Nine years after his sudden disappearance, Najeeb Ahmed's story reflects broader societal struggles and the lingering injustices faced by minority communities.
**A Family's Unending Vigil: The Case of Najeeb Ahmed's Disappearance**
**A Family's Unending Vigil: The Case of Najeeb Ahmed's Disappearance**
A mother's relentless pursuit of justice for her missing son highlights unresolved issues within India's investigative system.
In October 2016, Najeeb Ahmed, a 27-year-old biotechnology student at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi, vanished under mysterious circumstances. His disappearance occurred after a clash with members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student group known for its right-wing affiliations. Despite a prolonged investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Ahmed's whereabouts remain unknown, leading to frustration for his family and supporters.
Ahmed's mother, Fatima Nafees, has been unwavering in her quest for answers, consistently describing the CBI's efforts as insufficient. She recently expressed her discontent with a Delhi court's decision to close the case, illustrating her determination to seek justice. "What message does it send, that India's premier investigating agency has not been able to find a missing student from one of India's best universities?" she mourned.
Born in a humble village in Uttar Pradesh, Najeeb was the pride of his family, who sacrificed significantly to support his education at JNU. Nafees recalls her warnings about her son living in the university hostel, but he was insistent about his own path. The night before disappearing, Najeeb had been involved in an altercation linked to campus politics, at which point he reportedly sustained injuries and was denied treatment at a local hospital due to lack of a formal complaint.
Following his disappearance on October 15, 2016, Nafees filed a missing persons complaint after arriving at the hostel to find her son gone. Protests quickly mobilized on campus as students criticized the authorities' lethargy in pursuing the case. Nafees called for a court-monitored investigation, which culminated in the CBI taking over in May 2017.
Despite the CBI's extensive efforts—interviewing over 500 witnesses and tracking phone records—the investigation yielded no substantial leads, prompting the CBI to request the case's closure. The court concluded that while there were verbal threats reported, no direct evidence linked Najeeb's disappearance to the incident with ABVP members.
Nafees remains skeptical of the investigation, suggesting her son's Muslim identity may have affected its rigor. "If the victim had been a Hindu boy, would the police have responded the same way?" she questioned. Advocates for justice in Ahmed's case express disbelief that none of the students involved in the incident were detained for questioning.
This case has not only affected Ahmed's family but has also incited broader discussion about the treatment of minority communities in India. Every year on the anniversary of his disappearance, Nafees leads a candlelight vigil at JNU, a poignant reminder of her unyielding hope. "What if he comes, but can't recognize it?" Ahmed's father reflects, encapsulating the family's ongoing uncertainty as they await answers.
Ahmed's mother, Fatima Nafees, has been unwavering in her quest for answers, consistently describing the CBI's efforts as insufficient. She recently expressed her discontent with a Delhi court's decision to close the case, illustrating her determination to seek justice. "What message does it send, that India's premier investigating agency has not been able to find a missing student from one of India's best universities?" she mourned.
Born in a humble village in Uttar Pradesh, Najeeb was the pride of his family, who sacrificed significantly to support his education at JNU. Nafees recalls her warnings about her son living in the university hostel, but he was insistent about his own path. The night before disappearing, Najeeb had been involved in an altercation linked to campus politics, at which point he reportedly sustained injuries and was denied treatment at a local hospital due to lack of a formal complaint.
Following his disappearance on October 15, 2016, Nafees filed a missing persons complaint after arriving at the hostel to find her son gone. Protests quickly mobilized on campus as students criticized the authorities' lethargy in pursuing the case. Nafees called for a court-monitored investigation, which culminated in the CBI taking over in May 2017.
Despite the CBI's extensive efforts—interviewing over 500 witnesses and tracking phone records—the investigation yielded no substantial leads, prompting the CBI to request the case's closure. The court concluded that while there were verbal threats reported, no direct evidence linked Najeeb's disappearance to the incident with ABVP members.
Nafees remains skeptical of the investigation, suggesting her son's Muslim identity may have affected its rigor. "If the victim had been a Hindu boy, would the police have responded the same way?" she questioned. Advocates for justice in Ahmed's case express disbelief that none of the students involved in the incident were detained for questioning.
This case has not only affected Ahmed's family but has also incited broader discussion about the treatment of minority communities in India. Every year on the anniversary of his disappearance, Nafees leads a candlelight vigil at JNU, a poignant reminder of her unyielding hope. "What if he comes, but can't recognize it?" Ahmed's father reflects, encapsulating the family's ongoing uncertainty as they await answers.
