Delhi Police Raises Alarm Over Misuse of Education by Professionals

Post by : Raina Nasser

Delhi Police has expressed alarm about an alarming trend where educated professionals are reportedly misappropriating state-funded education to engage in anti-national endeavors. This issue came to light during the Supreme Court proceedings addressing bail applications for activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and others linked to the 2020 Delhi riots.

Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, representing the Delhi Police, informed the Supreme Court that some educated individuals are utilizing state support to become doctors and engineers, subsequently participating in hazardous activities detrimental to the nation. He cautioned that “when intellectuals become terrorists, they pose a greater threat than those involved directly.”

The Delhi Police referenced recent incidents like the Red Fort explosion and the identification of a Jaish-e-Mohammed-affiliated “white collar” terror module traceable to Haryana’s Al-Falah University. In a notable case, authorities apprehended a doctor who had approximately 2,900 kilograms of explosives. This doctor, Dr. Umar Nabi, allegedly executed a car explosion near the Red Fort that resulted in 14 fatalities. A series of arrests involving several doctors linked to these incidents followed.

The bench of the Supreme Court, including Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria, deliberated on the bail requests of Imam, Khalid, and the rest of the accused. The activists face charges under the harsh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for supposedly conspiring to ignite the northeast Delhi riots in February 2020, which stemmed from the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The riots caused over 50 casualties and resulted in more than 700 injuries.

During discussions, the Delhi Police underscored that the violence was “orchestrated, pre-planned, and well-designed,” contrary to being spontaneous. Evidence was shown of Sharjeel Imam delivering provocative speeches allegedly inciting violence against the CAA, a law granting Indian citizenship to persecuted religious minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

ASG Raju additionally asserted that the activists aimed to block essential supplies to Delhi and economically undermine the “chicken’s neck” region of Assam, which connects India’s northeast to the mainland. He noted that the timing of the riots aligned with former U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to India in February 2020, implying it was a strategic act.

The assertions from the Delhi Police reveal overarching concerns regarding the exploitation of professional and educational resources for activities that jeopardize national security. The Supreme Court has yet to reach a decision on the bail applications of the accused activists.