You can excuse IB and law enforcement for some errors because of the nature of their job and the fact that they sometimes have to work with what little clues they have. But how can one excuse media who have the resources and the time to get it right and if they are not sure about a story they need not publish it.
We have commented on some of these stories before, latest one is from The Hindustan Times where they try to connect SIMI to Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) even though there is no proof offered and they end up contradicting themselves.
Publication: Hindustan Times
Journalist: Ashraf Engineer
Date: 17 Apr 2008
Fair enough, headline is straight forward and one will expect reasons given by JIH on why they have nothing to do with SIMI.
Stung by a report on how it has thrown its weight behind the extremist Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), the Jamaat-e-Islami, an influential Islamic revivalist movement, has moved quickly to dissociate itself from the terror network.
The first paragraph itself sets the mood of the article and editorialise the story. 1. JIH is attempting to dissociate itself from “the terror network.” I am not sure but probably they are just referring to SIMI by that network term. So by their denial, JIH is proving that they were associated with SIMI. Therefore the earlier report by HT on how SIMI and JIH are linked is true. This original report is not on their website, it appeared on their Mumbai edition, few days ago.
On Tuesday, the Hindustan Times reported that Mohfammad Abrar — a top SIMI member who admitted to his involvement in the July 11, 2006, serial train blasts in Mumbai — claimed to have used the Jamaat’s Delhi office for a meeting. It appeared from his confession that the Jamaat was renewing its support for the banned group.
so the source of HT report is confession in custody by Mohammad Abrar. No independent verification was obtained.
On Wednesday, Mohammad Aslam Ghazi, spokesperson for the Jamaat’s Maharashtra unit told the Hindustan Times: “How much truth there is in the confession can be gauged from the fact that neither the police nor intelligence agencies have approached us, despite Abrar having made the claim days ago. Surely, they would have investigated us if the confession held any credibility.” He added: “Why Abrar made the statement is unclear, but it’s a lie.”
In the original report, HT did not mention if they ever approached JIH for their response. So they went ahead with their publication based on custodial “confessions” by a SIMI member. Information is obviously provided by IB to HT but IB or any govt. agency have not raided any JIH office based on such incriminating evidence. But this evidence was good enough for HT.
The police, meanwhile, are playing their cards close to their chest. Inspector General of Police (Indore Range) Anil Kumar, while maintaining that “there is enough indication that the Jamaat was harbouring and funding SIMI activists”, said they “have no evidence of it”. Madhya Pradesh investigating agencies were given Abrar’s confession, made after he surrendered in a Nagpur court in January.
there is “enough indication” but “no evidence.” Hmmm… plot thickens.
Ghazi, however, was at pains to explain that Jamaat had no association with SIMI. SIMI, he said, was formed just after the Emergency in 1975 and would seek the Jamaat’s advice on spiritual and other matters, but the organisations started drifting apart when the student outfit began showing signs of radicalism. In 1982, several small student bodies came together under the patronage of the Jamaat to form the Students’ Islamic Organisation (SIO), Ghazi said. However, SIMI refused to be part of it, thus sealing the dissociation between the two organisations.
Fact check HT folks! Emergency was on from 1975 to 1977 so when was SIMI formed. If you can’t get this simple fact right, then how much should I believe your other claims?
Anyway, I am not sure why HT feels that Ghazi was “at pains to explain” that JIH and SIMI are two different entity. Facts: SIMI formed on its own and not directly controlled by JIH. In 1982, SIO is formed by JIH but SIMI refuse to be part of it. Which shows that SIMI was an independent organization. JIH felt they needed a student organization i.e. SIMI was not what they were looking for.
I should remind you here that India will not ban SIMI until 2001. So JIH parted ways much before they came on the radar of Indian intelligence.
“In 1991,” said Rehan Ansari, coordinator of the Jamaat’s media cell in Mumbai, “the Jamaat made it clear through a circular that none of its members should associate with SIMI.” This was about the time, he said, when SIMI turned completely extremist.
Again, 10 years before India will ban SIMI in the wake of Sept 11th attacks on NYC, JIH tells its members to dissociate from SIMI.
“Far from being associated with us,” said Ansari, “SIMI saw us as a thorn in its flesh and would often whitewash SIO posters, overwriting them with their own messages.” In fact, “one of the foremost tasks” the Jamaat has undertaken is raise a voice against terrorism, said Ghazi.
The Jamaat, formed in 1941 in Lahore, manages 350 schools, 28 colleges, 25 hospitals, and Al-Jamiat-ul-Islamia university in Shantapuram in Mallapuram district, Kerala, apart from several mosques, hospitals, orphanages and vocational centres. It has, over the years, consistently refrained from doing anything that would make it seem to be a radical organisation.
So in the end, HT recognizes that JIH is nothing more than a social service organizations running various institutions to help Indian Muslims. Pay close attention to the last line and then read the first paragraph again.
Now read JIH’s denial as covered by TwoCircles.net
The original HT report about SIMI and JIH’s link was headlined “Dangerous Liaisons.” May be, same can be said of media and the governmen intelligence.
Dear Kafir#01,
To be fair to the readers you should have given the link for people to compare the full report in its entirety.
Here it is for TwoCircles.net: http://www.twocircles.net/2008may13/serial_blasts_rip_through_jaipur_hindus_muslims_among_60_dead_indians_condemn.html
The Hindu’s story is factually incorrect, only one Hanuman temple was targeted and not two.
When all the reports on print and TV were focusing on Hanuman Temple and how devotees were attacked, giving the impression that only Hindus are killed, we felt that it was important to show that large number of Muslims were among the victims as well. ( why no one else published the list of victims?)
“When all the reports on print and TV were focusing on Hanuman Temple and how devotees were attacked, giving the impression that only Hindus are killed, we felt that it was important to show that large number of Muslims were among the victims as well. ( why no one else published the list of victims?)”
I think it is in bad taste for us to bicker on style when 65 people are dead.
And yes I agree with kafir#1 that choice of day and place leave hardly any doubt that it was intended as an attack on Hindus (and then may be elicit some reprisals on Muslims). A very mature response from people of Jaipur (Hindus and Muslims both) must have frustrated terrorists intentions.
Kashif
Why dodge facts. Do not harbor a sense of guilt because the guilty are supected to be Islamists again. It makes matters worse.
The bombs were planted to kill Hindus to provoke a communal riot. The terrorists want a repetition of Godhra. Yes, these terrorists more often than not are Islamists. From New York to London to Madrid and from Kabul to Jaipur. It is a clear and present danger. But Islam has nothing to do with it. No religion preaches violence to target the innocent. Why do Islamic organizations have to come forward as the first of the loyalists? Why are they reported even before the govt ? That’s what irritates at times. Behave like an Indian citizen without the Islamic blinkers. A house on fire needs contribution from everyone who lives in it.
Kashif,
Why not criticise the terrorists whoever they are? I am sure if someone catches a terrorist now who if is a muslim you will be in here and in twocircles supporting him and finding fallacies with the police and reports. Kudos to your style of journalism as well. I regret supporting your view to write such articles.
Dear Kashif,
Let’s not indulge in “balancing” acts in news coverage and lose credibility. Better to be factual as far as possible.
The general public is intelligent (and let’s not insult them). As Arif rightly pointed out, the people of Jaipur acted in a mature manner(ditto for Varanasi and other places too).
Arif Beg,
Admire you for your forthrightness.
Khuda hafeez
Majoj G,
Who is praising or supporting terrorists? Find any article that I have supported a terrorist.
You should have criticized VHP for calling bandhs after each blast. All this condemnations and arrests and bandhs and investigations have not yielded any result. It is time that everyone stop jumping to conclusion on who is involved and find the real killers. That can happen when investigating agencies are able to do their work in a cold and professional way.
I will continue to find what is wrong with media reports and police work if they do something wrong. Once again, unfortunately, I have been proven right that if these agencies were not busy arresting and harassing innocents they would have done something to stop this terror menace.
I don’t care if Hindutva-vadis or Muslims terrorists are involved, catch the people behind it. But once again, Jaipur police have started arresting Bangladeshis who have been living in Jaipur for years (yes, illegally). Looking at all the sketches released so far, none of them look Bengali to me.
So either keep blaming Muslims, arresting innocents, playing politics of vote and hatred or find the real killer to minimize terror threat to India. I am playing my part in this, what are you going to do about it?
And TwoCircles.net was the first to report on the fact that lot of Muslims have lost their lives in this tragedy. Print and TV channels followed us next day.
Thanks for reading.
Kashif
I’m a Bengali myself and am squarely opposed to any illegal immigrants coming into India from Bangladesh or otherwise, especially considering the rabid anti-Indian sentiments there. Its not ideological but practical. Having no legal validity in this country, they will get exploited by people who will prey on their insecurities. Strangely they want a theorcratic state in their own land but have no qualms in exporting their poverty to us.
Whats the point in your highlighting Muslims were killed in the blasts? I’m sure that for these terrorists thats collateral damage. If they wanted to target the muslim community they would have planted it in a mosque. The idea was to target Hindus to provoke a backlash like Godhra. Congratulations on getting the list of names. I appreciate your efforts in highlighting that bombs target everyone – not just those its intended to kill. But its high time you also reflect as to why we do get sleeper cells of terrorists operating with impunity. There may be certain sections of the society that condone these acts. How can they just get away without some element of local public support? Since you are so resourceful, why dont you aid the govt. agencies in finding the culprits through your website. There are many conspiracy theories that say that the US military was behind 9/11 and I’m sure people will have stories about Hindutva-vadies blowing up Hindu temples to discredit Jihadists. The truth I guess will never be found.
“Once again, unfortunately, I have been proven right that if these agencies were not busy arresting and harassing innocents they would have done something to stop this terror menace.”
Is that you know better who is innocent and who is guilty? I’m a Bengali and I cannot always tell from a photograph if someone is a Bengali or Bangladeshi or Assamese or Oriya. How can you tell from poorly drawn hand sketches?
Kashif, You are welcome to do whatever you want. You can tell a person not to jump in a well but if he wants to then my take is welcome. But blaming Muslims or blaming police for catching a Muslim seems same to me. How are you so sure that those illegal bangladeshis are innocent? One statement from an article still resonates in me. WE need to be like US in handling these terrorists. Journalist, Human rightists, politicians all go for a party but when work is there it needs to be done and that is why they don’t care a hoot and stand safe and we care a lot and get all this nuisances.
And the thing that has actually stung me and which will never occur to you is that you want to portray to the world that there are Hindu victims and Muslim victims. Never knew that corpses still carry their religions.
Now an Islamist group has accepted responsibility for the blast. They have even sent the video clip of one of bicycles used in the blast. However, I am sure Kashif and TwoCircles have some evidence up their sleeves that Islamists are innocent victims and should not be blamed for these blasts.
Amit,
I am glad that someone has claimed responsibility and that authorities have in their possession not only the bicycles but at least one diffused bomb ( recall that they have few diffused bombs from Mecca Masjid blasts as well). Now by tracing the email and all this evidence let’s hope that they catch people behind it, whether Hindus or Muslisms.
wait a minute, how did you guys drag me into Jaipur blasts? this post was about Indian media reporting? so everyone happy with their coverage of Jaipur blasts? Was anyone keeping track which TV channel was first to name Let/Huji? and how soon after the blast they announced this?
and did anyone notice that politicians were saying “foreign hands” and “lashkar” and “huji” and then in the same sentence saying that it was too early to say anything.
So now that we have a claim from supposedly and Indian group were these politicians lying about pakistani and bangladeshi involvements? Am I the only sane person who sees all this that never once any TV channel questioned police officers and govt. ministers what is the evidence for their claim of “foreign hand”? but how can they ask this question when these channels themselves trying to beat each other in finding the culprit.
someone mentioned why don’t I help govt agencies in their investigation. oh why not? I am all ready, please give me some contact in these agencies that are willing to work with me. email me. I have some plans on how that can be done, but earlier attempts to get started on this didn’t work out.
I will be happy to contribute to get the rotten ones exposed.
Coming Back there was a positive effect after the Muslim organisation in Jaipur came up condemning the terrorists and showing that Terrorists are targetting both Hindus and Muslims. Being 2 large groups I guess onus lies on both hindus and muslims not to suspect each other. The larger gameplan seems to be to make relations worse between them. Have more communal riots. More victims and then sympathy towards these victims. Osama’s or whoevers operating this cartel latest diatribe proves that he wants Indian Muslims to support him because they are victims in a Hindu India.
Kashif I have always pondered on your articles. I guess more than the theme and subject its the way of your writing that makes people get offended. If I were a Hindu to me it would have sounded like sympathy towards terrorists. I have seen some of your writings and clearly know that all you want is to remove impressions from mind of people that Muslims are bad which seem to get grouted after every such incident.
Maybe you can have a thought towards your articles. The tone and maturity needs to be revised. But thats your wish. Its democracy Bhai.
It may berecalledthat ALGERIA ( Area : 23,81, 741 sq.kms; Population: 3, 29, 30, 091 – Muslims 99% jews and christians 1%), was a French colonyin NW Afrca, to secure independence in 1962.The nationalist who succeeded the French, retained the French sytem o Govt., laws and administration of justice,education system etc.The Islamists demanded a change over to an Islamic identity and Islamic reorientation!
Najibullah, a communist became the President of Afghanistan in 1979 and Soviet Troops occupied it for 10 years.Saudi Arabia, Iran and US wanted to get rid of the athiestic soviet forces,by encouraging Islamic fundamentalists of Afghanistan and Pakistan, known as “Mujahideens”.Once the Soviet vacated Afghanistan was left to its fate. Fundamentalist Talibans established thei
In 1991, the Soviet Union was broken and many member countries of it became indepedent. Six Muslim countiries, around Caspian Sea, became independent!
US, which emerged as the Super Power of the World, was advised by Israel and others that the resurgence of Islam is worse than Communism !Hence, they raised the bogey of” Islamic Fundamentalism’!
In 1992 , the Islamists in Algeria won the election! But the ruling class ,with US collaboration, denied them the right to form the govt. and a military coup de tat took place in 1992.The Islamists plunged in a civil war for nearly seven years!The Western media conveniently labelled the Algerian civil war as Islamic terrorit’s war.
While Spanish Catholics’ terrorism in south Spain was styled as ETA attack, N. Irelander’s terrorism passed off as IRA terrorism;Palestinians’ struggle to return to their homeland,Chechanya Muslims against Russian domination , Muslims’ struggle for freedom in Mindano islands,have been labelld as”IslamicTerrorism”!
In August, 1992, Iraq invaded and annexed Kuwait.Saudi Arabia sent an S.O.S.,to US and the latter’s fov]ces camped at S>ARabia. This made Osama angry and he attacked US embassies in Africa.
On 9/11/2001, US targets were attacked.Immediately Bush declared that Osama was behind the terrorists attack.And declared “Global War Against Terrorism”.
Later attacked and occupied Afganistan.In 2003 Bush – Blair conspiracy led to attackon Iraq and its occupation. Till date the US forces in Iraq are attacked,
the vexatious Kashmir problem has opened the gate of terrorist attacks, originally, in J&K stae and later in different parts of India.
Vested inierests have created such modules and foolishly indulged in such attacks and nowjlanguishing in prisons.
By and large,Muslims, in India,neither encourage terrorism nor oppose it ‘to avoid their wrath!
Islam being a peace loving religion abhors violence. “Suicide’ and “Homicide” are taboo in Islam vide Holy Quran 4 : 2.
Every muslim is enjoined to be a centrist at all times and hence,he is preclude frm falling to the lowest extreme or pole vault to the other extreme position of a”terrorist”!( Refer Holy Quran 2 :143 )
It may be recalled that the world population in 2006 is estimated to be 645 crores and Muslims threin are 133 crores or equivalent to China’s population in 2006!then, what would be the strength of the much adoed Terroristsall over the world .oo1%
What justification is there for one to say that” muslims are terrorists”?
Prof.M.Nyamathullah
I don’t think anyone said Muslims are terrorists or that Islam preaches terrorism. The case is that many people mis-interpret Islam to justify their own evil political interests. Every religion is peaceloving and suggest the righteous path. Its some of the followers who are the problem here.
There is no bogey of Islamist fundamentalism. 60 years back, for the better or the worse (I believe for the better) – it let to the Partition of India. Islamist fundamentalism was a political force in the first arab invasion of India. More recently Islamist fundamentalism caused the insurgency Kashmir (mis governance is no excuse – Bihar and UP have been far more mis-governed). I believe from the examples you have sighted, one can interpret that militancy in Kashmir too is the “Muslim struggle for Freedom” from secular “atheistic” Indian democracy.
Desire to create instability in India has led the terrorists spread the operations to rest of India. As far as the west is concerned, it has only realised now about something India has been repeating for the past more than 20 years. While there was no evidence of Al Qaeda in India, there was LET, HM, SIMI etc. And I repeat that it was also because of Indian Muslims like President Abdul Kalam that India is in a position to face these terrorists. Its a pity that we do not have a person like him in position of the Prime Minister.