Assam Congress leader and Karimganj seat candidate, Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Chowdhury, will act as the legal representative for Tauseef Ali Farooqui, an IIT Guwahati student arrested last month on charges of alleged affiliation with ISIS, in court.
Farooqui’s parents, who are currently in Guwahati, reached out to Chowdhury, who is also a senior advocate at Gauhati High Court, and requested him to represent their son in court.
The news of Congress leader Chowdhury representing Farooqui in court has sparked controversy in the state.
Reacting to the news, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Chowdhury’s decision to take up the case was aimed at gaining more votes.
“Whatever Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Choudhury said is for the purpose of getting more votes; I have nothing to say. But everyone should remember that we are currently leading the Assam Government; we don’t spare any lawbreaker,” Sarma stated.
Assam’s CM further warned that all conversations must adhere to the boundaries of the law, stating that strict action will be taken against anyone who exceeds these limits.
He added, “I would like to warn everyone that all conversations should remain within the limit of the law. If anyone crosses this boundary, strict action will be taken. Those who violate the law will face consequences.”
Additionally, he also said that the investigation into the case involving Farooqui is currently ongoing.
Speaking to the media, Farooqui’s father, Ajmat Ali Farooqui, stated that he had appointed the Congress leader as the advocate for his son.
“We have no idea how our son got attracted to ISIS. Since his childhood, my son was a brilliant student; he was the topper in his 10th and 12th examinations. But we don’t know how he fell into the trap. As an Indian, I always respect the Indian Constitution, and I shall always cooperate with the police,” Farooqui’s father noted.
Earlier today, the Special Task Force (STF) of Assam Police summoned Guljar Hussain, an Imam of a mosque in Amingaon in north Guwahati, in connection with the case. During their investigation, the police found that Farooqui frequently visited this mosque and regularly met with Hussain.
However, Imam Guljar told the police that Farooqui visited the mosque for prayers and occasionally engaged in conversations with him, but they did not discuss anything ‘anti-national’.
ISIS Sleeper Cells in Assam Mosques: Police
The Assam Police stated that they suspect the presence of sleeper cells affiliated with ISIS or engaged in anti-national activities in some mosques in the state.
Furthermore, the police noted that they are still searching for Farooqui’s mobile phone, and if recovered, it could potentially reveal more information about his connections.
Farooqui, a final-year biotechnology student at the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G), was arrested on March 24 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after allegedly pledging allegiance to ISIS on social media.
In an ‘Open Letter’ posted on LinkedIn on March 23, Farooqui expressed his disassociation from the Indian construct, including the Indian Constitution and its institutions.
“My first step after my repentance is to make Hijrat (emigration) toward Muslimeen (Muslims) to a region known as Islamic State-Khorasan province to pledge my allegiance to the Muslim-Leadership (Islamic State)…It is a fight between Muslimeen (those who have surrendered to Allah) and Kafireen (infidels)…,” the letter stated.
(With inputs from Birinchi Kumar Deka, Guwahati)
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