UP STF Arrests Youth Accused In 2019 Bijnor Anti-CAA Stir, Family Claims He Is Innocent

The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UPSTF) along with the Bijnor Police have arrested a youth accused in the 2019 Bijnor violence that broke out during protests against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Police said they have arrested Adil Naeem from his residence at Qazipara Friday who was wanted in seven cases.

Massive protests and clashes were witnessed in Bijnor on December 20, 2019. Police alleged the protesters allegedly burnt vehicles and vandalized shops. Two of them were killed in Nehtaur in police firing. The administration had assessed damages to public properties worth Rs 21.7 lakh. 61 protesters were also sent recovery notices. Over 1,000 protesters were booked, of them, 150 were arrested.

Police allege Adil was one of the protestors, involved in inciting violence and destroying public property. Police had put up ‘wanted’ notice against him and others and had put a prize of Rs 25,000 on each one of them.

Adil’s family, however, claims he is innocent and was never involved in any unlawful activity. “Somebody dragged his name during the riots, and since then, the Police is after him,” they said.

“Adil was socially active and helpful and was known among people. During the protests, he was at home but somebody gave his name to the police and since then he is on a run. We didn’t know about his whereabouts,” Akif Saeed, Adil’s elder brother told The Cognate.

“He came back home a few days ago and we decided that on the next hearing of the case we will hand him over to police ourselves, but before we could do that he was arrested by UPSTF and Bijnor Police. They didn’t even let him wear his clothes,” he said.

The family said he was associated with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and was socially active, which might have triggered someone to accuse him of being involved in the violence that broke out in Bijnor.

“I have seen the charge sheet filed in the riot case, Adil’s name was not there. The police are dragging him just because he is a Muslim and vocal. There is no single evidence, picture, or video that can prove that he was involved in the riots,” his brother alleged.

In one of the videos, of anti-CAA protests accessed by The Cognate, Adil can be heard and seen saying, “We chose to stay back in India and we will continue living in this country willingly.”

Station House Officer, Bijnor told, “He was wanted in several cases including Bijnor violence and arrested in the same case. There was a prize of rupees 25,000 on him as well”.

He hung up the call on this reporter saying, “This is more than enough for you to know about the case and his arrest”.

Adil’s family is hopeful of a fair investigation as there is no evidence against him. They are now looking for a counsel to represent him in the Court.

Adil has two brothers and two sisters and an ailing widow mother in his family.

The Supreme Court on Friday, July 9, asked the UP government not to take action on earlier notices sent to protesters who had agitated against the Citizenship Amendment Act to recover alleged losses from public property damage caused during the protests.