Late night arrest of Shaheen Bagh youth stokes anger among locals, road blocked

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The late night arrest of a Shaheen Bagh youth from the area on July 17 allegedly by the Delhi crime branch led to protest in the area. More than hundred locals picketed outside the Jamia Nagar police station on the morning of July 18, demanding fair investigation into the matter and end of illegal arrest and harassment of youth from the locality.

Later on at about 2:30 PM protesters moved to Sarita Vihar and blocked the Delhi-Noida highway for more than two hours.

(Who is Zubair Khan?) Zubair Khan, a Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) alumnus, was arrested late night when returning to his home from Jaitpur after wrapping up a business trip, according to his family members.

Zubair's brother Tayyab Khan told OKHLA TIMES that when we could not find out about his whereabouts we dialed 100. "Later on we went to the local police station to file an FIR. There the cops did not entertain us, raising their hands up. Later on at about 1 PM I got a call from RK Puram crime branch and the officer informed me that my brother was arrested for violating The Official Secret Acts that is spying for Pakistan."

Denying the charges, Tayyab said his brother was innocent.

After completing his studies from JMI and Jawaharlal Univeristy (MA in Urdu), Zubair for some months worked as a manager of weekly Hindi magazine Kanti published by Jamat-E-Islami, claimed Tayyab.

A resident from Bidayon in Uttar Pradesh, later on he shifted with a local real estate company.

His alleged arrest sparked protest in the locality. In the morning of July 18 many people saw hand written posters at tea shops informing residents about the illegal arrest by the Delhi crime branch. Also, residents were urged to turn up in large number at about 10 AM at the police station for protest.

For hours, residents, including Amanatullah Khan, Mehmood Ahmed, Ashu Khan, Congress councilor Shoeb Danish, leader Ameeruddin whose wife has won from women reserved seat of Ward number 205 and others assembled at the police station, blocking the road. (The alleged spy Zubair saga: What leaders, family members and cops say)

As the chorus for justice was growing, local MLA Asif Md Khan turned up with his supporters. He allegedly used abusive language against some police officers, according to an eyewitness. This angered a group that protested and urged Asif to stop insinuation. Upset with this the MLA left the site and didn’t turn up even at Shaheen Bagh where residents for more than three hours blocked the road throwing traffic out of gear.

The situation was brought under control after South east ACP Ajay Chaudhary came and pacified the protesters. Things turned normal only at 5 PM when the residents called off their road blockade.

PHOTO CAPTION: Protesters block the Sarita Vihar road via Kalindi Kunj. Police also in the picture