Ex-JNU student Umar Khalid arrested in Delhi riots case after being grilled for 11 hours

Activist and former JNU student leader Umar Khalid was arrested late on Sunday night by Special Cell of Delhi Police in connection with his alleged role in violence of rast Delhi. Umar Khalid has been booked under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). He was called for questioning on Sunday which went on for roughly 11 hours, following which he was arrested by special cell. He will be produced before a Delhi Court on Monday.

Umar Khalid met Ex-AAP councillor Tahir Hussain

Earlier, Khalid was summoned on August 1 by special cell for questioning regarding Delhi violence. His phone was also seized by police, sources said.

According to ANI, in a charge sheet filed by Delhi Police Crime Branch against suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, investigating officer has alleged that on January 8, more than a month before riots, Hussain met with Umar Khalid and Khalid Saifi of 'United Against Hate' at Shaheen Bagh anti-CAA protest, and Umar asked him to be prepared for something big/riots at time of Trump's visit. Later, special cell started a probe into larger conspiracy in connection with Delhi violence.

"After 11 hours of interrogation, Delhi Police Special Cell has arrested Umar Khalid as a conspirator in Delhi Riots case. fairy tale narrative that DP (Delhi Police) has been spinning and criminalising protests in garb of investigating riots, finds yet ar victim," United Against Hate, an activist group whose Umar Khalid is a member, said in a statement.

" fight against draconian CAA and UAPA will go on despite all se horrid measures of intimidation. Right w, our first priority is that he should be given maximum security and Delhi Police must ensure his safety by all means possible," statement added.

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Delhi Riots

In February, violence took place in rast area of Delhi between groups supporting and opposing Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which led to deaths of at least 53 people. In ir attempt to prevent violence, 108 police personnel received injuries and two died.

According to force, Delhi Police has registered 751 FIRs in connection with communal riots. After collecting and collating all evidence, investigation has been finalised in most of important cases and charge sheets have been submitted in court for trial, according to police. So far, police have arrested 1,575 people in 751 cases. Over 250 charge sheets have been filed in riots related cases in which 1,153 accused have been charge-sheeted.

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(With ncy inputs)