Six Years Without Trial: How India's Terrorism Law Enables Extended Detention

Umar Khalid, a JNU activist and government critic, has spent six years awaiting trial since his 2020 arrest for alleged involvement in Delhi's February riots. Charged under the UAPA—India's anti-terrorism statute—he's been denied bail repeatedly. The law reverses the burden of proof at bail stage, requiring defendants to prove innocence rather than prosecutors proving guilt. His case illustrates how broadly-drafted security laws can detain people for years without conviction.