Click to play videoAzamgarh: Mumbai Police detained two more suspects on Thursday in the September 13 serial bomb blasts in Delhi blasts of September. All the suspects arrested so far are from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh.
Until the Jamia Nagar shootout on September 19, the village of Sanjarpur in Azamgarh used to have the best cricket team in the district.
It's a fact villagers still remind journalists visiting the village who come in search of the houses of the alleged terrorists arrested.
Saif, the star of the local cricket team is one of those alleged to have planted bombs.
His father Shahdab Ahmed who is also a Samajwadi party leader in the district wants to know the truth and says, "Shoot my son dead if he is guilty, but do not do it without having proper inquiry and finding the truth behind the whole episode."
It is a nightmare scenario for him and many others. In the last one week, terror investigations have led to the arrest of almost a dozen young men who are natives of Sarai Mir.
A prosperous oasis in the middle of impoverished region of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Sarai Mir is thriving on remittance money sent by the thousands of workers who work abroad.
The new money, often channeled through Hawala is also fuelling religious orthodoxy in the region.
Once a town renowned for modern education, Azamgarh has no less then 177 registered Madrassas. Not surprisingly organisations like Jamat-e-Islami and even Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) have set shop here root in recent years.
"After Babri Masjid's demolition radical elements found a fertile ground to spread their message of hate. They started telling the Muslims that you are not safe in this country," Sri Prakash Jalan, a senior journalist, says.
But even as religious orthodoxy threatens further alienate the Muslims of Azamgarh it is also giving a chance to politicians to play divisive politics.
In fact ever since arrests started in terror cases in Azamgarh, politicians of all hues and colours have visited the place and have tried to make the most of the present situation.
Following the arrest of Abu Bashar Qasmi, who was nabbed from his house in Azamgarh, political leaders like Abu Asim Azmi addressed large rallies, adding fuel to anti-police sentiment
Azami's visit was followed by a rally by another firebrand leader Yogi Adityanath, which added communal fire to the atmosphere.
Abu Bashar's family members echoed the sentiment that many share
"The plan is to attack Muslims and finish them off," Abu Zaid, Abu Bashar's brother, says.
Now an atmosphere of suspicion and mistrust prevails in Azamgarh. Muslims feel they are being targetted because they are prosperous, and even as police investigates why young men are turning towards terrorism, the growing antipathy between the community and police offers no help.
(With inputs from KK Rana)
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
More on IBNLive Right Now
TOP NEWS
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
