 charges in the case related to communal clashes broke out in North East Delhi on February 24 this year.){kind=link}
A Delhi court on Thursday has sent Umar Khalid, a former JNU student leader, to judicial custody till October 22, 2020. Khalid was arrested on September 13, under the stringent anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) charges in the case related to communal clashes broke out in North East Delhi on February 24 this year.
On the expiry of his 10 day police custody, Khalid was produced before Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat of Karkardoom Court through video conferencing.
Talking directly to the ASJ, Khalid claimed to not sign on any papers in these 10 days. Umar Khalid said, “In the last 10 days in police custody, I have not signed any paper or statement.” He further wished to carry a book to Tihar Jail, which he was reading during the custody and meet his parents before going behind the bars.
On the request of Khalid and his Advocate Trideep Pais, the court allowed him to meet his parents before going to jail. Advocate Pais further requested the court to allow him to carry spectacles and provide him security.
According to the FIR registered against Khalid on March 6, “he allegedly gave provocative speeches at two different places and appealed to the citizens to come out on the streets and block the roads during the visit of US President Donald Trump to spread propaganda at the international level about how minorities in India are being persecuted.”
He along with Danish and two others is accused of hatching a “premediated conspiracy” causing the communal violence. “The conspiracy was hatched by Umar Khalid and two others associated with different organisations,” FIR further reads. “On February 23, women and children were made to block the roads under the Jafrabad Metro Station to create tension amidst the neighbourhood people in a bid to give rise to riots,” it added.
Delhi Riots broke out on February 24 in north-east Delhi between the supporters and protestors against the Citizenship Amendment Act passed by the government. Over 53 people died and 200 got injured in the communal violence.