‘Not all Kashmiri Muslim youth are terrorists’

BANGALORE - Jammu and Kashmir’s young cricketers, bitter over the detention of one their colleagues here last week on suspicion of carrying explosives, plead with fellow Indians not to look at all Kashmiri Muslim youth as terrorists.

“It was a bitter episode,” Pervez Rasool, 21, who was briefly detained Oct 17 by Bangalore police for questioning after a metal detector at Chinnaswamy stadium indicated presence of explosive material in his bag, told IANS.

Rasool’s bag has been sent to the forensic laboratory here to confirm whether it contained traces of explosive material. Police say their next step depends on the result. If the test results prove positive, Rasool may be questioned again. Otherwise, the case will be closed.

“I want to say that all Kashmiri Muslim youths are not terrorists,” said Rasool, who scored 68 runs for his team in the C.K. Nayudu Trophy under-22 tournament here Wednesday.

“I am happy that I scored 68 runs and hope the team wins,” added Rasool, a Ranji Trophy player as well.

Rasool, whose cricketing idol is Sachin Tendulkar, and other team members want to forget the episode and play good cricket in the four-day match that ends Saturday. The team was all out for 268 runs on the first day of the match.

“We want to leave behind the past episode and concentrate on the match,” said Abdul Qayoom, the coach of the team.

Rasool wants to wear the national cap and represent India in international tournaments.

“Like all budding cricketers I too want to represent India in both one-dayers and other matches,” said Rasool, who picked up cricketing skills from his father Ghulam Rasool Zargar in his hometown Bijbehara in Anantnag district.

“Cricket runs in my family. My father, along with my elder brother Asif (23), who have played in the Ranji Trophy and younger brother Omar (17) are dedicated to the game,” Rasool said.

On the current cricket scenario in the valley, Rasool said the state government encourages players and people are passionate about the game.

“A lot of things is happening in cricket in J&K (Jammu and Kashmir). Soon the state will have star cricketers representing India in international tournaments. The government is encouraging budding players and provides necessary help to them,” said Qayoom.

The young cricketers are in Bangalore for the first time but have not ventured out to see the city in view of the bitter experience of Rasool’s detention.

“Before coming here we were excited. But now, we are in no mood to go out and see Bangalore city. We know Bangalore is a great place, probably some other time we will see the city,” said Ajaz Ahmed, the team’s physio.