A day after Javed Mohammad, Welfare Party of India leader and Allahabad-based activist, and his family members were arbitrarily picked up by cops from his home during a midnight raid, Allahabad Police said they arrested Javed and called him “one of the masterminds of violence in the city.”
The city witnessed a massive protest against derogatory comments by Hindutva politicians Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal against the prophet Muhammed.
Prayagraj SSP Ajay Kumar told reporters that strict action will be taken against Javed Mohammad if his involvement is found in the probe.
“There could be more masterminds. The anti-social elements used minor children to hurl stones at police and the administration. Case registered under 29 crucial sections. Action to be taken under the Gangster Act & NSA”, said Prayagraj SSP.
On Saturday, Afreen Fatima, a prominent Muslim student activist said to Maktoob that her father Javed Mohammad, mother Parveen Fatima, and younger sister Sumaiya Fatima were illegally picked up by cops during a midnight raid. In a video message shared with Maktoob, Afreen said she and other family members were unable to find out their whereabouts for many hours. The cops came without a warrant or official letter, she said.
“He (Javed) was propagating bharat bandh, gave call to assemble in Atala area in the city,” SSP said.
While speaking to the media, Kumar said Javed’s daughter studies in JNU and is “involved in notorious activities.” “The father-daughter duo together propagate propaganda,” SSP said.
Afreen who was an elected student leader of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union and an iconic face of the anti-CAA movement is currently a national secretary of the Fraternity Movement.
Leaders of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union, Welfare Party of India, and the Fraternity Movement, and several rights activists demanded the immediate release of Javed and his family members while condemning the biased actions of the Uttar Pradesh Police.
“This is an unlawful arrest,” said Aishe Ghosh, president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union.
“We stand in solidarity with Afreen, her father who has been arrested, and her mother and sister who have been harassed by police,” Ghosh said.
Ghosh said to Maktoob that Afreen is a young voice of dissent and Uttar Pradesh Police can’t suppress her. “I Know Afreen and she is a very determined person,” said Ghosh.
“We are not shaken by the intimidation of the Uttar Pradesh Police. We stand firm and declare our solidarity with Javed Mohammad saheb and his family. The statement of the Allahabad SSP to target our leader Afreen is nothing but a sheer attempt to divert the attention from the atrocities against the protestors by the Allahabad police,” said Shamseer Ibrahim, national president of Fraternity Movement.
“Instead of arresting the real culprits like Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal, the police is drafting false narratives and targeting Muslim political leaders and activists. The arrests and detention of Muslims across the country must be stopped,” Ibrahim said to Maktoob.
“The arrest of Javed Mohammad (member Federal Working Committee, Welfare Party of India) and his family by Allahabad Police is illegal and unlawful. We demand his immediate and unconditional release,” tweeted SQR Ilyas, national president of the Welfare Party of India.
“Solidarity with Welfare Party leader Javed Mohammad, father of Fraternity Movement National Secretary Afreen Fatima, and his family who were illegally arrested by Allahabad Police for protesting against the denigration of the Holy Prophet. Release them immediately,” tweeted MK Faizy, national president of the Social Democratic Party of India.
