Umar Khalid Arrested! Activists, Lawyers, Others Condemn Act; Call It 'Political Witch-Hunt' Against Former JNU Student

Umar Khalid has been arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

(File Photo/ PTI)

New Delhi: In a shocking turn of events, the Delhi Police on Sunday night arrested Umar Khalid - a former member of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Student's Union (JNUSU) - in connection with the communal riots which took place in the national capital in February this year. As per latest reports, Umar Khalid has been arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Khalid was arrested after 11 hours of interrogation and will be produced before a Delhi court on Monday. Communal clashes had broken out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after violence between supporters of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and those against the legislation spiralled out of control, leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured. In their attempt to prevent violence, 108 police personnel received injuries and two died. What is Umar Khalid accused of? Khalid was charged with sedition, offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act as well as murder and attempt to murder. The Delhi Police on Sunday said it was investigating the role of all individuals who allegedly took part in the riots and were part of a larger conspiracy in organising violence in the northeast Delhi and inciting communal passion and hatred amongst communities. The charges made by Delhi Police also include Khalid's unlawful involvement in peaceful protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens. He has been accused of 'conspiration' to trigger riots in Delhi so as to embarrass the Central government in front of the world. The arrest comes hours after Delhi police issued a statement on Sunday in which it has asked those who have doubts and questions about the northeast Delhi riots probe to take legal course at the appropriate time. As many as 751 FIRs were registered by Delhi Police in connection with communal riots that took place in the last week of February this year. According to the information, Khalid was questioned by the Delhi Police Crime Branch for a couple of hours on September 2 in connection with the riots. His mobile phone was also seized by the police. Activists, lawyers, others condemn Umar Khalid's arrest Soon after his arrest, several activists, lawyers, actors etc have come out in support of Khalid and termed Delhi Police's move as as a political ‘witch hunt’. They have also described the former JNUSU member as one of the bravest young voices who speak for constitutional values of the country. Below are some tweets which came out in support of Umar Khalid:

Umar Khalid's arrest by Delhi police after naming Yechury, Yogendra Yadav, Jayati Ghosh& Apoorvanand, leaves no doubt at all about the malafide nature of it's investigation into Delhi riots. It's a conspiracy by the police to frame peaceful activists in the guise of Investigation

— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) September 14, 2020

#StandWithUmarKhalid #FreeUmarKhalid

— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) September 13, 2020

SHAME..if we don’t raise our VOICE against this WITCH-HUNT now.. we should be ASHAMED ..#StandWithUmarKhalid #FreeUmarKhalid #justasking pic.twitter.com/5QwSLlivb1

— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) September 14, 2020

Umar Khalid has been arrested under UAPA by this cowardly & biased govt.

Those who were caught on tape are roaming free - Anurag Thakur: No Arrest, No FIR - Kapil Mishra: No Arrest, No FIR - Komal Sharma: No Arrest, No FIR As I have often said, Crime doesn't matter. Name does. — Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) September 13, 2020

All About Delhi Riots case: Since December 2019, Delhi was brimming with tensions after the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed. A sit-in protest against it started at various parts of the national capital. An agitation also started near Jafrabad metro station in northeast Delhi. The protests in northeast Delhi turned violent and around 53 people were killed. Delhi Police have also named CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav, economist Jayati Ghosh and Delhi University professor Apoorvanand in a supplementary charge sheet in the February riots cases, accusing them of provoking and mobilising anti-CAA protesters. Some of those named have also been charged with -- based on the statements of three students already arrested in the case -- asking the protesters to go to any extreme , spreading discontent in the community by calling CAA/NRC anti-Muslim, and organising demonstrations to malign the image of the Government of India . The charge sheet claims that apart from Yechury and Yogendra Yadav, Fathima's statement mentions Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Ravan, United Against Hate activist Umar Khalid and some leaders from the Muslim community including ex-MLA Mateen Ahmed, and MLA Amannatullah Khan.