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Jignesh Mevani and Umar Khalid event in city called off, 112 people detained

Police stopped students from attending conference, 50 detained at Bhaidas Hall in Vile Parle

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Pradeep Narwal, student leader from JNU was detained by Juhu police outside Bhaidas hall at Vile Parle on Thursday
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High-end drama ensued outside Vile Parle’s Bhaidas Hall on Thursday after the police denied permission to students from attending a student conference and detained over fifty people at the venue. A total of 112 people including organisers were detained at various places in Mumbai in connection with the event.

‘Rashtriya Chattra Sammelan’ is an annual conference of Chattra Bharati, a student organisation. This year, Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani and Umar Khalid along with MLC Kapil Patil, Allahabad student union leader Richa Singh, and several others were lined up as speakers for the event, which was scheduled to be held at the Bhaidas Hall in Vile Parle between 11 am to 6 pm on Thursday.

On Thursday morning the Juhu police sealed the auditorium and did not allow entry to any of the students. “We tried to enter the venue when the police had already sealed the location. We tried telling them that the event was merely a conference but they did not listen. In the next few minutes, we all were detained” said Sachin Bansode, President, Chattra Bharati.

Hundreds of students who had come from across the state were detained by the Juhu police from various places. “We tried to reach the venue but were picked up by the police even before we could reach there. There was no reasoning, no interrogation or explanation” said Priyanka Hade, a Class 11 student from Dahisar.

MLC Kapil Patil, Richa Singh and JNU leader Pradeep Narwal were taken to the Juhu police station in the morning and later shifted to Santacruz police station where their phones were confiscated. “ The police picked us up even before the event. At the Santacruz police station, they snatched our phones even though we weren’t arrested but merely detained” said Richa Singh.

“What the government is doing is a mockery of democracy. Students are being detained for holding conferences and free thought is being arrested all across the country. This orchestrated state repression has encouraged us to conduct even more such events “ said Suresh Khairnare, National President, Rashtra Seva Dal. 

“Neither Mevani, nor Khalid had arrived. 112 persons, including organisers of the event, and Kapil Patil were picked under Bombay Police Act to ensure the peace is not disturbed,” said Senior Police Inspector Sunil Ghoshalkar, Juhu Police Station.

TIMELINE

9.30 am 
Police reach Bhaidas hall, seal the venue and hand over notice to a notice(NOTICE TO A NOTICE??) to Chattra Bharati denying permission for the event 

10 am-11am
Hundreds of students are picked up from various locations including Vile Parle station, Santacruz and near the Mithibai college junction

11 am to 12.30 pm
Richa Singh, Pradeep Narwal, MLC Kapil Patil detained by the Juhu police 

2 pm 
Detained leaders shifted to Santacruz police station, their phones were taken away 

3.30 pm 
Leaders and students released by the police

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