Indian student activist Umar Khalid attacked in Delhi after 'Modi govt-backed' hate campaign on media

NEW DELHI - Some unidentified men attacked an outspoken student leader of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Umar Khalid, at the Constitution Club near Parliament in New Delhi, but he remained safe in it.

Khalid, who is in the radar of the Indian government for raising voice in the favour of Kashmiris and criticising BJP-led government, and his associates were having team at a stall outside the Club.

"We were at a tea stall when a man came and attacked us with a pistol. This was in the heart of Delhi. I don't know who those people were. I appeal to the police to investigate the matter," the activist told Indian media.

The attack on the Muslim student was also confirmed by the top brass of the Delhi police. Joint commissioner of police Ajay Chaudhary said that Khalid came under an attack when he along with his friends was taking tea at a stall near the Parliament.

As a result of the attack, Khalid fell down, he said, adding, “He is safe now”. Chaudhry said that a probe has been launched to trace the culprits.

District commissioner of police, Madhur Verma, however said that the police were trying to verify whether Khalid was attacked.

Some onlookers claimed that two shots were fired when the activist was at the entrance of the club, where they have reached to attend attend an event titled 'Khauff Se Azaadi', organised by 'United Against Hate'.

“Attack on me was an attempt to silence the anti-government voices,” Khalid said, adding that an atmosphere of fear was prevailing in the country where no one is allowed to speak against the government.

ATTACK ON KHALID FALLOUT OF MEDIA HATE CAMPAIGN

The attack on Umar Khalid has been condemned by politicians, student leaders and activists saying the incident was the fallout of a "hate campaign" being run on social media and mainstream media.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah slammed the attack in a tweet and said, "Wage a motivated hate campaign against individuals & sooner or later someone will feel emboldened enough to take the law into their own hands. The attack on @UmarKhalidJNU is the direct result of the relentless hate campaign using both social & mainstream media. Glad he’s well."

Wage a motivated hate campaign against individuals & sooner or later someone will feel emboldened enough to take the law in to their own hands. The attack on @UmarKhalidJNU is the direct result of the relentless hate campaign using both social & mainstream media. Glad he’s well.

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 13, 2018

JNU student leader Shehla Rashid also condemned the attack on Twitter and said, “Shocking and highly condemnable: a guy attacked Umar Khalid from behind and tried to shoot him in Delhi. This is the direct result of hatred whipped up by Republic TV & other hate media. I spoke to Umar. He's okay, but we should be very very worried about his safety”.

Shocking and highly condemnable: a guy attacked Umar Khalid from behind and tried to shoot him in Delhi. This is the direct result of hatred whipped up by Republic TV & other hate media. I spoke to Umar. He's okay, but we should be very very worried about his safety.

— Shehla Rashid (@Shehla_Rashid) August 13, 2018

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union termed the attack as a "culmination of the hate-filled propaganda spewed by the Modi government" against Khalid and all those who have raised voiced against the government.

Khalid, along with Kanhaiya Kumar and Anirban Bhattacharya, was arrested in February 2016 on charges of sedition following a controversial event in which anti-India slogans were raised.