Jahanabad: Research Scholar with JNU, Sharjeel Imam who had been booked under sedition charges in Assam, Delhi, UP and Arunachal Pradesh for his alleged inflammatory speech was arrested by Delhi Police on Tuesday.
Earlier today, Sharjeel Imam’s brother, two family members were also detained, questioned at Kako police station in Bihar’s Jahanabad were Sharjeel was also arrested, the Quint reports.
Yesterday Jawaharlal Nehru University chief proctor had summoned Sharjeel to appear before the Proctorial Committee by 3 February, and explain his position on the alleged provocative speeches made by him, reported news agency PTI.
“A security report dated January 27 against Sharjeel Imam, has been received in the Chief Proctor’s office from the Office of Chief Security Officer. The report has cited media reports saying Imam made provocative speeches at Aligarh Muslim University threatening the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country upheld by the constitution,” JNU Registrar Pramod Kumar said.
“The report also refers to several FIRs lodged against Imam by police of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and some other states,” he added.
Assam Government takes cognizance of Imam’s speech.
Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday i.e., 25 January said the state government will be registering a case against Imam for his “seditious statement” about Assam. Sarma alleged that Imam was “the main organiser of Shaheen Bagh protest.”
“Assam government has taken cognisance of this very seditious statement,” he added. He later also tweeted the clip in question, saying that he was “aghast at this brazen attempt by this person to create unrest in the country.”
Sarma while addressing a press conference said clips had surfaced of Imam’s statements, in which he declares that Assam and the Northeast should be cut off from the rest of India and taught a lesson.
“A lot of wrong things have been said by this individual, aimed to create law and order situation in Assam. We will bring this person to the court so that he is punished in accordance with the law,” Sarma is reported to have said.
Imam’s Statement ‘Twisted & Taken out of Context’: Mother
Sharjeel Imam’s mother has claimed her son is being victimized for a statement that was “twisted and taken out of context” by the media and added the police and authorities are now harassing and threatening their family.
“We believe in the Rule of Law and every cooperation has been promised. This high-handedness violates the basic human rights of the family members including and not limited to his elderly mother. We demand that police refrains from indulging in such actions,” the letter said.
“Every cooperation has been promised, this high-handedness violates the basic human rights of the family members. We demand that the police refrains from such actions.”