Najeeb Ahmed, a 27-year-old biotechnology student at Jawaharlal Nehru University, disappeared in 2016 after an altercation with student activists. Despite a lengthy investigation by the CBI, no leads were found, leaving his family devastated and demanding accountability. Advocating for justice, his mother continues to hold vigils and contest the case’s closure.
A Mother’s Vigil: The Ongoing Quest for Justice in Najeeb Ahmed’s Disappearance
A Mother’s Vigil: The Ongoing Quest for Justice in Najeeb Ahmed’s Disappearance
Nearly seven years after Indian student Najeeb Ahmed vanished without a trace, his family refuses to abandon their fight for justice as authorities close the investigation amidst allegations of negligence.
On October 14, 2016, Najeeb Ahmed, a promising 27-year-old biotechnology student at Delhi's prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), vanished under mysterious circumstances. His disappearance followed a heated confrontation with a group of students affiliated with the right-wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). In an alarming turn, he was reportedly injured during the scuffle, leading to a desperate attempt to seek medical attention that was thwarted by bureaucratic hurdles.
Najeeb's mother, Fatima Nafees, has tirelessly campaigned for justice in the face of overwhelming adversity since the day her son went missing. She filed a missing persons report that was met with minimal responses from authorities. Her frustration escalated when protests erupted on campus, accusing officials of negligence. The case, which was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2017 after a lack of progress by local police, culminated in the recent closure of the investigation.
After years of searching, the CBI concluded that they had exhausted all leads, sparking outrage from Ahmad's family. Nafees expressed her disillusionment with the justice system, questioning the CBI's procedures and pointing out potential biases during the investigation. "What message does it send when India's leading investigative agency can't find a student from one of India’s top universities?" she asked.
The court's dismissal of the case has left the Ahmed family despondent, as they claim that vital evidence linking Najeeb's disappearance to the ABVP members has been ignored. Despite their disappointment, Nafees remains undeterred. Every year on October 15, the anniversary of her son's disappearance, she leads a candlelight vigil near JNU to honor his memory and keep the search for justice alive.
As Nafees fights her legal battles, she reflects on the sacrifices her family made to support Najeeb's education and dreams. With hope waning, her father ponders openly the impact of societal changes, asking, "If he comes back, will he recognize our home?" Najeeb’s story is a reminder of the harsh realities faced by families navigating a complex system while searching for answers and justice in a world rife with uncertainty.
