Attack on Umar Khalid: Protesters ask police why no action

NEW DELHI: On the day two men claimed responsibility for the attack on

Umar Khalid

, the organisers of the programme at which JNU research student escaped the assassination bid sat on protest at

Jantar Mantar

. Thursday’s protest was attended by Khalid and his father, both of whom questioned Delhi

Police

for not acting against the alleged perpetrators despite their confessional video.

Khalid’s father, Syed Qasim Illyas Rasool, told TOI that he and his son had recognised one of the men in the confessional video and communicated this to Delhi Police. “The cops keep saying that they will investigate, but there has been no

action

till now,” Rasool said.

In his address to the protestors, Khalid pointed out that despite getting a clean chit in the February 9, 2016 case of alleged anti-national acts, the government was still inciting hate against him through media campaigns and propaganda. “If something happens to me tomorrow, it is not just the killers who should be held responsible,” the JNU student declared. “Those who have carried out a concentrated campaign against me for the last two and half years are also responsible.”

Khalid added that he was no longer afraid of attempts on his life. “I want to thank the government for killing the fear in me. They have put me in jail, started a hate campaign, shot at me, killed several others. What else is left for them to do? This fight will not be stopped by killing one person, we will continue to fight,” he said.

Saying that he harboured no hate towards his assailants, he reasoned that they could also be victims of circumstances, working at the behest of someone else. “I personally feel no hatred toward those who tried to kill me. I pity them. They are being used,” he said.

The protesting crowd included JNU professor and students and, among others, Kavita Krishnan, secretary of All India Progressive Women's Association.