Police pick five suspects in desecration case

Court orders probe by joint investigation team

HYDRABAD:

The Hyderabad police have arrested five suspects, all Muslims, in connection with the August 21 incident of desecration of the Holy Quran which sparked violent reaction in the citty.

Although, the arrest of the five family members including a woman has not been officially declared so far, SSP Hyderabad Amjad Ahmed Shaikh did not deny the arrests.

"The matter is still under investigation," he replied when asked to confirm or deny that the Cantt police have detained the family.

The police earlier booked a sweeper, Ashok Kumar, for the alleged desecration.

A police source disclosed to The Express Tribune the names and cast of the detained Muslim suspects, who live in the same apartment building, Rabi Centre, in Saddar, in which the incident took place.

The family reportedly belongs to Shahdadpur, Sanghar district. "Police have credible information that this family was involved in the incident. But it is too early to charge them in the FIR," the official said.

Earlier, it was rumoured that a Hindu family had burnt a copy of the Holy Quran.

Meanwhile, a civil judge and judicial magistrate has ordered the Hyderabad DIG Peer Muhammad Shah to constitute a joint investigation team (JIT).

Another incident happened in Latifabad in the limits of B-Section police station on August 26. A woman, Mehwish Shaikh has been charged for the act in the FIR lodged on the state's complaint.

"Such unwanted incidents happened in the same district within very short period are liable to be fairly and strictly investigated through the JIT," the order reads. The judge directed the DIG to submit the JIT report in the court at the earliest. The woman was remanded to the jail custody for 14 days.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2022.