Banojyotsna Lahiri

Prisoner No. 626710 is Present chronicles the arrest and prolonged incarceration of activist Umar Khalid, accused of orchestrating the 2020 New Delhi riots. Through archival footage and personal accounts, Lalit Vachani explores Khalid's activism, the impact of his imprisonment on his partner Banojyotsna Lahiri, and the broader crackdown on dissent under the Modi government. The film situates Khalid’s story within the larger political repression of civil rights movements and Muslim voices in India.

Umar Khalid, who once dreamed of playing cricket for India, now faces serious terrorism charges from the government. The vilification spurred by media trials reached its peak with a chilling assassination attempt. He's been in prison for 3.5 years as of March 2024, highlighting a worrying crackdown on dissent in India. This is his story, as told by his loved ones.