UP Police Allegedly Detain Family of Muslim Man Providing Aid at Jantar Mantar Protest

The ongoing protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar has taken a troubling turn as Muhammad Junaid, a Muslim activist, has accused the Uttar Pradesh Police of detaining his family members in an effort to locate him. Junaid, who has been actively providing food and water to demonstrators since the protest commenced on June 6, claims that his family in Ghaziabad faced harassment from law enforcement officials.

According to Junaid, police arrived at his residence on Thursday evening and took his father into custody temporarily, only to release him later that night. However, the following day, officers returned and detained his father once again. Moreover, they allegedly apprehended his sister’s father-in-law and brother-in-law in Meerut, transporting them to the Masoori Police Station in Ghaziabad.

Junaid reported that during these encounters, police confiscated significant personal documents from his family, including bank passbooks and Aadhaar cards, and insisted that they would only release those detained if Junaid presented himself at the police station. He vehemently stated that he has not been implicated in any criminal activities and considers these actions a form of intimidation.

Since the protest began, Junaid has observed that many participants were struggling to find drinking water amid the sweltering summer heat. In response, he initiated the distribution of water to help fellow protesters stay hydrated, a gesture that soon grew larger as he was joined by other volunteers. His altruistic efforts, however, seem to have drawn the attention of the police, leading to the alarming allegations of intimidation against his family.

This incident raises serious questions about the treatment of individuals involved in peaceful protests and highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding civil rights in India. As protests continue to unfold at Jantar Mantar, the actions of law enforcement will be scrutinized, with calls for accountability and respect for human rights becoming increasingly vocal.

Source: scroll.in