Umar Khalid documentary screening cancelled at Bengaluru National Law School

Activists Shrishti Khanna and Prashant Pundir have accused Mumbai police of pressuring venues to cancel a screening of a documentary featuring Umar Khalid, a former JNU student leader who was arrested in connection with the Delhi riots case. The documentary, titled "Prisoner No. 626710 Is Present," was supposed to be screened in solidarity with Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who are also in jail since 2020.

According to Khanna and Pundir, police raided their original venue and threatened the venue manager of their final venue, leading to the screening being cancelled. Despite the cancellation, the activists claim that police continued to monitor the situation, even showing up in civilian clothes to intimidate venues into cancelling the screening.

The documentary, directed by Lalit Vachani, centers on Khalid and has been opposed by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) due to its uncertified status.

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