Three years after JNU student Najeeb Ahmed’s forceful disappearance, his mother Fatima Nafees appealed to the government on Tuesday to bring him back and said that the investigative agencies are not doing enough.
Fatima Nafees was also joined by Tabrez Ansari’s wife Shahista Parveen, Kavitha Lankesh, sister of slain journalist Gauri Lankesh, author Arundhati Roy, BSP MP Kunwar Danish Ali, prominent lawyer Prashant Bhushan, Delhi University professor and columnist Apoorvanand, Delhi University Teachers Association president Nandita Narain, United Against Hate leader Nadeem Khan, former JNU student leader Umar Khalid, Students Islamic Organization national secretary Fawaz Shaheen and student’s union leaders of JNU, Aligarh University, Jamia Millia and Delhi University along with scores of students from different universities at Jantar Mantar.
Najeeb had gone missing from the Mahi-Mandvi hostel of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on 15 October, 2016, following a physical attack the previous night by some students affiliated to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). The case was initially being probed by the Delhi Police but was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which had filed a closure report.
“It is a slap on the face of the government that not only students from Delhi but also from all over India have turned up to support me. These students will do the country proud in the entire world,” Fatima Nafees thanked the students who turned up to voice their support for her.
“The investigating agencies say they have done everything but they only followed what the court asked them to do. They did not even investigate the case. I just want my son back,” she said.
“All the institutions- court, police are responsible for Tabrez’s killing. He was killed by the institutions of the country. Poor children are selling flags and ‘My country is great statues’ but our country is not great. We have to work hard to achieve greatness,” Arundhati Roy raised the issue of Tabrez Ansari’s killing.
“As a mother of a 15-year-old child, I can understand the pain Fatima must be going through, not knowing where her son is for the last three years. My sister Gauri was shot dead because she wanted a secular nation. I am here to express solidarity for a democratic and secular nation where nobody should be scared,” Kavitha Lankesh said.
Carrying placards, the protesters raised the slogans like “Where is Najeeb”, ”Justice for Najeeb”, “Down Down Islamophobia”, “JNU VC Murdabad” and “Resign Amith Shah”.
“Amit Shah, your son has become the BCCI secretary. Congratulations. Can you tell me where is my son Najeeb?,” students carried a placard.
