Umar Khalid’s Five Years in Jail Without Trial a “Derailment of Justice”: Rights Groups

New Delhi, September 13: Human rights groups have strongly criticized the continued imprisonment of activist and former student leader Umar Khalid, who has now spent five years in jail without a trial. They say his case highlights a troubling erosion of justice and democratic rights in India.

Khalid, arrested in September 2020 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), is accused of involvement in a conspiracy related to the 2020 Delhi riots. He has repeatedly denied all charges, calling them politically motivated. Despite multiple bail pleas, courts have denied him release, and the trial has yet to begin.

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), have condemned the delay. “Five years in prison without a trial is a miscarriage of justice and a failure of due process,” said a joint statement from several civil rights groups. “This sets a dangerous precedent where dissent is criminalized and legal delays are used as punishment.”

Khalid was a prominent voice during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests and has long been associated with student activism and minority rights. His supporters argue that his continued detention is part of a broader pattern of using anti-terror laws to silence peaceful dissent.

Legal experts have also raised concerns about the misuse of the UAPA, which allows for extended detention without trial. “When the process becomes the punishment, it raises serious questions about the health of our democracy,” said a senior advocate.

Calls for his release and a speedy trial have grown louder, with many urging the judiciary to uphold constitutional values and ensure justice is not delayed indefinitely.