Athar Khan is an Indian activist known for his involvement in the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). These protests took place across the country in late 2019 and early 2020.[1][2] His participation in the movement included addressing concerns about the potential effects of these policies on citizen rights and the secular nature of India.[3][4][5][6]
Education
In 2013, he enrolled in a bachelor's degree program in Commerce at Delhi University but had to withdraw when his father’s business closed down.[7][8] In 2014, he resumed his studies by enrolling in a bachelor's degree program in Business Administration at Sikkim Manipal University.[9][10]
Life
In 2012, he joined the Nirbhaya Movement, advocating for justice in the high-profile Delhi gang rape and murder case. He later became active in grassroots-level electoral politics. In 2015, he campaigned for Kapil Mishra, who was running for the Karawal Nagar seat in the Delhi Assembly under the Aam Aadmi Party,[11] also assisting Mishra's social media team. Mishra, who at the time shared a close bond with Khan, later delivered a speech that has been linked to the communal violence in Delhi in February 2020, an event after which Khan was subsequently detained.[12][13][14]
Delhi riots conspiracy case
He involved in protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), was detained on 2 July 2020 by the Delhi Police Special Cell. The charges, which include various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA),[15] accuse him of organizing protests linked to the February 2020 Delhi violence. Khan was held in Tihar Jail and was initially denied contact with his family and legal counsel due to COVID-19 protocols.[16] His family,[17] unable to afford private legal representation, has been supported by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights.[18][19]
While Khan has faced multiple charges, including two other FIRs, no concrete evidence has placed him at the specific sites of alleged incidents. His association with anti-CAA activism and his prior ties to a political figure who later made controversial statements about the unrest have, his family believes, contributed to his legal challenges.[20]
He was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell on charges related to organizing and abetting the February 2020 Delhi violence. The charges included criminal conspiracy, sedition, and various offenses under the IPC, UAPA, and PDPP Act.[21]
While in custody, he faced additional charges in two other FIRs. Accused him of robbing a showroom during the unrest, involving charges of rioting and unlawful assembly. Alleged his involvement in the murder of Head Constable Ratan Lal, with charges of murder, unlawful assembly, and damage to public property.[17]
