Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad was arrested on Sunday amid furore over his social media posts on Operation Sindoor. Two FIRs have been lodged against the scholar on stringent charges — including endangering sovereignty and integrity. The Ashoka University Faculty Association however dubbed the situation as “calculated harassment” against their colleague and vowed to support Mahmudabad.
“We condemn the calculated harassment to which Professor Mahmudabad has been subjected: after being arrested early in the morning from his home in New Delhi, he was taken to Sonipat, not allowed access to necessary medication, and driven around for hours without any communication about his whereabouts,” read a statement cited by Hindustan Times.
The Ashoka faculty organisation also highlighted his “personal kindness and concern for others” while demanding an “immediate and unconditional release” for Professor Mahmudabad. The statement also called for all charges against the teacher to be dropped.
Mahmudabad was arrested earlier on Sunday — days after the Haryana State Commission for Women sent a notice to the associate professor questioning his remarks. Ashoka University’s head of the political science department has however maintained that his remarks had been “misunderstood”. Lawyers for the professor said he had been booked under several non-bailable sections of the BNS. The CPI(M), AIMIM leader Asaddudin Owaisi and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra were among those who condemned the arrest. Moitra also indicated that they would move the court against the arrest.
The University had previously said that was trying to ascertain details of the case and would continue to cooperate with the police and local authorities in the investigation. Meanwhile the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA), in a statement, expressed outrage at the “wholly unwarranted arrest” and demanded that the charges against him be dropped.
(With inputs from agencies)