Karat writes to PM over journalist Kazmi's arrest

Communist Party of India - Marxist general secretary Prakash Karat has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene in the case of senior Urdu journalist Syed Mohd Ahmad Kazmi, who has been languishing in jail since March 6 after he was detained in connection with the bomb blast in an Israeli embassy car in Delhi on February 13.

In a letter to Dr Singh, he said that Kazmi was a journalist of repute and as such, there was concern over the treatment meted out to him because of instances of 'inspired leaks' in the media by the Special Cell of the Delhi police, instead of the production of any actual evidence in court about his crime.

He said the PM should, "Ensure dissemination of facts which could dispel all doubts from the public mind and to rectify any mistake by which Kazmi is subject to misplaced zeal."

Karat pointed out that there have been several instances of prejudices by the security forces in the past, and their responses, based on communal and political considerations, were ultimately quashed by the courts.

"Apart from certain procedural flaws, the manner in which the Delhi police has been acting in this case is questionable. While no concrete evidence has been placed by the police in the court which could justify his detention, not to speak of, alleging his involvement, the police is following procedures which deny Kazmi and his family any protection provided by law," his letter added.