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Month: June 2018

Healing Lives in Times of Conflict

Healing Lives in Times of Conflict

First published: May 3, 2009

Boloji / By Shoma Sen

Deep in the forests of Gadchiroli, a tribal area of eastern Maharashtra, live the Gond ‘adivasis’ (tribals), some of the poorest and most neglected people of the state. The region is considered dangerous because large parts of it have come under the sway of Maoist rebels, also known as Naxalites, who have taken up the challenge of organizing the Gonds to fight for a society they claim is based on justice and equality. The ensuing conflict between the rebels and the state has turned the region into a “police state”, where anti-insurgency security forces are constantly on the vigil, storming Maoist hide-outs and eliminating suspects. The word ‘encounter’ – a euphemism for such extra-judicial killings – has become a part of local vocabulary.
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Contemporary Anti-Displacement Struggles and Women’s Resistance: A Commentary

Contemporary Anti-Displacement Struggles and Women’s Resistance: A Commentary

First published: Nov 3, 2010

Sanhati / By Shoma Sen

Women’s exclusion in the present model of development needs to be understood as inherent to a system that benefits from patriarchy. Seen as a reserve force of labour, women, excluded from economic activity, are valued for their unrecognized role in social reproduction.
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United Protest against the Arrests of Democratic and Progressive Activists in Delhi and Nagpur!

United Protest against the Arrests of Democratic and Progressive Activists in Delhi and Nagpur!


Condemn the arrest of Surendra Gadling, Sudhir Dhawale, Shoma Sen, Rona Wilson and Mahesh Raut by Maharashtra Police!
Early morning on 6th June 2018, five people – three democratic rights activists, a professor and a lawyer – were arrested from various locations in Nagpur and Delhi by the Maharashtra police in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon riots that took place in January of this year in Pune.
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Labelling Dalits and Adivasis as Maoists is an old state strategy for crushing dissent and criticism

Labelling Dalits and Adivasis as Maoists is an old state strategy for crushing dissent and criticism

Scroll.in / By Anand Teltumbde

In ‘Republic of Caste’, published this year, Anand Teltumbde writes about how Maoist and Naxalite labels make Dalits and Adivasis even more vulnerable.
Despite its mode of expression, the much-maligned Naxalite movement is essentially an act of dissent, a public protest, a fact occasionally acknowledged by the government itself, although the actions of the latter never reflect this admission.
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PUCL, MAHARASHTRA CONDEMNS THE ARREST OF SURENDRA GADLING, SUDHIR DHAWALE, RONA WILSON, SHOMA SEN, MAHESH RAUT AND RANA JACOB ON 6TH JUNE 2018

PUCL, MAHARASHTRA CONDEMNS THE ARREST OF SURENDRA GADLING, SUDHIR DHAWALE, RONA WILSON, SHOMA SEN, MAHESH RAUT AND RANA JACOB ON 6TH JUNE 2018

Statement by People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), Maharashtra

PUCL strongly condemns the vindictive and arbitrary arrest of Advocate Surendra Gadling, Mr. Sudhir Dhawale, Mr. Rona Wilson, Ms. Shoma Sen, Mr. Mahesh Raut and Mr. Rana Jacob on 6th June 2018. They have been reportedly booked under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), on the allegation of spreading controversial pamphlets and delivering hate speeches in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence that broke out in January 2018.

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Sudhir Dhawale – The Radical Ambedkarite

Sudhir Dhawale – The Radical Ambedkarite

Mumbai Mirror / By Ramu Ramanathan

He is the eternal protestor. He protested when Dr Binayak Sen was in prison. In February 2017, he was part of the Rohit Vemula protest by Mumbai Students Solidarity at the Mumbai University. He also protested the three Dalit murders in Javkhede Khalasa-Kasarwadi in Pathardi Taluka.
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AI: Arrests Of Activists Raise Disturbing Questions

AI: Arrests Of Activists Raise Disturbing Questions

Statement by Amnesty International India

Responding to the arrests of five activists from Maharashtra on suspicion of having links with banned Maoist groups, Aakar Patel, Executive Director, Amnesty International India, said:

    “These arrests are a matter of grave concern. Surendra Gadling, Rona Wilson, Sudhir Dhawale, Shoma Sen and Mahesh Raut have a history of working to protect the rights of some of India’s most marginalized people. Their arrests raise disturbing questions about whether they are being targeted for their activism. Anyone arrested for legitimately exercising their right to freedom of expression must be released immediately and unconditionally.”

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CPDR Condemns Arrests of Advocates and Activists from Nagpur and Mumbai

CPDR Condemns Arrests of Advocates and Activists from Nagpur and Mumbai

Statement by Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights (CPDR)

Several arrests under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) were carried out by the Maharashtra police today. At about 6 am today, June 6, the Pune police arrested advocate Surendra Gadling, professor Shoma Sen, head of department of English, Nagpur University and general secretary, Indian Association of People’s Lawyers from Nagpur, Sudhir Dhawale, Editor Vidrohi from Mumbai, Rona Wilson, Public Relations Secretary Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners and Mahesh Raut, anti-displacement activist from Bharat Jan Andolan and former Fellow at Prime Minister’s Rural Development (PMRD) for Gadchiroli District.

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A poet, a lawyer, a professor: These are the five activists held for sparking Bhima Koregaon clashes

A poet, a lawyer, a professor: These are the five activists held for sparking Bhima Koregaon clashes

Scroll.in / By Aarefa Johari

Five months after the caste-based violence in Maharashtra’s Bhima Koregaon town, the state police has shifted the focus of its investigation from Hindutva leaders Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide to a group of five social activists working with Dalits, Adivasis and political prisoners.
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