Umar Khalid, a former student leader from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), has been given temporary bail by a court in connection with a case about the 2020 Delhi riots. The bail is for seven days so that he can attend a family wedding. After this period, he will have to return to jail. Khalid has been denied permanent bail multiple times. He was arrested in September 2020, seven months after the riots, which led to 53 deaths and over 700 injuries.

The violence occurred during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens. Khalid is facing charges under the tough Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). According to the police, he was one of the key planners of the riots.

Who is Umar Khalid

Umar Khalid, originally named Syed Umar Khalid, is an Indian student activist and a former research scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). He was also the former leader of the Democratic Students' Union (DSU) at JNU. Khalid was born in Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, and has lived there for 30 years. His father, Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, is from Maharashtra and a former member of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India.

Khalid studied history at Kirori Mal College and JNU, where he completed his MPhil. His dissertation focused on the 'Hos of Singhbhum'. He identifies as a communist and is not a practicing Muslim.

Allegations against Umar Khalid

Khalid was reportedly involved in the JNU sedition case. Often referred to as a political prisoner, he has been in Tihar Jail since September 2020, accused of being involved in the 2020 Delhi Riots, and has been denied bail multiple times, even though his trial hasn't started yet. He is also connected with the United Against Hate campaign, which he co-founded with Nadeem Khan in 2017 to protest against a series of lynchings.

On 24 February 2020, communal clashes broke out in northeast Delhi between supporters and opponents of the Citizenship Amendment Act. After the violence, Delhi Police questioned Umar Khalid about his involvement in the riots and took his mobile phone. He was arrested after 11 hours of questioning. His bail petitions have been rejected multiple times.