Kin of arrested protesters worried about ‘dangai’ tag
Proving innocence is difficult; police claim all arrests based on evidence
LUCKNOW: In the aftermath of the violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Lucknow on December 19 and subsequent arrests, many residents of the old city are worried about the future of the youth, some of whom have been branded ‘dangai’ (rioters) by the police.
A woman said the government and the police were calling her husband and her brother rioters and stone-pelters.
“This is painful. It will affect my children adversely,” she said.
“They barged into my house to arrest my husband Imtiaz Ali and brother Imran,” said Hussainabad resident Sheeba Ali.
“My son was also detained but released later. Tell me, why would my husband take our son along for a violent protest? But the police did not listen to us,” she said.
She also said, “I don’t have resources to fight their cases. I am told government is recovering money for damages. How will I pay? Police are not listening to us, proving innocence is difficult and I am alone in this battle.”
With all men of the family in jail, Sheeba Ali is now living at her maternal place as, she says, “Like me, several others are
afraid of even opening the door.”
A woman in her sixties alleged the police assaulted her. “Some protesters entered our house, chased by police. We did not give them (the protesters’) shelter,” she said. “What will you do if two persons barge into your house, followed by the police? We tried to explain but cops assaulted me,”
said the woman, who was not able to walk properly, adding, “They hit my knees.”
The police arrested Khadra resident Samad Anwar, an asthma patient, on December 19 when, his father Mujeeb Anwar claimed, he was going to attend the funeral of his grandfather.
Mujeeb Anwar said, “Police assumed that he was part of the protest.”
“My son was a driver and he will not be able to join back even if he is released from jail. I was pained and shocked to see his name as scrolling on a news channel as a ‘dangai’—rioter,” he said. Gautampalli resident Faiz Ahmad, 27, a businessman, was also arrested on December 19, for alleged involvement in protests.
“My son had gone to the bank and when he came out, police mistook him as a protester,” said his ailing mother. Worried about her son’s health, she also said, “He does not keep well, has poor eyesight. His brother told me that Faiz has a hand injury.”
“As per the medical report, Faiz has a hand injury and he has been advised to see an orthopaedic specialist,” said his brother Asim Ahmad.
When asked to comment on the allegations against the police, superintendent of police (East) Suresh Chandra Rawat said, “All the arrests made by the police are evidence-based. We have sufficient proof against the all the arrested accused, which will be presented before the court . We have yet to receive any complaint of wrongful arrest. However, if anyone feels that their family member has been arrested wrongly, they can lodge a complaint with the police.”