HYDERABAD, India - An Indian Muslim sect held responsible for a spate of bomb blasts in Christian churches will challenge a government decision last week to ban the group, its secretary said on Friday.
Deendar Anjuman, which is based in the southern city of Hyderabad, will challenge the ban "in an appropriate forum," Syed Siddique Hussain told Reuters, without elaborating.
"The union (federal) government has taken a unilateral, unjust and hasty decision to impose a ban on our organisation. It is patently improper and unnecessary," Siddique said.
He said the decision to ban the group had come abruptly and was one-sided as the trial of those charged with causing the bomb blasts had not begun.
"We are peace-loving people and have nothing to do with anti-national elements. We consider dabbling in politics as a crime and raising a revolt against the country as the greatest sin," Siddique said.
The Indian government said on Thursday it had issued orders last week banning Deendar Anjuman, held responsible for a spate of bomb blasts in churches in the south of India last year.
The government had said that Deendar Anjuman was declared an "unlawful organisation," had links with Pakistan and was indulging in activities prejudicial to the security of the country. The outfit was also charged with attempting to incite hatred between Christians and Hindus and other communities.
The Muslim group, which India says is headed by a Pakistani national, was blamed for 12 bomb blasts in southern India between May 21 and July 9, injuring 24 people.
Deendar Anjuman denied involvement in the attacks.
12:37 05-04-01
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