Group brushes off NRD's demand for an apology

The Indira Gandhi Action Team (Ingat) has rebuffed the National Registration Department's (NRD) demand for an apology, saying that its concerns are legitimate and the NRD should not be too defensive.

The latest salvo comes after NRD director-general Mohammad Razin Abdullah issued a statement saying P Prasana Diksa's identity card details were not illegally amended, as claimed by Ingat.

In a statement today, Ingat chairperson Arun Dorasamy said, “Our concern is legitimate and preliminary investigations show that there was a move by some quarters to conceal identity and avoid detection through either altering or reissuing Prasana Diksa's Mykid.”

He urged Mohammad Razin not to be too defensive before engaging Ingat on the issue.

“We have brought our concerns to MACC and the police, let them do their job,” he said.

He pointed out that Ingat’s investigation chief Ravi Dorasamy has received information from the public over Muhammad Riduan Abdullah’s whereabouts, and that all leads point to the northern border with Thailand.

“Ingat is getting very concerned over the safety of Prasana Diksa, as the information surfacing is not too comforting.”

Prasana Diksa was taken away by her father Muhammad Riduan in 2009 following a custody battle with Indira Gandhi.

Although the courts ultimately ruled in favour of Indira Gandhi's custody claims, the police have yet to locate Prasana Diksa or Muhammad Riduan, who has been wanted by the police since 2014.

Arun urged the police to set up a task force to pursue the investigation and to acknowledge Ingat's efforts in offering a reward to track the fugitive.

He also said Indira Gandhi was being represented by a high-powered legal team, including former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan, and Lawyers for Liberty’s N Surendran as well as Latheefa Koya.

Ingat intends to engage Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa to seek his help to look for Prasana Diksa through the religious school systems.

Ingat will be also be calling for a day of multi-faith prayers for Prasana Diksa’s safe return, Arun said.