NALSAR students screen documentary on activist Prisoner No. 626710 is Present

A group of students at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, screened Prisoner No. 626710 is Present , the controversial documentary on activist Umar Khalid, arrested in connection with the 2020-Delhi riots and charged under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, on its campus on Wednesday.

The event, according to a NALSAR official, was not authorised. The collective of students who organised the event themselves said they had not approached the administration for permission, “to get away from the procedure and an eventual denial,” as recently witnessed in institutions such as National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, and International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT-H).

A small poster, showing a person releasing a bird from its cage, circulated on students’ WhatsApp groups a few days ago was all the invite: “Come attend the screening of Prisoner No. 626710 is Present . 8.30 p.m. Turf.”