Act against accused, but don’t target community: Muslims

Ajmer: The Muslim community in Ajmer district Friday demanded strict punishment for those involved in the case of alleged sexual abuse of schoolgirls in Bijaynagar but objected to what it called the "targeting of a particular community in the name of investigation".
Several Muslim leaders of Muslim Ekta Manch (MEM), an organisation of different Muslim panchayats and biradaris, alleged that even the places of worship of the community were being unfairly targeted in Bijaynagar in the wake of the alleged scandal.
The MEM leaders gathered at the district collectorate after the special namaz. They submitted a memorandum to the district administration addressed to CM Bhajan Lal Sharma.
"A case of sexual abuse involving minors at Bijaynagar in Beawar district has come to light, and the Muslim community condemns such a heinous crime. We demand strict action against those involved so that no one dares commit such a crime," said the memorandum.
It added, "The district administration should take strict action against those involved but should not implicate those who are not part of this crime. They should also restrain those who are colouring this case based on religion because the accused may be from any community, and an entire community should not be stigmatised."
"The Muslim community does not support anyone who does not respect women, and those who commit such heinous crimes should be punished regardless of their religion," the memorandum further said.
Speaking to the media, the MEM leaders said they came forward because they found a particular religion was being targeted in the Bijaynagar case. "The administration seized a part of a religious building in Bijaynagar during the police investigation, which is not fair. The Muslim community wants to ensure that no particular religion is targeted," said Munsif Ali Khan, an MEM leader who is a lawyer and also state vice-president of BJP's minority wing.