By Special Correspondent
New Delhi: Jamia Millia Islamia Coordination Committee on Monday reacted angrily to the arrest of student Asif Iqbal Tanha by the Delhi Police. Condemning the police witch hunt of anti- CAA activists, it demanded release of all political prisoners arrested in relation to the anti CAA/NRC movement.
In press note, JCC said that, “In an utter shock and dismay, we learned that one more of our members has been arrested by Delhi Police special cell. They arrested Asif Iqbal Tanha yesterday around 8 pm from his residence in Delhi.”
Tanha, who hails from Jharkhand and a final year graduate student in the Persian language, has been a vocal leader of JCC and a prominent face of anti-CAA protests across India. Police called him first for interrogation, but later produced in front of the magistrate and sent to Tihar jail in judicial custody.
It is said that he is arrested in the FIR related to the police action in Jamia Millia Islamia (298/2019).
It seems Delhi police is using another FIR after its infamous 59/2020, to target the activists in Delhi, JCC said.
Earlier three of JCC leaders Meeran Haidar, Safoora Zargar, and Shifa-ur-Rahman were booked in the FIR 59/2020 and sent to jail.
Press note said that “Instead of enquiring about the Northeast Delhi violence and arresting the real culprits, Delhi police is shamelessly witch-hunting Jamia student leaders.”
When all the conspirators and perpetrators of Northeast Delhi violence are roaming free, it is our leaders who are being sent to jail and slapped by draconian laws, it added.
“ We request all democratic forces to rise in protest to stop this illegal and revengeful police action and demand the arrest of real culprits behind Northeast Delhi violence.”
“ We also reiterate that we will not yield to intimidations of Delhi Police but will continue to fight against the fascist government and its genocide enabling laws like CAA/NRC/NPR.”
JCC urged the government to release all the political prisoners immediately.
“ We demand the release of all the political prisoners arrested in relation to the anti CAA/NRC movement.”