Five unknown persons claiming to be from UP Crime branch from Azamgarh have illegally detained Sharjeel Usmani. There was no warrant, no receiving, no arrest memo and no information to the family. His laptop, mobile and books were also taken. The detention in itself violates all laws regarding arrest laid down by the Supreme Court and in the CrPC.
It must be noted that Sharjeel Usmani was an active participant of the protests against CAA-NRC at AMU. He was also an outspoken critic of the government and was recently the target of pro-BJP trolls online.
Labeed Shafi, President SIO of India, said that “This is another brazen attempt by police to silence a brave young voice that was speaking out against the unconstitutional and discriminatory CAA-NRC. We firmly stand by Sharjeel and demand his immediate release.”
During the COVID-19 induced lockdown, several students leaders and activists such as Meeran Haider, Asif Tanha, Umar Khalid, Dr. Kafeel Khan, and Akhil Gogoi, among others, have been arrested and detained by the police in connection with anti-CAA protests. This lockdown is nothing but a means used by the state machinery to unlawfully detain and imprison the dissenting voices. It seems as if the political emergency has been declared against the Muslim activists and leaders rather than to contain a raging pandemic which is taking a heavy toll on Indians.
