TODAY -
'Slain PULF leader's kin under threat'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 30 2009: Md Zunab Ali alias Zakir Hussain, a teacher by profession, has been living a very insecure life following threats from security forces.

Zunab Ali is a younger brother of late Azad, chairman of a PULF faction.

Azad was shot dead by a combined force of Imphal East commandos and troops of 28 AR sometime back.

Speaking to media persons at his Mayang Imphal Chirai residence today, Md Zunab clarified that he and his family was not involved or connected with any activity of the late chairman of the proscribed PULF faction.

Although he is working as an assistant teacher at Irong LP Madrassa, security forces have been targeting him with various threatening acts, Zunab disclosed.

Narrating such incidents of intimidating acts, Zunab Ali recalled that he was walking at Chirai Litan Makhong in the company of his two friends��Helim and Nahatomba in the afternoon of November 24 last year.

As they were walking along the road, some persons who came in a car (Getz) fired four/five rounds towards him.

They also took away Helim, but he and Nahatomba managed to escape from the scene, Zunab conveyed.

Helim, pulled up by the unidentified persons, was shot dead by a combined security team on the allegation of being a PULF cadre, he said.

After this incident, a complaint was submitted to the Human Rights Commission seeking protection of his life and property.

Sanarei, mother of Md Zunab Ali said that her family has snapped all relationships with her son Azad who was chairman of a PULF faction.

"But security forces have been looking for my other son who is a teacher everywhere", said Sanarei adding that a written appeal has been submitted to the DGP asking if there is any case against or involving Zunab Ali.

Based on the letter submitted to the DGP, a writ petition was also filed at Gauhati High Court.

Acting on the petition, Justice HNK issued an order on January 7 this year directing the State to take up necessary measures so as to insure security to Zunab Ali's life.

In line with the Court's order, the DGP instructed the Thoubal SP as well as the Imphal West SP to secure the life of Zunab Ali.

Earlier, a written application was submitted to the State Public Information Officer, Department of Home under RTI on December 30 seeking to know if there was any case against Zunab Ali.

In response, it was clarified that there was no case against Zunab.

However, after all these clarifications and Court directives, a combined team of 28 AR and police commandos came in search of Zunab Ali at his home about a month back.

Most recently, commandos attached to Mayang Imphal police station sent a summon on March 20 asking Zunab to come to the police station.

But the summon was not complied with as it did not give any definite reason.

In the backdrop of the prevailing law and order situation marked by killings on daily basis, Zunab Ali and his family have been terrified by such acts of security forces coming to his house in search of him and also the summon from commandos.

Under the prevailing circumstances, such acts of victimising innocent people have become a factor constraining civilians to join UG groups.

The persistent threat of security forces to siblings of UG cadres have forced many youths to follow the path chosen by their brothers.

There are many such cases within the Muslim community, Zunab Ali said.

"Yet I would never join any UG group due to the threats from security forces.

I would die a civilian, should I die after all" said Md Zunab Ali alias Zakir Hussain.





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