HC restrains Maha cops from holding mock drills displaying ‘terrorists’ as belonging to specific group

By PTI

MUMBAI: The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court has in an interim order restrained the police from conducting mock drills depicting individuals of a selected neighborhood as terrorists.

It was listening to a public curiosity litigation (PIL) filed by social activist Sayed Usama alleging that mock drills being performed by police division depicted apparel and slogans to point the terrorists had been Muslims.

A division bench of Justices Mangesh Patil and A S Chapalgaonkar on February 3 directed the general public prosecutor to apprise the court docket in regards to the tips for holding mock drills.

The HC, whereas posting the matter for additional listening to on February 10, mentioned, “Till the next date, no mock drill shall be conducted depicting persons of a particular community as terrorists.”

Mock drills are performed by the police at district ranges as a way to improve effectivity of the safety power and to be higher ready for emergencies, together with terror assaults.

The petitioner claimed such mock drills confirmed bias and prejudice in opposition to the Muslim neighborhood and despatched a message that terrorists belong solely to a selected faith.

The PIL took exception to 3 mock drills held at Ahmednagar, Chandrapur and Aurangabad districts the place policemen, who performed the a part of terrorists within the mock drill, had been dressed as males from the Muslim neighborhood.

“The petitioner, who is a social activist, apparently a Muslim, has raked up the issue involving public interest. He takes exception to the conduct of mock drills by the police department depicting from attire and the slogan-shouting as if to indicate that the terrorist is a Muslim,” the court docket mentioned.

MUMBAI: The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court has in an interim order restrained the police from conducting mock drills depicting individuals of a selected neighborhood as terrorists.

It was listening to a public curiosity litigation (PIL) filed by social activist Sayed Usama alleging that mock drills being performed by police division depicted apparel and slogans to point the terrorists had been Muslims.

A division bench of Justices Mangesh Patil and A S Chapalgaonkar on February 3 directed the general public prosecutor to apprise the court docket in regards to the tips for holding mock drills.

The HC, whereas posting the matter for additional listening to on February 10, mentioned, “Till the next date, no mock drill shall be conducted depicting persons of a particular community as terrorists.”

Mock drills are performed by the police at district ranges as a way to improve effectivity of the safety power and to be higher ready for emergencies, together with terror assaults.

The petitioner claimed such mock drills confirmed bias and prejudice in opposition to the Muslim neighborhood and despatched a message that terrorists belong solely to a selected faith.

The PIL took exception to 3 mock drills held at Ahmednagar, Chandrapur and Aurangabad districts the place policemen, who performed the a part of terrorists within the mock drill, had been dressed as males from the Muslim neighborhood.

“The petitioner, who is a social activist, apparently a Muslim, has raked up the issue involving public interest. He takes exception to the conduct of mock drills by the police department depicting from attire and the slogan-shouting as if to indicate that the terrorist is a Muslim,” the court docket mentioned.