CAA Unrest: Former Teacher Arrested, ‘Brutally Beaten’ in Lucknow

“She has been beaten with a baton on her legs and hands. Police also kicked her abdomen,” Sadaf’s sister said.

Sadaf Jafar.

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook)

Amid reports of mass detainment of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protesters in Uttar Pradesh, the arrest of UP Congress media spokesperson and a former teacher Sadaf Jafar has attracted attention for the manner in which she was picked up and then allegedly beaten by the Police.

Meanwhile, UP court rejected Jafar’s bail plea on Monday, 23 December, stating that “the offences under which she has been booked are serious in nature and she is not entitled to bail.”

What Did Sadaf Do?

UP capital Lucknow witnessed huge rallies against CAA on Thursday, 19 December. Jafar who was also part of one such rally went live on Facebook when some miscreants pelted stones at the local police at city's Parivartan Chowk.

In fact, she was live on video even when the police arrested her.

In one of the videos, she can be seen asking the police why there were complicit and not acting against those being unruly and that the stone pelting incident is a staged one.

“Why are you not stopping them? When there is violence, then you’re standing and watching the show. What’s the use of the helmet? Why aren’t you doing anything?” she can be heard saying.

In the next video, as she is walking by, a police personnel arrests her as she is heard saying, “Why are you arresting me? Why didn’t you arrest the people who were pelting stones?”

Following the arrest, her friends and family were not aware of her whereabouts which led to them taking to the social media.

'Brutally Beaten, Kicked in Abdomen'

Speaking to The Quint, Jafar’s niece Ramsha* said, “She has been shifted to Lucknow jail now. She was subjected to severe police brutality.”

Ramsha* also pointed out that her aunt has been booked under 18 charges that include ‘sabotage,’ ‘attempt to murder,’ and ‘possession of explosives.’

Jafar's sister Shabana* stated, “She has been beaten with a baton on her legs and hands. The police also kicked her abdomen, following which she had internal bleeding.”

The family stated that was on her menstruation cycle too, which they suspect started only after was beaten and kicked in the abdomen.

It was only later that Jafar was provided with basic medical care.

Ramsha* added that a group of lawyers called the Rihai Manch have been helping her pursue the case. “Thankfully, a lot of people are helping us. It’s like the whole city is at it,” she said.

‘Allegations Baseless’: UP Police

Meanwhile, in a video statement released on Twitter, UP Police has claimed that Jafar was arrested on 19 December for creating nuisance and following which she underwent medical checkup.

The police also said that the allegations levelled on them are “baseless.”

On Monday, Uttar Pradesh Congress leaders also met Jafar in jail and alleged that she was given worse treatment than “third degree” by the police.

(Names have been changed as per requests)