Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari on Friday termed the Batla House shootout and the subsequent arrests of Muslim youths as a "deliberate" attempt by police to "target" Muslims.
Bukhari, while addressing the last Friday congregation of the holy month of Ramzan, said arbitrary action of police in the wake of blasts in several cities had left Muslims in a state of "shock and horror".
Two suspected terrorists -- Atif and Mohammad Sajid -- were killed in the Friday encounter in which a Delhi Police special cell inspector was also killed.
Police in some other states have arrested many people from the community in connection with serial blasts of Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Delhi.
"The manner in which the police is targeting the Muslims on terror charges was making Muslims feel insecure and helpless in the country. They are arresting our innocent youths just because of their Muslim name and appearance," Bukhari told the congregation.
He demanded the Central and state governments to reign in groups like Bajarang Dal and Shiv Sena which he claimed are damaging the secular fabric of the country.
Terming the recent encounter at Jamia Nagar locality in Delhi a "terror unleashed by the police," the religious leader claimed that "the police have executed a concocted show to please their political bosses".
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