DAR AL HARB - INDIA: POSTERS OF BIN LADEN APPEAR IN INDIA, RAISE CONCERNS

Bin Laden's posters raise concern

VADODARA: While communal riots and demonstrations over issues that hurt religious sentiments are not out of place in the Gujarat, it was probably for the first time that posters of Osama bin Laden — the Al Qaida chief, who is the most wanted terrorist around the world — were used for the purpose.

The development has left the city police concerned. It is now believed that mischief mongers had deliberately prepared the posters in an attempt to instigate people.

The city police is probing a conspiracy angle to the demonstrations using the Bin Laden's posters that were followed by rioting in the Mandvi area on Friday afternoon.

Police sources said it was probably for the first time in the state that a public display of Laden's posters was made for a protest.

"There were stray incidents where posters of former Iraq president Saddam Hussain were displayed in communally sensitive areas such as Dariapur and Kalupur in Ahmedabad. I do not remember any incident of Laden's posters being displayed in the state,"said state IB chief, additional DGP Sudhir Sinha.

While the display has raised several eyebrows, officers believe that it was a handiwork of those who were up to create trouble and were not getting any opportunity so far.

"Some elements who have a reputation of fomenting communal passions tried to take advantage of the situation,"said Vadodara police commissioner P C Thakur.

Thakur said some accused in the rioting case were arrested on the spot. "These include Salim Single, who has been previously booked under the Prevention of Anti-social Activities Act and was recently released. We are probing his role in the incident,"Thakur said.

Several Muslim leaders too are not happy with the flashing of the Bin Laden's posters. "We want to tell these insane people that they should learn lessons from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan where fundamentalists hold siege over the liberty of people and judiciary.

They do not believe in justice, but the Indian Muslims respect the Constitution and the judiciary, "said Yousuf Sheikh of the All India Qaumi Mahaz (AIQM). Sheikh and leaders of five other organisations condemned the incident.

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