Bengaluru Police File Case Over Umar Khalid Poster at NEET Exams Protest

Legal Action Follows Freedom Park Rally

Bengaluru City Police initiated a suo motu First Information Report (FIR) following a July 24 protest against NEET paper leaks at Freedom Park. The criminal case centers on an unidentified woman who allegedly displayed posters supporting incarcerated scholars Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. Both men remain in custody under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act related to the 2020 North-East Delhi riots.

Authorities invoked Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, citing provocation intended to cause a riot. Investigators claim the posters included derogatory language directed at the local police and argued the slogans posed a threat to communal harmony and public order. While officers seized the materials, the woman involved left the scene before she could be identified.

Civil Society and Activists Dispute Charges

The All India Students’ Association (AISA), the organization behind the demonstration, characterized the FIR as groundless. Aratrika, the AISA Bengaluru General Secretary, challenged the notion that expressing solidarity with scholars constitutes a criminal act. Supporting this view, Shivani of the Lawyers Association emphasized that Khalid and Imam are currently undertrials who must be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Clifton D’Rozario, a leader with the CPI(ML), raised concerns regarding the consistency of police oversight. He noted that the Bengaluru police recently provided security for an event discussing Khalid’s latest book. Key arguments from activists include:

• Undertrials possess the right to a fair and speedy trial under democratic principles.
• Solidarity with political prisoners falls within the scope of legitimate public discourse.
• The current Congress-led state government must ensure law enforcement does not suppress democratic dissent.

Partisan Conflict over Law Enforcement

The incident ignited a confrontation between the state's major political factions on July 27. BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra accused the Home Department of negligence, labeling the display of the posters as "anti-national activity." He criticized the administration for failing to prevent such expressions during public protests.

In response, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge defended the police's discretion and autonomy. Kharge dismissed the BJP's rhetoric, asserting that the state would uphold the law impartially without political intimidation. He further questioned the central government's delay in bringing the accused scholars to trial, shifting the focus back to the federal handling of the underlying UAPA cases.

Source: The Hindu — Home