Six Muslim students held for protesting arrest over ‘namaz’ at UP university
New Delhi: Six Muslim students were arrested for holding a protest at a university in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut against the imprisonment of a fellow student for offering namaz on the campus.
According to Kashmir Media Service, around 400 students staged a silent demonstration demanding the release of Khalid Pradhan leading to a police action. Police used lathis to disperse the crowd which was protesting peacefully.
“Our university also celebrates puja, but why this one-sided torture on Muslims who are fasting in the holy month of Ramadan?” a student was quoted by themedia as saying.
The authorities called the protest illegal, citing the absence of prior permission.
Shan Mohammad, a student leader at the protest, complained of the police misbehaviour with the demonstrators. “They invited us to the police station for talks but instead detained many of us,” he said.
The police action reportedly stemmed from an Instagram video showing students offering namaz, which went viral and fuelled online and offline hate campaign against Muslims.
Khalid, 22, was arrested for offering namaz in an open space on the campus.
