Umar Khalid’s legal woes put spotlight on stringency of UAPA

Khalid’s denial of bail underscores harsh realities faced by the UAPA accused, triggering a debate on balance between national security and individual liberty

Former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) scholar Umar Khalid was denied bail for the second time by a Delhi trial court on Tuesday. Khalid, who has been in custody since September 2020, is facing charges under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA, in connection with the northeast Delhi riots of February 2020, which claimed 53 lives and left hundreds injured. The February 2020 riots in the Capital occurred amid a months-long protests against a contentious citizenship law.

Khalid is facing charges under the stringent UAPA, in connection with the northeast Delhi riots of February 2020. (Sonu Mehta/HT Archive)