The Delhi Police's crime branch on Sunday arrested a student of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University in connection with December 15 riots in the Jamia area in Delhi over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
According to police, 24-year-old Asif Iqbal Tanha was instrumental in orchestrating the anti-CAA protests and riots on December 15. Asif Iqbal Tanha was produced before a metropolitan magistrate who remanded him in judicial custody till May 31.
Police said Asif is a key member of the Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) which spearheaded protests against the new citizenship law.
"He has been arrested in connection with a case which was registered at Jamia police station on December 15, 2019 in connection with riots in the Jamia area in which he was named an accused," a senior police officer said.
Asif Iqbal Tanha, who is pursuing his Bachelor of Arts (BA) in the Persian language, is an active member of Students Islamic Organisation and had participated in the Delhi riots over the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Asif, a resident of Shaheen Bagh, was named as an accused in the case registered by Delhi Police on December 16, 2019.
According to Delhi Police, Asif Tanha played an active role in orchestrating protests and riots in Jamia in December 2019. "He is a close associate of Umar Khalid, Sharjil Imam, Meeran Haider and Shafoora who had been the key members of anti CAA protests and subsequent riots in Delhi," police said.
Last month, another Jamia Millia Islamia student Safoora Zagar was arrested by the police for her alleged role in Delhi riots. Many arrested students from Jamia have been charged under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
Meanwhile, the students of Jamia have started a campaign #ReleaseAsifTanha on social media accusing the Centre of targeting the students.
On December 15 last year, protesters torched four public buses and two police vehicles as they clashed with police in New Friends'' Colony near Jamia Millia Islamia during a demonstration against the amended Citizenship Act, leaving at least 40 people including students, policemen and firefighters injured, officials had then said.