Background
Afsar Alam is an activist arrested during the protest in Ranchi. In June 2022, protesters gathered to demand the arrest of the former Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammad on national television. The protests were held peacefully at different places, including Kanpur, Allahabad, and Jharkhand, seeking accountability from the administration. The police opened fire at protesters and resorted to other violent methods to control the mob. The administrative failure led to the deaths of two Muslim youths and left dozens with severe injuries.
Alam received six bullets and was arrested later with five other activists for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to disrupt the peace and harmony of the nation. The arrests were condemned by civil society and human rights groups, accusing the right-wing government of systematically targeting Muslim activists and protesters for their peaceful democratic assertion.
Charges and Allegations
Sections 147 (Punishment for rioting), 148 (Rioting, armed with a deadly weapon), 149 (Common Object), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 353 (Wrongful confinement), 295A (Injuring or defiling and place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class), 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion)
504 (intentional insults with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.
Current Status
The Court of the additional judicial commissioner, Ranchi, rejected the bail of the five accused, including Afsar Alam, in November 2022.
Not released yet.