Memon Colony happy at return of detainees

MUMBAI: Residents of the Memon Colony here were relieved on Saturday after the return of six men detained for two days in Amsterdam after a security alert on a US airliner, but a sense of fear appeared to pervade the community.

At the homes of the six men -- who were among 12 people arrested and questioned by Dutch authorities before being freed yesterday -- there are muted celebrations. And while their kin were happy that their loved ones are back, there was a marked hesitation to talk to the media about the ordeal they went through.

"We did feel humiliated, but what is the use of anger now? It is behind us. We are happy that we are back home. We were treated well, the Embassy officials were very helpful in Amsterdam," said Yusuf Khoslawala, one of the detainees.

 All the men were wary of the media, and careful about what they said to reporters, to whom they spoke only after consulting community elders.

As television crews prowled around his house, trying to talk to his family, one of the men was heard telling his wife, "Do not say anything without asking me. Just say that you do not know anything."

Munnavar Khan, a social activist and resident of the Memon Colony, explained the sense of fear in the community.

"On the global level, at the local level they are looked at with suspicion, they have to explain every action. They are all businessmen, how can they expect to survive if they are continued to be looked at as stereotypes?" Khan said.