Delhi riots 2020: HC to hear Umar Khalid's bail plea in UAPA case on Monday
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court will on Monday hear the bail plea of former JNU student Umar Khalid in a UAPA case related to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the communal riots here in February 2020.
The bail pleas by other co-accused in the case -- student activist Sharjeel Imam and Gulfisha Fatima, 'United Against Hate' founder Khalid Saifi and others -- are also listed for fresh hearing before a bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur.
The cases were earlier before a bench headed by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait but the judge was recently transferred to the Madhya Pradesh High Court as its Chief Justice.
Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and several others have been booked under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and provisions of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly being the "masterminds" of the February 2020 riots, which had left 53 people dead and over 700 injured.
The violence had erupted during the protests against the CAA and NRC.
Umar Khalid, who was arrested by the Delhi Police in September 2020, has assailed a trial court order of May 28, which refused to grant him bail in the case. Notice on his appeal was issued by the high court in July.
The pleas of Imam, Saifi and other accused were filed in 2022 and have been listed before different benches from time to time since then.
Sharjeel Imam, in his appeal filed in 2022, has assailed a trial court order of April 11, 2022 which refused to grant him bail. The police had arrested Imam in the present case on August 25, 2020.
On May 28, the trial court had rejected Umar Khalid's plea seeking regular bail for the second time, saying its previous order dismissing his first bail application had attained finality.
"When the Delhi High Court has already dismissed the criminal appeal of the applicant (Khalid) vide order dated October 18, 2022, and thereafter, the applicant approached the Supreme Court and withdrew his petition, the order of this court as passed on March 24, 2022 (on the first bail plea), has attained finality and now, in no stretch of imagination this court can make analysis of the facts of the case as desired by the applicant and consider the relief as prayed by him," the trial court had said.
On October 18, 2022, the high court had upheld the dismissal of the first bail plea and said the city police's allegations against Umar Khalid are prima facie true.
The high court had said that admittedly, the anti-CAA protests "metamorphosed into violent riots", which "prima facie seemed to be orchestrated at the conspiratorial meetings" and the statements of the witnesses indicate Khalid's "active involvement" in the protests.
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Thousands of Indian students in Canada queue for restaurant jobs, sparks online debate
Toronto: A viral video has raised concerns after allegedly showing a long line of students, reportedly from India, queuing outside the Tandoori Flame restaurant in Brampton, Canada. The footage, which has quickly circulated on social media, captures around 3,000 students waiting to be interviewed for waiter and server positions.
The video, posted on X by Megh Updates, has sparked a debate over the opportunities available for international students, especially those aspiring to study or work in Canada. The caption accompanying the video reads, "Scary scenes from Canada as 3,000 students (mostly Indian) line up for waiter and servant jobs after an advertisement by a new restaurant opening in Brampton. Massive unemployment in Trudeau's Canada? Students leaving India for Canada with rosy dreams need serious introspection!"
Scary scenes from Canada as 3000 students (mostly Indian) line up for waiter & servant job after an advertisement by a new restaurant opening in Brampton.
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) October 3, 2024
Massive unemployment in Trudeau's Canada? Students leaving India for Canada with rosy dreams need serious introspection! pic.twitter.com/fd7Sm3jlfI
While the video’s authenticity is not verified, it has triggered widespread discussions online. Some users expressed concerns over the timing of moving abroad amidst economic uncertainty. One commented, “People need to understand that with a recession looming overhead, this is not the right time to move abroad.”
Others defended the students, suggesting that working part-time in restaurants is a common practice for many international students. One user noted, “If they are students and still studying, working in a restaurant is probably a part-time job to support themselves. That should not be called unemployment.”
Supporters of the students also highlighted the challenges faced by international students, pointing out that many eventually succeed despite difficult initial conditions. “Maybe the beginning is tough for these students who dream big in Canada. I have seen that, despite extremely tough conditions, they eventually succeed and lead enriching lives compared to back home,” read one comment.
