HYDERABAD: Police have secretly detained at least 21 Muslim youths in the wake of the bombings in southern India, human rights group said on Tuesday, calling for them to be produced in court or released.The two blasts that occurred minutes apart on August 25 in crowded areas of Hyderabad killed at least 43 people and have been blamed on Islamic extremists. Police have, until now, acknowledged arresting four people in connection with the bombings. But Lateef Mohammed Khan, the head of the local Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee, said 40 to 50 youths had been detained and their families denied access to them. However, he could only name 21 of them.
“Sources with the police told our organisations that for several days these youths were kept blindfolded and were being tortured to admit their involvement in the blasts,” Lateef Khan said at a news conference. Hyderabad police commissioner Balwinder Singh acknowledged police were holding several people but gave no further details. “We are examining some people about the recent blasts,” he said.
Meanwhile, relatives of the detained pleaded for their freedom. “My younger son Wasey was taken away by the police from my house on Thursday last. As a precaution I had sent my elder brother Rafey with him. But none of them have returned for the last six days,” said Mujeebunnisa.