New Delhi: The sight of Najeeb Ahmed’s mother Fatima screaming in pain while being dragged into a bus by the Delhi Police is going to haunt us.
The protesters, most of them students of JNU and Jamia Millia Islamia numbering around 500, as well as Najeeb’s mother and sister were detained here on Sunday while they were proceeding to stage a protest near India Gate against police inaction in the case.
The detainees were later taken to Mandir Marg police station, police said.
“Najeeb’s mother was beaten up and dragged into a police van.” said Satarupa Chakraborty, general secretary of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union..
“Shameless Delhi Police failed to find Najeeb for 23 days and today it misbehaved with Najeeb’s mother who is hoping to see her son return. Najeeb’s sister has also been detained. The police blocked all the ways to India Gate and detained the peaceful protesters from the National Archives and took them to different police stations,” she said.
See how Najeeb's mother was dragged by Delhi police. Mr. @rajnathsingh , nothing more shameful can happen under your rule.@ArvindKejriwal pic.twitter.com/zlWhBZsed0
— Satarupa Chakraborty (@satarupajnu) November 6, 2016
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said in a tweet. “Why have they detained Najeeb’s mother? Am going to the police stn to meet her.” Police had imposed Section 144 to thwart the assembling of students for the protest march.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia questioned the rationale behind the imposition of Section 144 just because students were protesting. “Anything is happening in the country. Mothers are being held; students are being held,” Sisodia told Catch News.
Met Hon'ble Prez to seek his intervention on missing JNU student Najeeb. He assured of all support n that he will seek report from MHA n JNU
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 6, 2016
Kejriwal met President Pranab Mukherjee, and said he has been assured that the President will seek a report from the Home Ministry and the JNU administration on the issue.
“People who were involved in the brawl with Najeeb were questioned by the police yesterday, 22 days after he went missing. That was also a formality. We have apprised the President of the matter. He has assured us that he will seek a report from Delhi Police and JNU in this regard,” he said.
The Chief Minister also submitted a memorandum to the President expressing concern over the “worrisome” situation prevailing in JNU.
.@ArvindKejriwal's letter to President Shri Pranab Mukherjee on missing JNU student #Najeeb. pic.twitter.com/XmPc3ZDVxX
— Ankit Lal 🏹 (@AnkitLal) November 6, 2016
Speaking to Catch, Jamia student Khalid Hasaan said, “We were peacefully protesting when suddenly the police started pushing us. About 70 students were put in one bus and taken away”.
“The remaining of us were also packed in buses. I don’t know where are they taking us,” he said while still on the bus.
Later, he informed that all Jamia students were taken to Chittaranjan Park police station. “The police made videos of all of us. We’re still sitting here.”
Khalid says some of his fellow mates were manhandled by police.
Why is Delhi Police torturing students who demand #JusticeForNajeeb? Instead spend strength to #BringBackNajeeb! https://t.co/stKkpFqIxp
— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) November 6, 2016
Shame that BJP govt is so scared of protestors that it won't even allow ppl to travel without barging into the buses/autos #BringBackNajeeb
— Shehla Rashid (@Shehla_Rashid) November 6, 2016
Instead of #BringBackNajeeb police assaulting mother sister and students . Demand immediate release. https://t.co/c0CkHOaJyH
— Shabnam Hashmi (@ShabnamHashmi) November 6, 2016
Najeeb (27), a student of School of Biotechnology and a native of Badaun in Uttar Pradesh, went missing on October 15 following an on-campus scuffle allegedly with the members of ABVP the night before.
With inputs from Catch News and PTI