Umar Khalid submits fresh plea for security to cops

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) PhD scholar Umar Khalid, who was allegedly attacked by an unidentified man outside Constitution Club on Monday, has submitted a fresh application to Delhi Police seeking security for himself.

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) PhD scholar Umar Khalid, who was allegedly attacked by an unidentified man outside Constitution Club on Monday, has submitted a fresh application to Delhi Police seeking security for himself.

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Umar Khalid speaks to the media moments after he was shot at, during an event at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on Monday, Aug 13, 2018. (PTI File Photo)

The application, Khalid’s fourth since February 2016, was submitted on Wednesday. In 2016, Khaled and his father, Syed Qasim Illyas Rasool, had received death threats allegedly from gangster Ravi Pujari, an alleged aide of underworld don Chhota Rajan. While Rasool was provided police security, Khalid is yet to receive any protection.

On Wednesday afternoon, Khalid joined the probe that is being carried out by the special cell – anti-terror squad — of Delhi police. The investigating team took Khalid to the Constitution Club and recreated the crime scene to understand the sequence of events that led to the incident.

“Khalid was asked to describe Monday’s incident in detail to the investigating team. Investigators also asked him about people who he suspects may be involved in the attack. He was shown the CCTV grab of the suspect. But he claimed he had not seen or met the man ever,” said a senior police officer.

Khalid, a former JNU student leader, was present at the special cell’s office when a police team approached him and sought his fresh application for security. “I wrote the application there and handed it over to them. They asked me certain questions which I answered. When I asked them if I will get police security now, the policemen said they will forward the file to the concerned branch,” said Khalid.

“My previous applications are pending. Do they (police) want me to get killed?” he added.

Khalid refused to comment on what questions was asked during his stay at the special cell office.

Police are yet to identify the attacker who, according to some eyewitnesses, had fired at Khalid outside Constitution Club. He was then chased by Khalid’s friends and the suspect’s pistol fell on the road as he fled towards Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. The pistol found the gun to be jammed and six bullets intact inside.

Police have still not confirmed if a bullet was fired from the pistol before it got jammed and said they are waiting for the ballistic report. Meanwhile, more than 50 people have been questioned in connection to the case but police are yet to make a breakthrough.