Cops book poet Imram Garhee for asking 'Why no Shaheen Bhagh at Hyderabad ?'

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad police have registered a case against a politician-turned-poet from Bihar, Imran Pratapgarhi, who was in the city to address an anti-CAA protest, Ehtaji Mushaira, at Charminar on 24 February. The protest organisers, Khaja Bilal Ahmed and Syed Saleem, were also booked and charged under Sections 188, 505 (1)(b) of the IPC.

Mr Pratapgarhi had contested in the 2019 general election as a Congress candidate from Moradabad Lok Sabha Constituency where he lost.

The Ehtaji Mushaira was held to protest against CAA, NRC, and NPR, and was organized by Syed Saleem from Dabeerpura who runs the Raza-E-Elahi Foundation. He had obtained police permission for the event. The additional commissioner of police (law and order) had given permission to hold the mushaira on the condition that it be held within the permitted hours, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. He had also said that no provocative speeches or slogans which can hurt the sentiments of people be raised during the event. The program started at 6.30 p.m and around 3,000 people attended. However, it continued till 9.48 p.m. When the police deployed for bandobast reminded the organisers to end it on time, they disagreed. A case was registered against them.

During the programme, Mr Pratapgarhi, in one mushaira said “Mujhe hairath hai ki us Hyderabad mein koi Shaheenbagh kyu nahi hai? (Why is there no Shaheenbagh in Hyderabad?)”The police said his comments were provocative and could cause fear among a few sections of the pubic. Some others also made some provocative speeches at the meeting. Accordingly, the police registered a suo-moto case and started an investigation.