A day after the Pune Police searched the residence of Delhi University professor Hany Babu in Noida in connection with its probe into the Elgaar Parishad case for alleged Maoist links, various students and teachers held a protest at Delhi University’s North Campus on Wednesday, 11 September, against the action.
A statement to express solidarity with the professor, purportedly signed by more than 600 people, was also issued, saying that the “surprise searches without warrants are illegal and amount to extreme harassment.”
“We, the undersigned students, express our outrage upon learning that his house has been searched by the police in connection to his alleged involvement in the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case which the Pune police are investigating… It is incumbent upon legal institutions to oppose such arbitrary raids and prevent/oppose the misuse of inherently dangerous laws such as the UAPA.”
The JNU Teachers’ Association on Wednesday also condemned the raids conducted at the residence of Delhi University professor Hany Babu in Noida and called it an attempt "intended to intimidate and harass him".
The Pune Police on Tuesday, 10 September, searched 45-year-old Babu's house in Sector 78 of Noida, adjoining the national capital. Pune Assistant Commissioner of Police Shivaji Pawar said no arrest was made during the search operation.
In a statement later on that day, Babu said that the officers conducted searches without a warrant.
Babu teaches English at Delhi University and is a member of the Alliance for Social Justice.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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