Jamia Millia Islamia student held for role in December violence

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police’s Crime Branch has arrested a BA student from Jamia Millia Islamia for his alleged involvement in the riots that took place outside the university in December last year. Asif Iqbal Tanha, an office-bearer of Students Islamic Organisation, was allegedly found to be instigating some students for violence during the anti-CAA protests outside the university on December 16.He was arrested on the basis of eyewitness accounts.
Tanha, a resident of Hazaribagh in Jharkhand, was staying in Abul Fazl Enclave and pursuing a bachelor’s course in Arabic from Jamia. He was also one of the leaders of the United Against Hate movement.
Tanha, along with student leader Chandan Kumar and former MLA Asif Muhammad Khan, was named in the FIR registered at the Jamia Nagar police station after the December violence.
The Crime Branch called Tanha for questioning at their office in Chanakyapuri and arrested him. “In several videos, Tanha was seen leading students who later got violent and started pelting stones,” said police sources.
During interrogation, the accused told the police officers that he tried to contain the students, but left the spot when the crowd grew violent.
The FIR against Tanha stated that he had asked his followers to block the road near the university even as a mob had gone berserk and burnt several DTC buses. He, along with others, had allegedly been provoking the students for three days before the riots broke out.
Tanha was produced before a judge and later sent to judicial custody till May 31. The other two accused are likely to be called for questioning soon.
“Tanha had played an active role in organising protests and riots at Jamia in December 2019. He is a close associate of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Meeran Haider and Shafoora who were the key members of anti-CAA protests and subsequent riots,” said an officer.