September 16, 2020 1:01:08 pm
The statement comes days after the Delhi Police Special Cell arrested former Jawaharlal Nehru University student leader Umar Khalid under strict UAPA.
A group of activists issued a statement Wednesday against the “impudence” of the Delhi Police investigation into the Delhi riots. Demanding that activists arrested under the Illicit Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) be released immediately, the statement read: “The real culprits, who in broad daylight threatened to clear the site of the protest for the force or those who came with weapons to the places of protest, or those who chanted provocative and violent slogans, remain free. Even all democratic voices of dissent are gradually being implicated, ”the statement read.
The statement comes days after the Delhi Police Special Cell arrested former Jawaharlal Nehru University student leader Umar Khalid under strict UAPA. The police have invoked UAPA provisions to investigate the alleged “larger conspiracy” behind the riots.
Signatories include former Planning Commission member Syeda Hameed, lawyer Prashant Bhushan, former JNUSU president and CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar, CPIML leader Kavita Krishnan, former DUTA president Nandita Narain, and journalist main Pamela Philipose.
The activists also alleged that the Delhi Police have resorted to “a sinister plan to mark, target, frame and arrest all those voices who dared to speak out against the unconstitutional and immoral CAA.” “The ruling party has resorted to what it does best. He has deployed the police, a meek means, and all the draconian laws at his disposal to unleash a fierce witch hunt, especially against young minds. They don’t want them to dream of an unfinished, pluralistic and egalitarian India. “
Umar Khalid’s speech, delivered prior to his arrest, was also heard in the press held in New Delhi. According to the police, on March 6 an FIR was registered against Khalid based on information provided by an informant to Deputy Inspector Arvind Kumar of the narcotics unit of the Crimes Section. According to the FIR, Kumar said the informant told him that the riots in northeast Delhi in February were part of a “premeditated conspiracy” allegedly hatched by Khalid, a Dane, and two others associated with different organizations.
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