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Month: December 2019

More holes emerge in Pune Police’s rationale for arresting activists

More holes emerge in Pune Police’s rationale for arresting activists

Pic: Firstpost

Firstpost / by MN Parth

  • On 20 April, 2018, the Pune Police sent the hard drives and memory cards it confiscated from Wilson’s home to the forensic lab with a detailed questionnaire.
  • When the forensic report of Wilson’s devices arrived on 5 November, it did not explicitly say the evidence had been tampered with. It did not even say it was not tampered with.
  • Since the Bhima Koregaon riots took place, observers have repeatedly questioned the veracity and intent of the investigation.

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Thackeray to form a panel to probe police action against activists?

Thackeray to form a panel to probe police action against activists?

The Free Press Journal / by Sanjay Jog

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray may form a panel to probe the arrests of activists in connection with Elgar Parishad action by the Pune police. Activists Rona Wilson, Shoma Sen, Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut, Varavara Rao and Sudhir Dhavle, who were arrested, were accused of having Maoist links. Thackeray has sought details regarding the ongoing court cases from the home department.
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Who is Shoma Sen?

Who is Shoma Sen?

By Mumbai Rises To Save Democracy

In one of her letters to her daughter, Shoma writes, “They can keep me locked inside, but my mind is completely free”

A reputed academician, a Dalit and Women’s Rights activist, a teacher and dissenter, Shoma Sen is all of the above and more. Born and raised in Mumbai, she moved to Nagpur with her partner and daughter with a strong resolve to protect and promote democratic rights of the most marginalised people in the society.

Shoma has been a respected academic for almost three decades. She has been actively involved with the Women’s Department of Wardha Vishwavidyalaya and taught in various colleges across Nagpur. During the time of her arrest she was the Head of the Department of English at Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University. She has written extensively on post-colonialism and women’s studies for several decades. …

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‘Rural cops didn’t probe due to political pressure’

‘Rural cops didn’t probe due to political pressure’

Pune Mirror / by Pune Mirror

Koregaon Bhima Samiti demands CBI investigation, alleging the BJP stopped police from doing their job Tow days after NCP supremo Sharad Pawar demanded the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Elgaar Parishad case, members of Bhima Koregaon Vijaystambh Shaurya Din Samanway Samiti have alleged that rural cops had failed to investigate cases filed within their jurisdiction due to pressure from the then ruling party.
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Fadnavis: Same activists were arrested when Cong-NCP was in power

Fadnavis: Same activists were arrested when Cong-NCP was in power

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

Expressing surprise at the comments of NCP chief Sharad Pawar on the arrests of activists in the Elgaar Parishad case, former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said many of these activists had been arrested and charged for similar offences when the Congress-NCP government was in power in the state and the Centre.
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Pune Police Sends Notice to Over 160 People Ahead of January 1 Event

Pune Police Sends Notice to Over 160 People Ahead of January 1 Event

pic:campaign poster, 2018

The Wire / by PTI

Among those who the notice was sent to as part of preventive action are right-wing leaders Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide.
Pune: Ahead of the 202nd anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle on January 1, Pune Police have issued notices to over 160 people, including right-wing leaders Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide, an official said on Monday.
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Public Meeting Report: Still We Resist – Rise in Defense of Human Rights (Dec 20)

Public Meeting Report: Still We Resist – Rise in Defense of Human Rights (Dec 20)

By Mumbai Rises to Save Democracy

Press Release

20th December, 2019: A Public Meeting titled, “STILL WE RESIST: Rise in Defense of Human Rights” was held at the Dadar – Matunga Cultural Centre, Dadar (West). The program marked the International Human Rights Day, bringing together activists from various walks of life to talk about the attacks on human rights and human rights defenders by the current political regime. …

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Sharad Pawar bats for Bhima-Koregaon violence accused

Sharad Pawar bats for Bhima-Koregaon violence accused

Hundustan Times / by Yogesh Joshi

Nearly two years after the Pune police conducted investigations into the Bhima Koregaon violence and named several activists and lawyers as the prime accused, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, on Saturday, sought a fresh probe into the case.
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ACTIVISTS’ ARREST IN ELGAR PARISHAD CASE WRONG, FORM SIT TO PROBE POLICE ACTION: SHARAD PAWAR

21 / 12 / 2019

The Econimic Times / by PTI

PUNE: Terming the arrest of activists in the Elgar Parishad case “wrong” and “vengeful”, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday demanded that a Special Investigation Team be set up under a retired judge to probe the action taken by Pune police.
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Amid Demands For Fresh Probe, A Hard Look at the Case’s Discrepancies

Amid Demands For Fresh Probe, A Hard Look at the Case’s Discrepancies

Pic: Banners for solidarity program in Mumbai

The Wire / by Sukanya Shantha

With Sharad Pawar calling for an investigation, The Wire accessed digital evidence that was finally made available to the accused after persistent court fights which reveals several discrepancies on the part of the Pune police.
Mumbai: Nearly two years after the Pune police conducted investigations into the Bhima Koregaon violence and named several rights activists and lawyers as the prime accused while branding them as “urban Naxals”, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar today sought a fresh probe in the case.
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