Once a student activist now charged with the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Umar Khalid has been behind the bars of Tihar Jail from the last four years without a bail or trial. Khalid is a former student activist of JawaharLal Nehru University (JNU) who first came into news and gained prominence for charges of sedition along with four other colleagues for organising a protest in JNU against a hanging of a Kashmiri man in 2013.
What is the latest case against Umar Khalid?
In September 2020, Khalid was arrested again under UAPA and accused of ‘key conspirator’ in violent clashes in Delhi which led to the killing of 53 people, mostly muslims. The February riots in the national capital provoked amid months long protest by citizens against a controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which was said to be formed on the basis of religious identities.
Since then the activist has been spending his days behind bars. Khalid and other young activists have been denied bail several times and Khalid is even waiting for a trial which is yet to start. Khalid and other activists denied the charges against them and he said he took part only in peaceful protest.
Earlier, two cases were registered against Mr. Khalid. While one has been dismissed, the second remains pending without any charges filed in court, and the trial is yet to commence. He has been denied bail twice in this case and remains imprisoned for an extended period as authorities have applied the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), a tough anti-terrorism law known for making bail extremely difficult to obtain, often leading to lengthy detention before the trial concludes.
The case faced delays due to the occasional absence of lawyers from both sides and changes in the bench overseeing the matter. Kapil Sibal, representing Mr. Khalid, informed the court that it would take him just “20 minutes” to demonstrate that the police lack a solid case against his client. The next hearing is scheduled for January 24, with the judge emphasizing that the proceedings should begin on that date without further delay.
Umar Khalid’s routine in Jail?
In prison, Khalid spends his time reading extensively, writing applications for fellow inmates, and watching cricket on TV. He is also dedicated to documenting his experiences, working on a prison diary that has already garnered interest from publishers, according to the BBC report.
His family is allowed a 20-minute video call each week, while friends can visit him in person for a 30-minute session. Khalid was granted a temporary one-week bail to attend his sister’s wedding, offering a brief moment of relief.
Last week, Banojyotsna Lahiri, Khalid’s long time partner visited Khalid with six new books, including Paul Lynch’s ‘Prophet Song’, William Styron’s ‘Sophie’s Choice’, and works by Saadat Hasan Manto and a book on Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib. She estimates that Khalid has read nearly 200 books during his time in prison, and she’s purchased bookshelves to store those he returns, as per the report from BBC.
In his ward, where he is allowed out of his cell during the day, Khalid shares space with convicted criminals, including murderers and others found guilty of serious crimes. During their meetings, he often reflects, asking her, “Why am I here with these people?”reported BBC.