NIA chargesheets three Muslims in ‘bioterror’ case
Observers cite pattern of targeting under terror pretexts
New Delhi: India’s National Investigation Agency has chargesheeted three Muslim men, including a Hyderabad-based doctor, in an alleged ISIS-linked bioterror conspiracy, in a case that observers say reflects the increasing targeting of Muslims in India under the pretext of counterterrorism investigations and security operations.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the accused — Dr Syed Ahmed Mohiuddin, Azad and Mohammad Suhel — have been booked before a special court in Ahmedabad under stringent anti-terror laws.
The NIA claimed the accused were involved in a plan to carry out mass poisoning using ricin, a toxic substance derived from castor seeds. The agency further alleged that the accused were in contact with foreign-based handlers and were involved in recruitment, coordination and movement of funds and weapons.
However, rights activists and political observers in India say Muslim youth and professionals are increasingly being portrayed as security threats through sensational allegations, prolonged investigations and media trials, often before guilt is established in courts. They said such cases are widely publicized to reinforce anti-Muslim narratives and deepen fear and suspicion against the community.
Analysts pointed out that over the years, several terror-related cases involving Muslim individuals have either collapsed in courts or resulted in acquittals after years of detention, raising serious questions about the misuse of draconian laws and investigative agencies. They added that the growing trend of branding Muslims as extremists on various pretexts reflects the wider anti-Muslim climate under the Hindutva-driven BJP regime.
