Police target us by registering false cases, allege members of Kerala Muslim community

Kochi: There have been widespread allegations by the people from the Muslim community across the state of Kerala that police have been targeting them by registering cases on false charges in the pretext of taking measures to curb communal violence. 

Over a hundred Muslim men have been charged under sections 153 and 153A of IPC in the last 40 days for promoting communal enmity, a charge they deny.

Police told Mathrubhumi.com that the cases have been registered to prevent communal riots in the wake of the twin political murders in Kerala in December 2021, in which the members of RSS and SDPI were killed. Following the incident, there were intelligence reports that chances are high to have communal riots in Kerala. Taking serious notes from it, the state police were directed to tightly follow all social media posts and to register cases if they promote communal enmity. 

Ironically, police did not register cases against RSS or BJP men but all the cases are against people from the Muslim community. 

A month back CPI leader Annie Raja said that the state police force is influenced by RSS and she has numerous reasons to believe so. Annie Raja’s statement attains significance in view of this development. 

Muslims across the state of Kerala have come out strongly expressing their displeasure over this. Mathrubhumi.com has received the names of 60 Muslim people, against whom cases have been registered.  

Cases have been registered largely under section 153 of IPC for wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot and 153A of IPC for promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc. and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.  

Section 153A of IPC is non-bailable and many people have been remanded after registering cases. Police told Mathrubhumi.com that the cases have been registered for sharing posts on social media that harm religious harmony. However, the people, who were charged, denied this allegation. 

“I have shared a post of the Welfare Party on social media. The post offers legal aid for all who were charged under these sections. Soon after sharing it, I got a call from Karivarakkundu police station and I was asked to appear before the police soon. After registering a case under section 153 of IPC, I was allowed to go on station bail,” said Malik Vettikunnu. 

Another person, named Usman Hameed Kattappana, was remanded for 14 days by police after registering a case under section 153A of IPC. “I have shared a post of RSS and BJP leader Valsan Thillenkari to expose the poisonous communal messages. I shared them to make the public aware of it. Instead of registering a case against RSS and BJP leaders for promoting communal enmity, the police charged me,” said Usman Hameed Kattappana.

He also said that in a democratic country like India, justice has been denied to Muslim population. “I was in jail for 14 days and on the 15th day I came out.” 

Mathrubhumi.com contacted the office of Vijay Sakhare, state ADGP, to have an idea about the issue and to collect the details of the total number of cases registered across the state under this drive. 

However, the officials were reluctant to provide information, but said, “After the twin political murders in Alappuzha, intelligence reports warned of the possibilities to have communal riots. By taking it very seriously, the state police chief directed to tightly follow all social media platforms for such posts promoting communal disputes,” said the official. 

He also said district-level cyber patrolling units were also formed for it. “Police registered cases on the basis of the recommendations of the unit,” he added.

When asked about the reason why only Muslims have been targeted, he was not ready to answer.