Mohammad Junaid, a volunteer associated with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protest against paper leaks at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, has alleged that he was blindfolded and detained after being stopped by individuals who identified themselves as Delhi Police while returning from RML Hospital, where he had gone for treatment following a dog bite.
Junaid, whose videos of distributing free food and drinking water to students at the protest have gone viral on social media, also claimed that police questioned members of his family.
Delhi Police has not issued any statement on the allegations, while Meerut Police has denied taking any action against Junaid's relatives.
According to Junaid, he was bitten by a dog at around 10.50 pm or 10.55 pm on July 24. He said he took the animal to RML Hospital and left around 12.10 am. While returning in an autorickshaw with others, the group was allegedly stopped.
"As soon as we had travelled 50-60 metres, some people blocked our way with their vehicles. At first, we thought they had come to kill us," Junaid alleged.
He said the group then introduced themselves as Delhi Police officers.
"They said, 'Don't worry, we are Delhi Police.' I asked them to show their identity cards so I could feel reassured. They showed them to us," he said.
Junaid alleged that he and the others were then blindfolded and taken to an undisclosed location.
"I don't know where they took us. We were kept there the whole night. They told us we would be released within 10 minutes if we gave satisfactory answers," he said.
According to Junaid, officers questioned him the following morning about the funding behind the food distribution at the protest.
"They kept asking, 'Where does the funding come from? How are you distributing so much food?'" he recalled.
Junaid said he explained that volunteers collectively arranged the food, with some placing orders through food delivery apps while others brought food and water directly to the protest site.
He claimed he was later dropped in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, from where he hired a cab back to Delhi.
'IF SERVING WATER IS A CRIME...'
Rejecting any suggestion of a criminal background, Junaid said he had never faced any criminal charges.
Speaking to The Lallantop, India Today's sister channel, he said, "I have zero criminal cases against me. I am not a criminal. We are only fighting for students."
Junaid alleged that he was being targeted because the volunteer network supporting the protest had grown.
"They don't want us to continue serving the movement. They don't like seeing Hindus and Muslims standing together for education," he claimed.
A practising advocate preparing for judicial services examinations, Junaid said he had not returned home since June 20 and had spent nearly every day at the protest site organising food and drinking water for students.
"If giving someone food or drinking water is considered a crime, then I will commit that 'crime' a thousand times over," he said.
"This is about the future of lakhs of students. If my sacrifice helps them get justice, I am ready for it."
'THE HAND THAT FED PROTESTERS' BREAKS DOWN
In another interview, Junaid expressed disappointment over what he described as a lack of communication from CJP leaders.
"I have been completely ignored by the CJP leadership. They are not in touch with me. Even if you keep an animal with you for 24 hours, you begin to care for it. I stayed with them for 35 days as a human being... I fed them for 35 days," he said.
"The bond won't break... But they should have met me or at least shaken my hand. We didn't even exchange phone numbers. We may never meet again," Junaid said, breaking down during an interview with Hindustan Live.
JUNAID SEEKS LEGAL SUPPORT FROM CJP
Asked whether the Cockroach Janta Party was supporting him, Junaid said the organisation should stand by him because he had supported the movement.
"They should support us. We stood with them. We fought alongside them. Their legal team is working," he said.
Junaid added that he had received one or two phone calls from CJP spokesperson Ratna Singh.
"They should focus on this issue. There should be a legal team. There should be action," he said.
When asked whether anyone else from the organisation had contacted him, he said he had not received any further response.
FAMILY ALLEGES POLICE PRESSURE IN GHAZIABAD
The controversy widened after Junaid's family alleged that police visited their home in Nahal village in Ghaziabad.
According to the family, Junaid's father, Mustafa, was taken to Masuri police station for questioning. Junaid claimed his father was picked up twice within a few hours before being released.
He also alleged that officers seized bank passbooks, Aadhaar cards and other documents belonging to family members. According to him, police instructed the family to bring him to the police station.
"They told my family to bring me to the police station," he alleged.
Junaid further claimed that his sister's father-in-law and brother-in-law in neighbouring Meerut were also detained.
His sister told media outlets that police had asked the family to contact Junaid and persuade him to return home.
POLICE DENY DETENTION ALLEGATIONS
Police have disputed several of Junaid's claims.
Ghaziabad DCP (Rural) Surendranath Tiwari confirmed that Mustafa had been called to Masuri police station but said it was part of a routine inquiry and that he was released shortly afterwards.
"The allegation of arrest is incorrect," Tiwari said.
Junaid's father later released a video confirming that he had been questioned at the police station before being allowed to return home.
Meerut Police also denied detaining any of Junaid's relatives.
Senior Superintendent of Police Avinash Pandey said no such incident had come to his notice, while SP (City) Vinayak Gopal Bhonsle said checks with all local police stations found no record of any detention.
"No such matter has come to my notice," Pandey told PTI.
Bhonsle said if police from another district had taken any action, details would be available with that district.
Senior Ghaziabad police officials did not respond to allegations regarding the seizure of the family's documents.
IMRAN PRATAPGARHI MEETS JUNAID
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi met Junaid and extended his support.
In a video message, Pratapgarhi said he had watched a video of Junaid crying and described it as deeply distressing.
"I saw you crying yesterday. It was very painful. We will raise your issue in Parliament. We will fight. We will not back down. Don't be afraid," he told Junaid.
Pratapgarhi alleged that Junaid had been detained, blindfolded and harassed before being released the following day.
"I am sitting with him this morning and listening to his story," the Congress MP said.
He also praised Junaid for providing food and support to students participating in the protest.
"He never cared who the student was or where they came from. They were simply students. Along with his entire team, Junaid stood by them," Pratapgarhi said.
Calling Junaid an example of India's diversity, he said the volunteer team included people from different communities.
"There was Sardarji, Mishraji, Sharmaji and even a Christian brother. Junaid has presented the true image of India before the country," he said.
"We are all proud of Junaid. We are all standing with him. Every peace-loving citizen of this country is standing with Junaid," Pratapgarhi added.
He also urged Junaid not to be afraid, saying the Constitution and the law protected his right to continue his work.
"No system can intimidate you. We are all with you," he said.
CJP SAYS JUNAID IS SAFE
CJP spokesperson Ratna Singh said reports and rumours regarding Junaid were false.
She said he was safe, receiving legal assistance and had attended a volunteers' gathering.
Singh urged people not to spread misinformation or hate, adding that any issue concerning Junaid's residence had been addressed promptly.
She also said the CJP had always treated Junaid with respect and would continue to support him and other volunteers.
CJP, SAMAJWADI PARTY REACT
CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das also condemned the alleged police action.
In a post on X, Das wrote, "We condemn the illegal police crackdown against Junaid by the UP Police. We've been in regular touch with him and providing all necessary help from day one."
He further urged the Uttar Pradesh Police to end what he described as an "illegal, arbitrary and inhumane crackdown" on Junaid's family and release them immediately.
The Samajwadi Party also reacted, with its media cell posting on X: "When history is written in the future, the dark record of dictators will be written in bold letters."
THE VOLUNTEER BEHIND THE COMMUNITY KITCHEN
Before the controversy over his alleged detention, Junaid had become well known at the protest for running the community kitchen.
He recalled arriving at the protest and noticing the lack of even basic facilities.
"There wasn't even drinking water available for many people," he said.
Wanting to help, Junaid and a few friends set up a small table and began distributing bottled water.
Soon they added biscuits and snacks, and within days volunteers and supporters started bringing cooked meals, drinking water, tea, refreshments and other essentials.
"What started with just a handful of people gradually turned into a caravan," Junaid said.
According to him, around 25 to 30 volunteers now help manage the distribution.
He insisted the effort has never relied on a single donor.
"People come on their own. Some bring food, others bring water. Our job is simply to organise everything and make sure no one goes hungry," he said.
For the past 24 days, he added, food and drinking water had been available almost round the clock at the protest site.
