Khilafat Movement Condemns India’s ‘Operation Langra’ Targeting Muslims for Maiming

Maulana Habibullah Miyaji, Amir of the Bangladesh Khilafat Movement, has expressed deep concern and strongly condemned the alleged shooting and maiming of hundreds of Muslims by police under India’s ‘Operation Langra’. Terming the drive a severe violation of human rights, he stated that this controversial tactic, which initially began in Uttar Pradesh, has now spread to several other states, raising fresh concerns over human rights and the rule of law.

In a press statement issued on Sunday, October 25, Maulana Miyaji alleged that under the guise of a ‘zero-tolerance policy’, police have been granted undemocratic and illegal powers to carry out persecution and targeted violence against Muslims. Citing data from the US-based research organisation Centre for the Study of Organised Hate, he noted that an analysis of nearly 650 incidents revealed approximately 93 per cent of the injured were Muslims, a finding also reflected in an independent investigation by the Associated Press (AP).

According to New Delhi-based human rights lawyers, such gunfights, deliberate maiming, and extrajudicial killings can never be a substitute for justice. Quoting state police data, the statement further highlighted that between March 2017 and October 13 of this year, 316 people were killed in alleged gunfights, 110 of whom were Muslims. During the same period, 12,890 suspects were injured, nearly all of whom were deliberately shot at close range in the knee or below.

Recalling observations made by the Allahabad High Court, the release emphasised that the court clearly stated that police can never assume the role of courts to execute justice themselves. Although the human rights group ‘People’s Union for Civil Liberties’ has demanded an independent probe into these encounters, the relevant petition remains pending before the court. Under these circumstances, Maulana Habibullah Miyaji strongly urged the United Nations and the international community to immediately bring India under international sanctions.