Delhi riots: Safoora Zargar is really an activist?
WHO IS SAFOORA ZARGAR
Safoora Zargar was born in 1993, she is an Indian student activist leader from Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, best known for her role within the Citizenship Amendment Act protests. She is an M. Phil student of Jamia Millia Islamia and media coordinator of the Jamia Coordination Committee. Zargar was in custody from 10 April until 23 June 2020, accused of being a part of a conspiracy to cause riots and of constructing an inflammatory speech on 23 February 2020. Delhi Police said that Zargar was involved during a “sinister design” with the “objective of uprooting a democratically elected government. The Delhi judicature granted Zargar bail at the fourth application on 23 June 2020. (wikipedia)
Anti-CAA violence in Delhi
- According to the reports, Safoora Zargar was actively involved in Shaheen Bagh protests and propagated anti-India sentiments by shouting Azadi slogans inside Jamia campus.
- She was also caught shouting secessionist slogans like Azadi for Bihar, Azadi for Kerala, Azadi for Assam, etc. during a protest rally.
- Zargar was arrested by the Delhi Police within the month of April for allegedly leading the anti-CAA protests at the Jaffrabad metro station of Delhi in February 2020, which eventually led to Anti-Hindu riots within the city causing the death of 53 people and injuring several others.
- The Congress leader Safoora Zargar is charged under UAPA for her involvement in Anti-Hindu riots. Along with Zargar, another Congress leader Ishrat Jahan is additionally accused of inciting mob during the Hindu riots in Delhi.
- She was also arrested by the Delhi police, however, she has been granted interim bail of ten days for her Nikaah.
- Addition to those accused, President of Jamia Alumni Association Shifa-Ur-Rehman, Meeran Haider, Jamia Millia Islamia University students Asif Iqbal Tanha, Gulfisha Khatoon, suspended AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain, former student leader Umar Khalid has been charged under the anti-terror law UAPA for his or her involvement within the Anti-Hindu riots. (bbc)
A far-left ‘Pinjra Tod’ activist Natasha Narwal was also booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for her role in inciting the anti-Hindu communal riots in Northeast Delhi in February. As per reports, Zargar was instrumental in arranging guest speakers during the CAA protests at Jamia Millia. The accused Safoora Zargar had uploaded several images on social media, which exposed her links with the Congress party. (dueexpress)
Police doesn’t object to humanitarian grounds
During the hearing, SG Mehta, appearing for the Delhi Police, submitted that without going into the merits of the petition, and without considering this as precedent, the prosecution wouldn’t object to Safoora Zargar being released on regular bail on “humanitarian grounds”. Mehta suggested that this may be subject to conditions, including one that Zargar not be allowed to go to Delhi. Advocate Nitya Ramakrishna, appearing for Zargar, objected to the current condition and contended that her husband lives and works in Delhi, and also her doctor is in Delhi. Justice Shakdher consented to SG Mehta and extra peace officer Aman Lekhi’s contention that this order shouldn’t be treated as a “precedent”.
It, however, imposed certain conditions on Zargar, directing her to not leave the city, and said that just in case the petitioner requires to go away the NCT of Delhi, she’s going to seek the permission of the concerned court. It directed her to stay in contact with the Investigating Officer (IO) on his portable, a minimum of once in every 15 days and to refrain from influencing or hampering the continued investigation within the case. The order, details of which is awaited, stated that Zargar shouldn’t enjoy any activities, that she is being investigated.
(indian express)
CONCLUSION WITH REALITY BEHIND THE BAIL
The prosecution had submitted that 39 deliveries had taken place in Delhi’s prison facilities within the last decade, and Zargar was being taken care of well and had been kept alone during a cell to safeguard her from Covid-19. The court has ordered Zargar to not “indulge in any activity that she is being investigated and no to interfere with the investigation or influence the witnesses”. Zargar should seek permission from the judicature to travel and can remain to bear with the investigating officer of the case over movable once every 15 days. The government had on several occasions opposed Zagar’s bail pleas. It had suggested that she stay out of Delhi, but her lawyer had noted that Zargar’s husband lived in Delhi and her doctor was in neighboring Faridabad, in Haryana.
Zargar is among several students arrested during the pandemic-triggered lockdown for the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Opposition parties, film personalities, members of the EU Parliament Maria Arena, the American Bar Association, and a number of other human rights groups across the planet have needed the discharge of political prisoners, especially Zargar. Besides the case under the UAPA, Zargar is known as in three other FIRs. Two FIRs for rioting near her university is under investigation, and she or he had got bail within the third FIR for rioting in Jaffrabad in February. (thewire)
Works Cited
bbc. (n.d.). Retrieved june 24, 2020, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-53149967
dueexpress. (n.d.). Retrieved june 24, 2020, from https://duexpress.in/delhi-high-court-grants-bail-to-pregnant-jamia-student-safoora-zargar/
indian express. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/safoora-zargar-bail-delhi-riots-high-court-6472369/
thewire. (n.d.). Retrieved june 26, 2020, from https://thewire.in/rights/safoora-zargar-american-bar-association
wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved june 24, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safoora_Zargar