JNU activist Umar Khalid arrested under UAPA in Delhi riots case

Umar Khalid, a former member of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Student's Union (JNUSU) has been arrested by Delhi Police in connection with the northeast Delhi riots. The violence that carried on for four days claimed 53 lives and left over 400 people injured.

According to inputs, Umar Khalid has been arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Sources say Khalid was summoned for questioning by the Special Cell and arrested after an interrogation that lasted for several hours.

On August 1, Delhi Police had questioned Umar over the speeches he delivered at the protest site in Shaheen Bagh along with Khalid Saifi days before the riots. Investigators had also seized Umar's mobile phone at the time.

Khalid Saifi, a co-founder of 'United Against Hate' of which Umar is also a member, was arrested in June. The Delhi Police had indicated that Saifi played a "crucial role" in arranging a meeting



between Umar and suspended AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain who is also behind bars in connection with the riots.

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.

In the chargesheet it filed in July in connection with the Chand Bagh violence, Delhi Police had claimed that Tahir Hussain and Umar Khalid hatched a conspiracy ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to India. The police had further alleged that Umar had assured the other two that Popular Front of India (PFI) was ready to "provide funds and facilities".

The Delhi Police Crime Branch had registered an FIR against Umar Khalid on March 6. In the FIR, investigating officers had claimed Umar and his associates "conspired" to trigger communal riots in Delhi.