Md Irshad Ayub
The Delhi Police Special Cell has arrested the former JNU student leader Umar Khalid on the charges of stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in connection with his alleged role in northeast Delhi riots case after interrogation that lasted for several hours. The violence that carried on for four days claimed 53 lives and left over 400 people injured between supporters of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and those against the legislation, Delhi’s worst riots in decades.
His mobile phone was also seized by the police.
“My son Umar Khalid has been arrested tonight at 11:00 pm by Special Cell, Delhi Police under UAPA. Police was questioning him since 1:00 pm. He has been implicated in Delhi Riots”, Qasim Rasool Ilyas, Umar Khalid’s father informed in a tweet.
Earlier this week, Khalid was called by the Special Cell for questioning in the northeast Delhi riots case. He was let off after the questioning.
Police are likely to file a chargesheet against Umar Khalid in the coming days, the source said. He will be produced before a Delhi court on Monday.
The Delhi Police had on Saturday mentioned the names of CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav, noted economist Jayati Ghosh, DU professor Apoorvanand, and documentary filmmaker Rahul Roy in a supplementary chargesheet in connection with the northeast district violence.
According to police, an FIR was registered against Khalid on March 6 based on information provided by an informer to Sub-Inspector Arvind Kumar of the narcotics unit of the Crime Branch. As per the FIR, Kumar said the informer told him that the Northeast Delhi riots in February were part of a “premeditated conspiracy” allegedly hatched by Khalid, one Danish, and two others associated with different organisations.
Since December, Delhi was brimming with tensions after the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed. Protests against CAA started in various parts of the national capital. An agitation also started near Jafrabad metro station in northeast Delhi.
