Home razed, 20 months in jail: UP activist on life after media trial, ‘police betrayal’ & bail

Javed Mohammad is out on bail after spending around 20 months in Uttar Pradesh’s Deoria jail.
Accused of being the mastermind behind the protests that erupted in Prayagraj over Nupur Sharma’s remarks on Prophet Muhammad, the 58-year-old activist was booked in eight cases, including under the UP Gangsters Act and the National Security Act.
The police are yet to prove any of its allegations against the activist in the courts of law - just months ago, Javed’s house was demolished with sections of the media cheering for “bulldozer justice”.
The activist has been granted bail in all of the cases. During the hearing in which he was most recently granted bail, in a case pertaining to the Gangsters Act, the court noted that the prosecution “has not produced any material to demonstrate that the applicant comes within the definition of ‘gangster’ and ‘gang’”.
In a conversation with Newslaundry, Javed Mohammed speaks about life before and after bail, “betrayal” by the police, the alleged targeting of his communal identity, and his continued faith in the judiciary.
Watch.
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0:00- 1:10 Who is Javed Mohammed?
01:11- 2:22 On his time in jail
2:23- 4:39 How did the Prayagraj riots start?
4:40 -8:14 What did the administration do?
8:15 -9:56 How was Javed arrested?
9:57- 13:23 In the run up to the demoliton
13:24- 14:29 Bulldozer 'justice'
14:30 - 15:46 How did the police delay justice?
15:47 - 17:14 What was Javed charged with?
17:15- 21:00 Gangster Prevention Act and other laws
21:01- 23:14 Why did the police arrest Javed?
23:15 - 24:19 Javed’s reaction with other administrative bodies
24:20 - 25:40 Javed's involvement in CAA case
25:41 - 28:13 How true is 'sabka saath, sabka vikas'?
28:14 -29:02 What did the police find on Javed's phone?
29:03 - 30:16 Is it harder to find justice for minorities under BJP?
30:17 - 32:05 Who were the other people in jails
32:06 - 33:33 A message to the government
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