New Delhi (HRNW)- Concerns over the prolonged detention of Indian activist Umar Khalid have intensified, with critics alleging that he has been denied a fair and speedy trial under India’s controversial anti-terror legislation.
According to the account, BJP leaders accused of making inflammatory speeches during the Delhi riots remain free, while Khalid has continued to remain in prison without trial. He has also reportedly been denied bail.
The Indian publication The Quint has reported that Khalid, who has spent years in custody, is experiencing severe mental distress, including a reported sensation of suffocation and difficulty breathing.
Khalid’s continued imprisonment has also caused distress within his family. His father has reportedly expressed a lack of confidence in India’s justice system, describing it as dysfunctional.
New York Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani has written to Khalid to express solidarity, while former Indian judge Deepak Gupta has criticized delays in the proceedings, arguing that prolonged judicial delays have deprived Khalid of his liberty and right to a speedy trial.
The case has renewed debate over prolonged pre-trial detention, judicial delays and the application of anti-terror laws in India.
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