IS module: Owaisi says his party to give legal aid to suspects

HYDERABAD: MIM President Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday said his party would provide legal help to the youths arrested by the NIA on charges of involvement in an alleged ISIS terror module, but asserted his party does not support terrorism. Noting that the family members of the arrested youths met him and claimed they are innocent, he said he directed a senior advocate to provide legal help to them. "Give a lawyer, we will do legal help," he said. NIA has arrested five persons from Hyderabad on charges of their alleged links with the ISIS terror module. "Tomorrow, if these boys are found not guilty, who will return their life to them? We don't support terrorism. We will stand in front if somebody attacked India," he said, addressing a gathering at the historic Mecca Masjid here on the occasion of the last Friday of Ramzan. He also asked if the NIA can give it in writing that the officers, who arrested the suspects, would be suspended if the youth are found not guilty. Saying that he was the first in the country to speak against ISIS, he reiterated that the terror outfit has nothing to do with Islam. Hitting out at the dreaded group, he said Indian Muslims would never support such an outfit or leave the country come what may. He also said some sections of media were defaming the Old City of Hyderabad. The Hyderabad MP alleged the NDA government was going soft on Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and others.