03/14/2007
Outraged community offers reward in EW murder
By: Kory Loucks , Journal Inquirer
An outraged community is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who shot and killed East Windsor convenience store owner Javed Akhtar.
Akhtar, who died early Saturday from a wound sustained Feb. 28, was a Pakistani-American and a Muslim.
Dr. M. Saud Anwar, president of the Connecticut chapter of the Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee, said at a state Capitol news conference on Tuesday that the $2,500 reward, offered by his organization, is the maximum allowed by law.
But East Windsor Police Chief Edward J. DeMarco Jr. said today that research is in progress on whether there are limitations on the amount of the reward. If not, he said, it may be increased.
"We are all diminished by this heinous crime," Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said. "It has struck fear into a community and a group. I believe that law enforcement will track down whoever is responsible."
Blumenthal encouraged those who know anything to come forward and not be afraid, emphasizing that the justice system will protect those who speak up.
"We depend on citizens to do the right thing," Blumenthal said.
The groups that joined in condemning the crime extended well beyond the Pakistani-American community. The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish organization, also was represented at the news conference.
Hate crime?
Some at the news conference suggested that the shooting might have been a hate crime. Officials say those allegations are unfounded but are under investigation. Police say the shooting probably was a robbery gone wrong, but they have no suspects at this time.
According to FBI data provided to the press at the news conference, anti-Muslim hate crimes in the United States rose 1,700 percent during 2001. The numbers have decreased since then but have remained more than 500 percent of the pre-2001 level.
Akhtar left his wife, Rafia Javed, and 7-year-old twins. He was found with a gunshot to the neck on Feb. 28 outside the One Stop Convenience store at 68 Depot St. in the Broad Brook section of East Windsor. He and his wife had owned the store for more than two years.
Akhtar had $400 in his wallet, and nothing was taken from the store, according to police. Police are searching for two or three black men driving a red Ford Mustang and a black sport-utility vehicle.
At the news conference, Rep. William M. Tong, D-Stamford, spoke of his family's experience. Three years ago his parents owned a convenience store, and his mother was robbed at knifepoint and stabbed repeatedly "within inches of her life," Tong, Connecticut's first Asian-American state legislator, said.
"Whether it was a bias crime or a robbery, it comes at a vulnerable and frightening time. We must unite against senseless violence," Tong said,
Catholic Deacon Arthur Miller of the Archdiocese of Hartford's Office of Black Catholic Ministries said that whether the crime is labeled a hate crime or a robbery misses the bigger issue.
"Anything that takes away life denotes hatred," Miller said.
First selectman grateful
East Windsor First Selectman Edward Filipone was unable to attend the news conference but said in a telephone interview that he was grateful "to the Pakistani group for putting together the reward. It can only help the police finalize the case."
East Windsor Chamber of Commerce President James Richards said that regardless of Akhtar's ethnic background, "this happened to an American."
Zaheer Sharaf, an owner of the Kingsway Market near Akhtar's convenience store, said the East Windsor Police Department is doing all it can but is underfunded by the town.
"While the town's population has increased the police budget hasn't changed in 10 years," said Sharaf, who is vice president of the Pakistani American Association of Connecticut.
A rash of convenience store robberies has hit the area recently. A convenience store was robbed in Enfield the night Akhtar was shot in East Windsor.
East Windsor police Sgt. Michael Hannaford has said the shooting wasn't believed to be linked to the other crimes, except that the motivation was most likely the same - drugs.
'Challenging situation'
Rafia Javed and her children "will have to live with this challenging situation," Anwar said. A donation fund has been established for the family. They are now living in Vernon with Akhtar's brother, Ashraf Akhter, who has also taken over operation of the convenience store.
After the news conference Tazeen Zaheer, who owns the Kingsway Market with her husband, said it is especially difficult for women in Pakistani culture to be without a husband. For women, being "all alone is very hard in our country. In our culture it is very hard to be independent."
It is all the more difficult for Rafia Javed because she is permanently disabled from injuries suffered in a car accident.
Tax deductible contributions to Akhtar's family can be made to PAACT-Javed Akhtar Support, P.O. Box 769, South Windsor, CT 06074-769.
The East Windsor Police Department will hold a crime prevention seminar for the public at the East Windsor High School at 7 p.m. Monday, March 19.
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