Mohammad Junaid, a volunteer who distributed food and drinking water to protesters during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led agitation at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, and his family have been released after allegations of police harassment, according to his lawyer.
In a post on Instagram, Junaid’s lawyer said that Junaid and all his family members had been released. “Mohammad Junaid and his whole family have been released and set free, as confirmed by one of the family members… he and his family are free now,” the lawyer wrote.
Allegations of Detention and Family Harassment
Junaid had alleged that Delhi Police detained him on Friday night while he was returning from RML Hospital after receiving treatment for a dog bite. According to him, men in plain clothes stopped him and identified themselves as Delhi Police personnel.
He claimed he was blindfolded, his phone was taken away, and he was kept overnight at an unknown location. The next morning, he alleged that officials questioned him about the source of funds used to provide food and water to protesters at Jantar Mantar.
Junaid said he informed the officers that the meals and drinking water were arranged through public donations and deliveries from supporters. He further alleged that he was later taken to Mussoorie and abandoned there, from where he hired a cab back to Delhi.
Delhi Police has said it is looking into his allegations.
Claims of Police Raids in Uttar Pradesh
Junaid also accused Uttar Pradesh Police of raiding his home in Masoori, Ghaziabad, where he alleged that his father, Mustafa, was detained and family documents, including PAN cards, Aadhaar cards and bank passbooks, were seized.
He further claimed that police visited his sister’s home in Meerut and detained her husband and father-in-law while asking the family to persuade him to return home from Delhi.
Meerut Police denied these allegations, stating that no members of Junaid’s family had been detained.
APCR Extends Support
The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) stepped in, sending teams from its Ghaziabad and Meerut units to meet Junaid’s family. The organisation assured them of legal assistance and support.
According to APCR, Masuri Station House Officer Harendra Malik held discussions with Junaid’s father regarding the matter. The rights group said it warned authorities that any unlawful action against the family would be challenged in court.
“We have made it clear that if such action continues, it will be strongly resisted and the concerned officials will also be made parties in the legal proceedings,” APCR said in a statement.
Similar Allegations During Protest
The development comes amid other reports of alleged police action against Muslims linked to the CJP-led protests. Earlier, a group of five Muslim students returning to Jamia Millia Islamia from Jantar Mantar reportedly claimed they were taken to a police station late at night and released only after others intervened.
The CJP-led protest, which began over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, concluded after the Centre held talks with the organisation and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, taking responsibility for the controversy.
