This Article is From Jan 02, 2015

Now, Gujarat Policemen Make Dummy Terrorists Shout 'Islam Zindabad'

In the latest video, police are seen holding two men playing the part of terrorists at Narmada dam in Gujarat

Ahmedabad: In the middle of a massive controversy over the video of an anti-terror drill in Gujarat showing "terrorists" dressed up as Muslims, videos of two more exercises show dummy terrorists shouting pro-Islamic slogans.

A video of a mock operation held recently in the Narmada district has policemen holding two "terrorists", who shout, "Kill us if you want. Islam Zindabad (long live Islam)."

Another video from Morbi in Saurashtra also has policemen playing the part of terrorists shouting pro-Islamic slogans.

The videos have triggered widespread condemnation over the assumption that terrorists are Muslims.

The first video emerged on Wednesday of a drill in Surat, showing five policemen capturing and then pinning down three men in white skullcaps before bundling them into jeeps.

Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, who took power after her predecessor Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, is in charge of the state police as home minister. She refused to respond to questions on the drills today.

"I don't have anything to say," she said, dodging NDTV's questions.

The police have been using these drills to test the anti-terror response of their men and prepare for two high profile events this month in Gujarat, PM Modi's home state. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas for overseas Indians starts next week and it will be followed by the Vibrant Gujarat Investors' Summit that will feature PM Modi and US Secretary of State John Kerry as speakers.

Describing the drills as "atrocious and highly condemnable," Kamal Farooqui of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board told NDTV, "They are profiling the Muslim community. They should apologise or face action. They should be taken to the court."

Experts have questioned the logic of staging exercises with "identifiable" terrorists. "Whenever there have been attacks in the past, we have seen that the terrorists have not come in skull caps or traditional wear. They mingle with crowds so that they are not identifiable,'' said MM Mehta, the former chief of Ahmedabad police.
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