Umar Khalid documentary screening cancelled at Bengaluru National Law School

AFTER POSTPONING the screening of Prisoner No. 626710 is Present — a documentary on jailed former JNU student and activist Umar Khalid — last week, the student body and society committee of National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, has decided to cancel the programme.

The decision comes two days after IIT Hyderabad cancelled the screening of the documentary. At NLSIU, the documentary, directed by filmmaker Lalit Vachani, was initially planned to be screened on September 12. However, RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) opposed the move, writing letters to the Union Home Minister and the Governor, threatening to stage a protest against the event. A member of the student body said the screening could lead to FIRs against students and faculty, which could impact their education.