The Kozhikode district court on Wednesday refused bail to Alan Shuaib and Thaha Fazal, the Muslim law students who were arrested on Saturday night under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), observing that bail cannot be granted to those charged under UAPA. The two students are also CPI(M) activists.
Both Shuaib and Fazal were arrested in Kozhikode for allegedly distributing pro-Maoist pamphlets, besides material condemning the Union government’s action in Jammu and Kashmir from them, causing widespread criticism in the Left-ruled state.
The families of the arrested youths have rejected the charges of the police and said they will approach the High Court seeking bail.
“In custody, my brother was beaten up by the police and was threatened that he would be implicated in drug cases,” said Thaha’s brother.
“Fazal was forced to shout slogans in the jeep after he was threatened by the police using a revolver. These are the ways the police is going about,” said his Aunt.
Actress Sajitha Madathil who is a relative of the accused Shuaib told the media that the family will decide their next move after discussing with the legal experts.
The Left government has been heavily criticized for imposing the UAPA Act on the students. Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala termed the arrest of the students as barbaric.
Related
