Northeast Delhi riots: Ex-JNU student leader Umar Khalid arrested, to be produced in court today

The northeast areas of Delhi, including Jaffrabad, Shakur Basti, Shiv Vihar, Seelampur witnessed deadly communal clashes between February 24-26.

New Delhi: Former Jawaharlal Nehru University student leader Umar Khalid was arrested late Sunday night in connection with his alleged role in the northeast Delhi riots. The special of Delhi Police cell arrested Khalid under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Khalid was questioned for around nine hours on Sunday, following which he was arrested by the police. He will be produced before a Delhi court today. Earlier on September 2, the ex-JNU student well was interrogated by the special cell in connection with the Delhi violence. The police have seized his mobile.

The northeast areas of Delhi, including Jaffrabad, Shakur Basti, Shiv Vihar, Seelampur witnessed deadly communal clashes between February 24-26. The violence broke out between supporters of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and those against the legislation went out of control.

The Delhi riots claimed at least 53 lives, 581 were injured, 97 of them with gunshot wounds.

Besides Khalid, Jamia student and RJD youth wing president Meeran Haider, JCC media coordinator Safoora Zargar, and Danish, a resident of northeast Delhi's Bhajanpura have also been booked under UAPA.

Khalid's father confirmed the arrest of his son by the Delhi Police Special Cell.

"My son Umar Khalid has been arrested tonight at 11 p.m. by Special Cell, Delhi Police under UAPA. Police was questioning him since 1 pm. He has been implicated in Delhi riots," said Khalid's father.

The Delhi Police have arrested 1,575 people in 751 cases. The Special Cell has filed over Over 250 charge sheets and 1,153 accused have been charge-sheeted.

Notably, a supplementary charge sheet filed in connection with the Delhi riots have accused CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav, economist Jayati Ghosh and Delhi University professor Apoorvanand for allegedly "provoking and mobilising" anti-CAA protesters.

The police have filed a charge sheet against the above-mentioned personalities on the basis of statements made against women's collective Pinjra Tod members and JNU students Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal, and Gulfisha Fathima of Jamia Milia Islamia University.