of local residents and estate agents asking them to be cautious while selling or renting out flats. "Most of the accused caught with terrorist links were not staying in Naya Nagar when they committed the crime. But unfortunately the area has earned a bad reputation which needs to be changed,'' said Hussain.Qureshi has been accused by the Gujarat police of procuring explosives for the attacks. He moved to Naya Nagar with his parents, wife and children in 2006. The family, however, denies that he stayed in Naya Nagar. They insisted that Qureshi had left them eight years ago and had maintained very little contact with them. View Source article: |
12:53 PM
Sultan Shahin
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