The alleged spy Zubair saga: What leaders, family members and cops say

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After 2 PM on July 18 the attention was shifted from Jamia police station in Okhla, New Delhi, to Shaheen Bagh on the Sarita Vihar road that links the Delhi-Noida highway. Some residents led by local leaders blocked the road for more than two hours in the afternoon, demanding immediate release of Zubair Khan, picked up from Shaheen Bagh on the night of July 17 by the Delhi crime branch on charge of allegedly working for a Pakistani intelligence agency.

Worked for Pakistani intelligence: Cops
Officials claimed the Zubair (Who is Zubair Khan?) was reportedly arrested after several classified documents and photographs belonging to the Indian Army were found in his possession. Also, officials claimed that he was planning to “supply” the secret documents to an agent of Pakistani High Commission in the city.

Family members of Zubair rubbished the allegation. His brother Tayyab Khan said: “My brother is innocent.” Following his arrest there were also “rumours” in the area that he once worked in Pakistan High Commission. Tayyab refuted it and said he never worked there. “He had travelled to Lahore five years ago on a valid visa and passport for one day to watch a cricket match.”

Also he pointed out that Zubair is not wealthy as he lives in a 50 square-yard house and works for just Rs 10,000 a month salary.”

But the officials and police are not convinced. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), Sanjay Jain said: “On July 17, we found him in possession of certain classified documents, including photographs, pertaining to the Indian Army. He was arrested from near a park in Kalindi Kunj and produced in court today.”

Zubair produced in court
Zubair was produced in the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Manish Yaduvanshi on Wednesday and remanded into two-day police custody. The police told the court that the accused “needed to be interrogated at length” to unearth the entire conspiracy and identify the persons who supplied him the secret documents.

“The associated terror groups in India and Pakistan rely heavily on the informer network and Zubair was an integral part of this,” police said.

However, leaders and more than 150 residents, including youth, who had turned up to protest were not convinced and said it is all frame up. They shouted anti-Delhi police slogan, braving high humidity and blistering heat. From time to time residents distributed water bottles to protesters and leaders to quench their thirst and for the protest to prolong. (Late night arrest of Shaheen Bagh youth stokes anger among locals, road blocked)

Conspiracy to defame the area: Leaders
Congress councilor Shoeb Danish said: “Once again the local police was not informed in such arresting. There are efforts to tarnish the image of Jamia Nagar. And these arrests have a trend. They always take place during Ramadan. This witch hunting should stop.”

Ameeruddin, whose wife won the councilor election from ward number 205 a women reserved seat, said: “We want this illegal arrest game to end as soon as possible. The youth should be released. We will continue our protest as long as we don’t get any positive response from senior police officials.”

Educated youth being targeted: Jawed
Congress leader Jawed Alam said: “A few days ago in a meeting with senior cops we were assured that no arrest will be made without informing the local police station. And this morning we come to know that another youth has been arrested. It looks that educated youth are being targeted.”

Journalist turned politician Mahmood Ahmed said: “Such arrest should be halted. Local police should be informed before such arrests are made.”

Samajwadi Party Delhi state secretary Hamid Ali said: “There is trend all over India to target educated youth. Besides, Jamia Nagar continues to be at the radar despite senior cops assuring us that youth will not be picked up without informing local police station the action continues.”

Arrival of top cop and patience
Residents who had assembled there in large number to protest the arrest were furious at the way things were unfolding. And when patience of protesters was running thin, a senior police officer informed the arrival of South east ACP Ajay Chaudhary.

He was received by anti-Delhi police slogan. The ACP managed the show well by giving a patience hearing to protesters and Amanatullah Khan, who was leading from the front. Other leaders wished the ACP and shook hands.

It was then that Khan took over. He told the ACP about the continued witch-hunting of Muslim youths in Delhi and other places. Later on Shoeb Danish too complained to the ACP about the shabby treatment being given to Muslim youths of Jamia Nagar by picking them up at will.

While addressing the protesters, ACP Ajay Chaudhary requested them to end the blockade. When asked to comment on the issue, he declined to comment to OKHLA TIMES. The leaders didn’t budge to the ACP’s request and said they were willing to go to jail for the cause.

Leaders surrender for arrest
Later on Amanatullah, Ameeruddin and other leaders were taken on the vehicle to another police station. But the protesters continued their grounds and didn’t end the blockade. The police showed a lot of patience and kept on requesting the residents to end blockade as it was creating trouble for others.

Blocakde comes to an end
When the residents didn’t agree after a while leaders including Amanatullah who had willingly gone with the police to be arrested were brought back to the troubled spot. It was here that high drama unfolded with many youths not willing to give up until the release of Zubair. After half an hour of hard work, protesters were convinced and everything came to a peacful end.

PHOTO CAPTION: Some residents block the Shaheen Bagh road that connects Noida