Background
Haseen is a local activist who was arrested during the protests against the discriminatory citizenship bill. The protest against the citizenship amendment erupted in different parts of India in 2019–20. Muslim youth and activists were arrested in different states. In Uttar Pradesh (UP), the right-wing government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took extreme measures to trample on the dissent. On December 20, 2019, the protesters were heavily crushed, several Muslim men were shot dead by cops in Kanpur and other parts of UP, and the violence escalated. Soon after the incident, the Muslim youth were arrested arbitrarily for their alleged involvement in the protests.
Haseen says that he was not present at the place of the incident. Haseen was not named in the FIR; however, he was arrested by police and has been in jail since August 22, 2020.
Charges and Allegations
Sections 147, 148, 149, 332, 353, 336, 307, 188, 427, 34, 109, 302 (murder), and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Section 3/4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984; Section 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1944; and Section 27 of the Arms Act, 1959
Current Status
The Allahabad High Court granted bail to Haseen on November 1, 2022. The High Court observed, “that the accused had not been named in the FIR, and there was no evidence on record to indicate that he was a part of the mob that participated in the protests.”
Haseen was released after languishing in jail for 26 months.