M A I N   N E W S

Ahmediya ‘beaten to death’
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, April 16 — Tension prevails in the Field Ganj and Jama Masjid areas of the city after Abdul Rahim, a member of the Ahmediya sect was reportedly beaten to death at Jama Masjid here yesterday.

The police today registered a case under Sections 302, 364, 342, 323, 148 and 149 of the IPC against Manvar Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Id Mohammad Kareem, Nana Usmaan Khan, Mustakeen and an unidentified Sikh youth, in this regard. Manvar Ali, Imam-ul-Haq and Id Mohammad Kareem had been arrested.

According to an FIR registered at police station division number II, the complainant, Naseer Ahmed Bhatti, alleged that six members of his (Ahmediya) sect were forcibly held captive at Jama Masjid here and were beaten up, brutally, which led to the death of Abdul Rahim.

It is learnt that the eight-member Ahmediya team, including two children, from Qadiyan in Gurdaspur district had made a brief halt at Ludhiana on their way back from Raalmajra nar Sirhind yesterday.

Nasrool Haq, a member of their sect, who was working as a teacher in Basti Jodhewal here had been missing for some time and the Ahmediyas decided to inquire about him.

Mr Kuldeep Singh, SSP, said since Nasrool Haq’s friend, Rizman Bijnori, was staying in Jama Masjid, two members — Abdul Jallaluddin and Syed Subaudadin went looking for him at Jama Masjid around 2 p.m. When they did not return even after four hours, the remaining six members went looking for them in their jeep.

They parked their vehicle near Jama Masjid and two more Ahmediyas — Mohammad Saleem and Mohammad Bashir went to look for their companions. Two of the accused, Usman Khan and an unidentified Sikh youth came to the sparked jeep and drove away the remaining four Ahmediyas to Jama Masjid the SSP said.

Sources in the police inform that the unidentified Sikh youth was a gunman provided to the Muslim council, Atik-ur-Rehman, brother of the shahi imam of Ludhiana, Habib-ur-Rehman. Usman Khan, another accused, is the son of the shahi imam.

Meanwhile, the FIR further states that all members of the Ahmediyas were then brutally beaten up. It was only when their wails and cries reached a few policemen standing outside that the police reached the spot and carried the injured to hospital. Abdul Rahim was declared brought dead at Civil Hospital. The injured were admitted to the hospital for treatment.

A group of Ahmediyas arrived from Qadiyan this morning to claim the body of Abdul Rahim. Talking to TNS, Mr Sayadat Ahmad Javed, secretary, External Affairs of Ahmediya Muslim Committee, Qadiyan, said: “We are not going to launch any agitation or stage dharnas in protest against the harassment of the members of our sect. But we want the administration to bring the guilty to book”.

Meanwhile, Mr Atik-ur-Rehman when contacted, denied that the Muslims here had illegally detained Ahmediyas or had beaten Abdul Rahim to death”. In fact, they had tried to attack the shahi imam and in retaliation, several persons beat them up and handed them over to the police. Abdul Rahim, had died in police custody during interrogation he said.