Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

The Cognate
0

News

After 6 Months In Jail, Sharjeel Imam’s Police Custody Extended By Three More Days Despite Criticism

JNU PhD scholar Sharjeel Imam’s police custody has been extended for three days by a Delhi court on Monday. He was arrested under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, in a case related to communal violence in northeast Delhi in February.

The violence in Delhi witnessed the death of 47 people with more than 200 injured, primarily Muslims. Mosques were vandalized, Muslim-owned shops were set ablaze and a cemetery was desecrated.

Activists and students have spoken up against the arrest of Sharjeel Imam, stating that he was in police custody while the violence in Delhi broke out.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

The Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested Imam on August 25 for his alleged connection to the riots during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat granted the police remand for an effective and proper investigation.

“In order to have an effective and proper investigation, I deem it fit to allow the present application for seeking police custody remand of the accused Sharjeel Imam. However, it is granted only for a period of three days and not seven days as sought,” the judge said in his order.

Advocate Surbhi Dhar, appearing for Imam, opposed the remand application saying whatever answers he had to give, has been given and whatever the questionnaires has to be put, it should have been done by now.

Additionally, a fact-finding report by the Delhi Minorities Commission has blamed Kapil Mishra’s speech for sparking communal violence in Northeast Delhi. A number of complaints have been filed in police stations in Northeast Delhi, alleging that he not only gave hate speeches in the area, he and his supporters also actively participated in the violence. However, he remains untouched by authorities.

Those booked under the anti-terror law in the case are Jamia Millia Islamia students Asif Iqbal Tanha and Gulfisha Khatoon, Jamia Coordination Committee members Safoora Zargar, Meeran Haider, President of Jamia Alumni Association Shifa-Ur-Rehman, suspended AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain, activist Khalid Saifi, former Congress Councillor Ishrat Jahan, former student leader Umar Khalid and JNU student Natasha Narwal.

Activists, advocates and film personalities, including Anurag Kashyap, Vishal Bhardwaj, Mahesh Bhatt have released statements raising their voice against the arrest of the students and activists by Delhi Police and have urged them to end to the “witch-hunt.”

Also read: Delhi Pogrom: A Timeline Of Killings, Indifference & Absolute Impunity

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
Written By

Rushda Fathima Khan is the Staff Reporter for The Cognate.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

News

In a controversial move that has ignited widespread debate and criticism, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami successfully pushed through the Uniform Civil Code...

News

In a disturbing series of incidents reported from various parts of India, tension and violence have marred the aftermath of celebrations related to the...

News

Jamia Millia Islamia, a prominent Indian educational institution, finds itself in the midst of a heated controversy as Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Iqbal Hussain...

News

In a session on Wednesday, the Supreme Court postponed the bail hearing for former JNU student Umar Khalid, charged under the UAPA anti-terror law...

Advertisement