Absconding JNU student’s father: Khalid targeted as he is a Muslim

Umar Khalid, a JNU student alleged to be the chief organiser of an event where “anti-India slogans” were chanted, has been targeted because he is a Muslim, his father told HT on Thursday.

Syed Qasim Ilyas, 62, alleged his son was a victim of a trial by media and described reports of Khalid being a terrorist as “wrong and mischievous”. Ilyas, a social activist and national president of the Welfare Party of India, added, “My son is being called a terrorist with links to terror organisations. I am hurt with the divide and rule policy of the government.” Khalid, a former leader of the Democratic Students' Union (DSU), went missing after the sedition case was registered and Kumar was arrested.