Lanky and bearded, Sajjid Khan sat in a nondescript lodge in Bengaluru’s crowded downtown market area, pacifying his traumatised wife, even as he held back tears while trying to come to terms with the events of the past 48 hours.
On Saturday night, Sajjid, 38, was apprehended by the police for being a “terror suspect” when he was begging in front of a mosque in R.T. Nagar. Until then, he was unaware of being branded a “terror suspect on a suicide attack mission”.
The unfortunate turn of events began on May 6. CCTV camera footage from the Kempegowda Metro Station that evening of a man clad in a kurta, lungi, and skull cap — later identified as Sajjid — leaving the station soon after the metal detector he had passed through beeped, was beamed across Kannada TV channels.
In the same footage, one channel spotted another man — later identified as Riyaz Ahmed — and labelled him an “associate”. The security scare was in the backdrop of the April 21 Sri Lanka Easter bombings.
Speaking to The Hindu , Sajjid said he was an agricultural labourer from Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan. He had come to the city to beg during Ramzan, as was his practice for the last three years.
What caused the metro metal detector to beep was the ₹150 in coins he had collected as zakath (charity) which was rolled up in his lungi around his waist.
“The police told me that according to the media, I had tried to bribe a sweeper with ₹1 crore to let me in with the bomb. If I am begging for alms, how can I bribe anyone? I can’t even buy my children firecrackers to share with other children during Deepavali. Everyone in my village will vouch that I am a harmless man who begs for a living,” he said breaking down.
Is he angry with what has befallen him? “I am too small a man to be angry; a man who lives on alms. I can only cry and pray,” he said.
Sajjid’s alleged ‘associate’, turned up at the police station voluntarily. Riyaz Ahmed, 50, a street vendor, has been selling watches in Majestic for the last three decades.
“Why am I being humiliated and branded a terrorist? What is my fault? My biggest fear is that someone on the street will recognise me from the TV visuals and lynch me. I fear for my life. The media must realise that not every man with a beard and a skull cap is a terrorist,” he said, visible shaken.
Riyaz has not resumed selling watches. He has locked himself up in his house fearing for his life. He has now lodged a complaint with the police against media channels for falsely branding him a terrorist and putting him in jeopardy.
Both Sajjid and Riyaz have been cleared by the city police as having no links to terror. Riyaz says he will return to his trade in Majestic soon.
Asked if he would return to the city next Ramzan, Sajid said, “If God is willing, I will come. But I am terrified after what happened to me.”
