Bengaluru Police File FIR Over Umar Khalid Poster at Freedom Park NEET Protest

Bengaluru City Police registered a suo motu FIR against an unidentified woman after she displayed posters praising jailed scholars Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam during a protest against the NEET question paper leak at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on July 24.

The posters displayed by the young woman contained messages supporting the two scholars, who are accused in the 2020 North-East Delhi riots case booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. According to police, one poster also carried a derogatory slogan against the Bengaluru police. Authorities stated that the slogans were capable of provoking the public and disturbing communal harmony and public order.

Police seized the posters at the demonstration site, but the woman left before her identity could be established. The case was registered under Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which pertains to wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot.

The police action has drawn opposition from student activists and political groups. Aratrika, Bengaluru General Secretary of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), which had organised the protest at Freedom Park, called the FIR baseless and demanded its withdrawal. She questioned how expressing solidarity with or demanding justice for the two scholars could amount to a criminal offence.

CPI(ML) leader Clifton D’Rozario urged the Karnataka government to act against the police, noting that the scholars are undertrials rather than convicted terrorists. He added that an event for Umar Khalid's recent book release had been held in Bengaluru with police security provided. Shivani from the Lawyers Association also argued that expressing solidarity with undertrials falls within democratic discourse because individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The incident has sparked a political clash in the state. Karnataka BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra accused the Congress government and the Home Department of failing to stop anti-national activities at the demonstration and called for strict action. In response, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge defended the state police's impartiality, stating they know how to enforce the law without being influenced by rhetoric.