Former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Umar Khalid, who is in judicial custody in connection with his alleged role in the Delhi riots, claimed on Thursday that he is not allowed to leave his cell or meet with anyone, claiming that it is a form of solitary confinement.
“Security does not mean that he should be punished like this,” Khalid told a Delhi court during a hearing. He said this is being done by order of the additional jail superintendent.
Khalid also said that he has not been well since the last few days and that due to orders to keep him confined in the cell all the time, he feels discomfort, not only physical but also mental.
The court then summoned the superintendent of the jail and released the matter for an additional hearing on Friday.
On October 17, the court ordered the Delhi police to provide adequate security for Khalid. The order was produced as a result of a petition presented by the JNU student in search of adequate security due to their “ideological differences and dissenting opinion”.
Khalid was arrested under the Anti-Terrorism Illegal Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the community violence that took place in North East Delhi in February this year.
A Delhi court had sent Khalid into custody on September 24 until October 22. At the end of today’s custody, the police filed a request to keep Khalid in the courtroom for another month.
The court will hear the matter on Friday and is expected to approve the order of the Delhi police petition.
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