Mumbai: Be alert to what s happening in your family, neighbourhood and locality, Maulana Mansoor Ahmed, the maulvi of Al Sams masjid in Naya Nagar at Mira Road, Mumbais far flunged suburb tells the faithful on the loudspeaker during Friday prayers.

The maulana then dwells on the tenets of Islam which preaches against violence. He explains that it is upto the community members to keep a watch on their family members, neighbours and report to authorities concerned if they find anything suspicious.

Against the backdrop of bomb blasts in different parts of the country, he explains that the present times are extremely trying and the onus of ensuring that their and the community name is not blemished lies in their hands.

The Maulanas words of caution are part of a novel initiative of local Muslims residents called Social combing operation group .

This is the brainchild of local Congress MLC S Muzzafar Hussain. Maulana too is a member of the group.

The 12 member group, since its inception on August 23 this year has visited all the 27 masjids in Mira Bhayander town, on the outskirts of Mumbai thrice.

It has covered a major part of the entire town of ten lakh population comprising Hindus, Muslims, Christians to explain that it is the responsibility of the residents to ensure that no anti social element lives in their midst.

"We have spoken to the residents, inquired about their background and questioned them if they know anything about their neighbours. We have also encouraged chairpersons of the housing societies to demand details of members and those who
have given their properties on leave and licence."

"The response has been good. We will further intensify our drive after Ramzan," Ahmed Chougle, member of the group, a social worker and president of the Mira Bhayander estate agent association said.

Chougle says that due to their combing operation, petty criminals have fled Mira Bhayander.

"Muslims do not want police to undertake combing operations. They can do it on their own and weed out the unscrupulous elements from within them," says Zakir Dastagir, another group member.

The township comprises mostly 90 per cent middle class migrants from Mumbai and Mira Road is a symbol of communal harmony.

"The Hindu Muslim ratio is 60:40 and still the media describe Naya Nagar as a Muslim dominated locality. We are professionals and work in different sectors. If one or two persons turn out to be terrorists, is it fair to malign the entire community and locality?" asks Ghulam Raj Sheikh.

Nafeez Bhaldar, another member of the group complains that discrimination against Muslims living in Naya Nagar is deep.

"Police verification for our passports, jobs for our children are delayed by over four to five months. We even have difficulty in getting good marriage proposals for our girls," he adds.

Ghulam Raj Sheikh says, "Banks do not hesitate to take our money for their deposits but decline to provide us with loan facilities."

"Mira Road is HRA (High Risk Area) for banks," says Bhaldar.

Chougle recalls that recently he had gone with his daughter who holds a Visa Gold credit Card to a shopping mall.

"We decided to buy a plasma television set and told the shop owner that we will pay initial payment of Rs 9,500 by the credit card and rest in instalment. The shop owner agreed but when he learnt that we live in Naya Nagar, he backed out," he says.

Ghulam says, "there are no beer bars, clubs or prostitution rackets in Mira Bhayander. All communities live in harmony, there has never been a communal riot in the town. But, if two or three elements who lived here are caught in anti national activities, is it fair to say that crime in on the rise here."

Mira Road, situated in the Mira Bhayander township on the outskirts of Mumbai had achieved notoriety after the train blasts on July 11 in 2006 after it was widely reported that some of the arrested accused lived in Naya Nagar, a locality with a large Muslim population.

Recently, it was said that Tauqeer, who is allegedly involved in the recent blasts in Delhi and Ahmedabad also lived in Naya Nagar.

"Those who are said to been involved in the blasts used to live here. In fact, a person like Tauqeer has deserted his family in Naya Nagar seven years ago. So how can the locality be branded as den of terrorist activities as is being done by the media especially the electronic?" Bhaldar asks angrily.

"Is the Gujarati community being looked down because of Harshad Mehtas activities?" Ahmed Chougle wonders.

Source : DNA