Overview
Umar Khalid, a former member of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, and an activist is in jail for his alleged role in the Delhi Riots 2020, with his fifth year starting this week.
As per the Delhi police chargesheet, he is described as a ‘veteran of sedition‘ and charged with an offense of Terrorism, under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Section 15 defines a terrorist act, and criminalizes any “with intent to threaten or likely to threaten the unity, integrity, security economic security, or sovereignty of India or with intent to strike terror or likely to strike terror in the people or any section of the people in India.”
37-year-old ex-JNU student and activist has been charged with the criminal offense of a terrorist act as per the evidence put by the Delhi police team. The evidence suggests his role in instigating riots at the time of Donald Trump’s visit to Delhi in 2020. It says he took part in meetings with people who had a connection with the Delhi riots and delivered speeches, He spoke about spilling blood and making sure there is a “chakka Jam” as in everything comes to a standstill in New Delhi.
Mr. Khalid and 17 others were arrested in a larger conspiracy case related to the Delhi Riots of 2020. Umar Khalid tried to get bail for the first time from Karkardooma court. The Court denied his bail plea stating the evidence put forth by Delhi police was prima facie true. The bail was again rejected by the Delhi court in 2022. As of now the bail plea is present in the Supreme Court and Mr Khalid is awaiting its decision.
Umar Khalid is also known for his involvement in the seditious sloganeering in JNU in 2016 with Kanhaiya Kumar and others also known as the Tukde-Tukde Gang.
Arguments in favor of Umar Khalid
Umar Khalid’s supporters say that the pieces of evidence put forth by the Delhi police are circumstantial and the statements given against him for conspiring with the rioters are fake because they were revised multiple times and taken 11 months after the FIR was lodged. It is also said that he was not present in Delhi when the riots took place as the police are working with a grudge against him.
Arguments against Umar Khalid
The Police and the lawyers who are against the alleged conspirator say he shouldn’t be granted bail as there is strong evidence that he was instigating and fuelling hatred in the mixed communities of Delhi. They also say that he also referred to Donald Trump in one of his speeches in Amaravati, Maharashtra. It is also said that Umar Khalid said “chakka jam hi akhari rasta hai” meaning total standstill and unrest is the last option and also “ye andolan abhi khoon mangta hai” meaning this movement now requires blood.
In addition, the police have filed evidence of phone calls between Umar Khalid and the co-accused at the time of Delhi Riots 2020.
However, as the police have placed the evidence under section 15 of the UAPA. Section 15 provision qualifies that striking terror is by use of “bombs, dynamite or other explosive substances or inflammable substances or firearms…or any other means.” Here the Police say that trying to organize a chakka jam constitutes a Terrorist Act by any other means. This matter is now left to the Supreme Court to define what the phrase “any other means” truly means and if trying to organize a chakka jam falls under it.
Verdict
So, is Umar Khalid guilty or wrongly accused? It looks like the pieces of evidence presented by the police and the arguments formed are against Mr. Khalid, But, I believe it’s a matter of the court and I will wait for the court to decide it. Also, unless we have all the pieces of evidence we can’t truly judge anyone, but anyone conspiring against the nation should be put behind bars.
