Students of NALSAR University of Law organised a screening of filmmaker Lalit Vachani's documentary “Prisoner No. 626710 is Present” on the university campus on Wednesday evening, September 23. The screening comes amid an ongoing controversy over proposed screenings of the documentary at IIIT Hyderabad and the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru.
A NALSAR student said the screening was organised as a “solidarity” event. The documentary focuses on jailed activist and former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) research scholar Umar Khalid, tracing his journey as a student activist, his arrest in 2020 and his subsequent incarceration.
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What Is the Umar Khalid Documentary?
“Prisoner No. 626710 is Present” is directed by filmmaker Lalit Vachani and centres on Umar Khalid's arrest and subsequent incarceration.
Khalid was arrested in September 2020 in connection with the case relating to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots. He has been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other provisions and has remained in custody since his arrest.
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Why Was Umar Khalid Documentary Screening Cancelled at IIIT Hyderabad?
The proposed screening at the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H) was scheduled for September 18. The event was proposed by students and was not organised or authorised by the institute.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) flagged the proposed screening, stating that public exhibition of an uncertified film would violate the Cinematograph Act unless a specific exemption had been obtained. Following the development, the proposed screening was cancelled.
IIIT Hyderabad subsequently clarified that neither the institute nor any of its recognised student clubs or organisations had organised or hosted the proposed screening. The institute said that unauthorised activities could not be represented as official university events.
IIIT Hyderabad Issues Warnings to Students
The controversy subsequently led to disciplinary warnings being issued to eight students associated with No Tyrants, No Silence (NTNS), an independent student platform that had proposed the documentary screening.
The institute said the group was not an authorised student organisation. NTNS had sought to use the campus to facilitate discussions around issues including caste, merit and politics.
Umar Khalid Documentary Screening at NLSIU Also Cancelled
A student-run committee had initially planned a screening of the documentary, but the event was first postponed and subsequently cancelled. Reports said the decision came amid opposition to the screening and concerns surrounding the event.
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