Archive · 14 Sep 2026
NLSIU Postpones Umar Khalid Film Amid Security Concerns
A student committee at NLSIU planned to show a documentary about Umar Khalid.
The film is called “Prisoner No.
626710 is Present.”
The screening was supposed to happen on September 14, 2026.
Organizers postponed it because they said they needed to address safety and logistical concerns.
They said the decision was not made because of outside pressure.
Another student group, ABVP, wanted the university to cancel the event.
ABVP said the screening might act like political propaganda or glorify unrest.
The organizers still plan to hold the screening later and discuss rights, detention and civil liberties.
NLSIU’s Law and Society Committee postponed its September 14 screening of “Prisoner No. 626710 is Present.”
LawSoc cited logistical and security concerns, describing the postponement as a precaution rather than a response to external pressure.
The documentary was scheduled to mark Political Prisoners’ Day and six years since Umar Khalid’s pre-trial detention began.
ABVP Bengaluru sought cancellation, arguing that the event could promote political propaganda or glorify civil unrest.
LawSoc plans to reschedule the screening later this academic trimester and encouraged discussion of constitutional rights and civil liberties.
- Who
- The Law and Society Committee at the National Law School of India University organized the screening, while the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad opposed it.
- What
- A screening of Lalit Vachani’s documentary “Prisoner No. 626710 is Present” was postponed.
- When
- The screening was scheduled for September 14, 2026; Umar Khalid was arrested on September 13, 2020.
- Where
- The event was planned at the National Law School of India University in Bengaluru; Khalid is held in Tihar Jail.
- Why
- LawSoc cited logistical and security concerns, while ABVP separately sought cancellation over objections to the event’s political framing.
LawSoc’s Academic and Safety Rationale
ABVP’s Opposition to the Screening
Reason for postponement
LawSoc’s Academic and Safety Rationale
LawSoc said the screening was postponed as a precaution because of logistical and security concerns, not because of external pressure.
ABVP’s Opposition to the Screening
ABVP and other critics opposed the event and urged NLSIU to cancel its permission.
Purpose of the event
LawSoc’s Academic and Safety Rationale
LawSoc said the screening would support discussion of pre-trial detention, bail laws, dissent, political incarceration, constitutional freedoms and institutional freedom.
ABVP’s Opposition to the Screening
ABVP argued that academic institutions should prioritize national integrity rather than host political propaganda or glorify civil unrest.
Discussion of Umar Khalid’s case
LawSoc’s Academic and Safety Rationale
Organizers presented the documentary as part of an academic discussion about civil liberties and criminal procedure and said they planned to reschedule it.
ABVP’s Opposition to the Screening
Critics argued that focusing on a person accused under anti-terror legislation could misrepresent ongoing judicial proceedings.
- Institution
- National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru
- Organizing committee
- Law and Society Committee (LawSoc)
- Documentary
- “Prisoner No. 626710 is Present,” directed by Lalit Vachani
- Original screening date
- September 14, 2026
- Stated reason for postponement
- Logistical and security concerns, according to LawSoc
- Opposition
- Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) Bengaluru submitted a complaint seeking cancellation
- Planned next step
- LawSoc said it intends to reschedule the screening later in the current academic trimester
