Two Youths Detained in Panaji for Expressing Support for Activist Umar Khalid

Police in Panaji detained two youths on Saturday for expressing support for student activist Umar Khalid during a protest at Azad Maidan, officials said. The protest was initially held to celebrate the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, following nationwide demonstrations over the NEET paper leak issue.

Umar Khalid, a former student activist at Jawaharlal Nehru University, has been arrested in connection with a case related to the northeast Delhi riots in February 2020. He is currently in jail awaiting trial.

During the Saturday gathering, a youth identified as Danish held a placard expressing support for Khalid. When questioned by media, he stated that he supported the cause of Khalid's release. A senior police officer present at the site took Danish into custody after he refused to disclose his identity.

Following Danish's detention, the group marched to the Panaji Police Headquarters demanding his release. Amid the sloganeering, another person, Sudin Dalvi, also expressed support for Khalid and was subsequently detained, police officials said.

Police stated that a First Information Report (FIR) will be registered against the two individuals. The specific sections under which they will be charged are yet to be determined.

Separately, members of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) protested outside the Panaji police station, demanding stringent action against the two youths. BJYM Goa president Tushar Kelkar called for the registration of non-bailable offences against them, alleging that they were supporting an "anti-national" element.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions around the expression of support for individuals charged in high-profile cases, with authorities facing calls for both restraint and strict action.