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Month: September 2020

Artiste Jyoti Jagtap remanded to NIA custody till September 11

Artiste Jyoti Jagtap remanded to NIA custody till September 11

The Hindu / by Sonam Saigal

Ms. Jagtap from Kondhwa was arrested on September 8 by the NIA and was represented by advocate Susan Abraham in court on Wednesday.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Wednesday remanded Pune-based cultural group Kabir Kala Manch’s (KKM) artiste Jyoti Jagtap to NIA custody till September 11 in the Bhima Koregaon violence case.
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Academics, Artists and Activists Condemn NIA Actions and Express Solidarity

Academics, Artists and Activists Condemn NIA Actions and Express Solidarity

Renowned Academics, Artists Support K. Satyanarayana, Condemn NIA ‘Harassment’

The Wire/ by The Wire Staff

New Delhi: A group of more than 700 academics, activists, artists and others have come together to condemn the harassment and arrests of right activists, academics and lawyers in the Elgar Parishad/Bhima Koregaon case. They have expressed their solidarity with Professor K. Satyanarayana, who teaches at the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) in Hyderabad, and has been summoned for questioning the case by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
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More Than 1,000 Scientists, Academics Condemn NIA Action in Elgar Parishad Case

The Wire / by The Wire Staff

New Delhi: A group of 1,039 scientists and academics have released a statement condemning the National Investigation Agency (NIA) action in the Bhima Koregaon/Elgar Parishad case.
Statement
…Most recently, we understand that the NIA has summoned the well-known scientist and activist, Prof. Partho Sarothi Ray, of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (Kolkata) to Mumbai on 10th September for questioning in this case…
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CDRO condemns the witch-hunt by the NIA and the choking of pro-people voices

Countercurrents / by Co-Ordination of Democratic Rights Organisation (CDRO)

Press Release, 8th September 2020
After the arrests of leading public intellectuals like poet Varavara Rao, Prof. Soma Sen, Prof. Anand Teltumbde, Mr. Gautam Navlakha, Ms. Sudha Bharadwaj, and others, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has trained its gun yet once again on democratic right activists, lawyers and other intellectuals.
One of their latest targets is Prof. Parthosarathi Ray, a leading biologist of the country, an Associate Professor working in Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, and also a leading personality of the democratic rights movements of the country.
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NIA Arrests three Kabir Kala Manch Activists, Calls it ‘Maoist Front’ / What is Kabir Kala Manch?

NIA Arrests three Kabir Kala Manch Activists, Calls it ‘Maoist Front’ / What is Kabir Kala Manch?

Poets Branded Naxals by Both Cong & BJP: What is Kabir Kala Manch?

The Quint / by Asmita Nandy

What is Kabir Kala Manch and why are they repeatedly targeted by governments?
Kabir Kala Manch, a group of artists singing songs of Bahujans and Karl Marx, have been branded “naxals” by both Congress and BJP.
On Tuesday, 8 September, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the Elgar Parishad case arrested three members of the group saying that they were in touch with senior leaders of CPI(Maoist), a banned organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act “so as to spread the ideology of Maoism/Naxalism and encourage unlawful activities”.
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NIA Calls Kabir Kala Manch ‘Maoist Front’, Takes Activists into Custody

The Wire / by Sukanya Shantha

08/09/2020

Mumbai: The National Investigations Agency has accused the cultural group Kabir Kala Mancha (KKM) of being a frontal organisation of the banned terrorist Communist Party of India (Maoist) …
KKM is a Pune-based cultural troupe that was formed by youth belonging to the Bahujan community from across Maharashtra. Several working-class musicians and poets had come together after the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat and formed their own cultural group to sing songs of resistance and state repression. They have also been vocal against caste atrocities across the country.
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Kabir Kala Manach cultural activist Jyoti Jagtap arrested / #StandWithBK15

08/09/2020

Kractivist / by Bhima Koregaon Shauryadin Prerana Abhiyan

Pune ATS has today arrested Jyoti Jagtap (Member of Bhima Koregaon Shauryadin Prerana Abhiyan and Kabir Kala Manch). She will be transfered to NIA for custody. Yesterday, on 7 September, Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor were arrested late evening and today Jyoti Jagtap has been arrested.
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NIA Arrests Two Kabir Kala Manch Activists

07/09/2020

The Wire / by Sukanya Shantha

Mumbai: After questioning them over several days, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested cultural activists Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor in the Elgar Parishad case. With their arrest, 14 persons – all academics, lawyers and activists – have been arrested in the 2018 Elgar Parishad case in total.
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Varavara Rao’s sons-in-law appear before NIA in Mumbai

Varavara Rao’s sons-in-law appear before NIA in Mumbai

Varavara Rao’s sons-in-law appear before NIA in Mumbai

Telegana Today / by Telangana Today

The Mumbai unit of the NIA had summoned them a few days ago asking them to appear before it as a witness under Sections 160 and 91 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPc).
Hyderabad: Revolutionary writer P Varavara Rao’s sons-in-law K. Satyanarayana and KV Kurmanath appeared before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case this morning.
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‘Not Sure Whether My Husband Will Return Home After NIA Questioning’, Says VV Rao’s Daughter Pavana

08/09/2020

Outlook / by Preetha Nair

The NIA has summoned K Satyanarayana and KV Kumarnath for questioning in connection with the Elgar Parishad case.
The National Investigating Agency (NIA) is set to question two sons-in-law of revolutionary poet-writer Varavara Rao, the family says that the harassment at the hands of the state continues despite the deteriorating health condition of the incarcerated poet.
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EFLU Teachers’ Association stands in Solidarity with Prof. K. Satyanarayana

Statement by The English and Foreign Lanuages University Teachers´ Association

Click to enlarge
Solidarity with Kabir Kala Manch Activists / Statement by Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor

Solidarity with Kabir Kala Manch Activists / Statement by Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor

Bhima Koregaon arrests – Jyoti Jagtap has been arrested

By Bhima Koregaon Shauryadin Prerana Abhiyan, Maharashtra

Press release 8 September 2020
Pune ATS has today arrested Jyoti Jagtap (Member of Bhima Koregaon Shauryadin Prerana Abhiyan and Kabir Kala Manch). She will be transfered to NIA for custody. Yesterday, on 7 September, Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor were arrested late evening and today Jyoti Jagtap has been arrested. Since June 2018, one after another such 15 human rights activists, lawyers, professors, writers and artists have been arrested in the Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad case.
As a artist, activist and writer, Jyoti Jagtap has been working in the Ambedkariate movement for many years. Arrests of these three should be considered as an alert. Modi Government is once again starting an arrests series to create fear atmosphere in the country. In this case, police never had any evidences nor does it have today. Fabricated letters and utterly fake stories, that’s what all they do. This government is again and again failing to solve people’s issues, henceforth it is diverting public with creating false enemy like Urban Naxal.
Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad case has become like a boiling oil pot as described in the Brahminical Puranas. Anyone who challenges Brahminical regime, is being thrown into it. We wish to tell the Modi government that people’s anger is intensifying against all of this.
As Bhima Koregaon Shauryadin Prerana Abhiyan, we appeal you to raise high voice for the release of Jyoti Jagtap.


Not Savarkar, We are children of Ambedkar, We will not apologise!

Asian Speaks / by Bhima Koregaon Shaurya Din Prerana Abhiyan

Press release 7 September 2020
Shahir Sagar Gorkhe and Shahir Ramesh Gaichor, both members of Bhima Koregoan Shauryadin Prerna Abhiyan and Kabir Kala Manch have been arrested by the NIA under the Modi government. NIA has summoned both Shahir Sagar Gorkhe and Shahir Ramesh Gaychor on multiple occasions for questioning. Under the guise of questioning, they were repeatedly threatened arrest unless they turn witness for the state. They were threatened, “you have to become witness for the state under CRPC clause 164 and admit (falsely) that you went to the jungle in Gadchiroli and met Naxals there and that you have connections to Naxalites. unless you agree to this we will arrest you.”
Read full statement


Video Statement by Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor (Sep 5)


hindi/ english subtitles | 2:20min | 2020
Kabir Kala Manch activists Sagar Gorkhe & Ramesh Gaichor have alleged that they’re being forced by the NIA to give confessional statements claiming they are a part of Maoist organization. The two refused, and were arrested today. Their statements were recorded on Sep 5.
Watch their video statement


Modi Sarkar – Stop arrests of activists and oppressed section

By Kractivist.org

On 7th September 2020, the RSS led BJP government’s mission to nullify/choke voices of activists and oppressed sections in India has hit another milestone after arresting Sagar Gorakhe and Ramesh Gaichor – members of Kabir Kala Manch (KKM), based in Pune.
Sagar and Rameshhave been part of the Caste Annihilation movement in India since many years and have committed their lives to build a strong anti caste movement in Maharashtra.
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When contesting repressive laws makes you a dangerous citizen: a profile of Rona Wilson

When contesting repressive laws makes you a dangerous citizen: a profile of Rona Wilson

The Polis Project / by The Polis Project and maraa

Rona Wilson, a forty-seven-year-old activist from Kollam district in Kerala, has made Delhi his second home since the late 1990s. Having come to the capital during his post-graduation, Wilson almost immediately took to activism.
Rona Wilson is a member of the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP), which has campaigned against the UAPA and other repressive laws.
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NIA Summons Two More Academics, a Journalist for Questioning

NIA Summons Two More Academics, a Journalist for Questioning

P.S. Ray, K. Satyanarayana and K.V. Kurmanath / The Wire

The Wire / by Sukanya Shantha

All three – Partho Sarothi Ray, K. Satyanarayana and K.V. Kurmanath – have said they have no relation to the case whatsoever, and see this as an intimidation tactic.
Mumbai: Expanding its net further, the National Investigations Agency has now issued summons to academics and a journalist from Hyderabad and Kolkata for questioning in connection with the ongoing Elgar Parishad investigation.
Read more


Statement by K Satyanarayana – Click to enlarge


‘Family in distress’: NIA summons sons-in-law of Varavara Rao in Bhima Koregaon case

07/09/2020

The News Minute / by Balakrishna Ganeshan

Senior journalist KV Kurmanath and K Satyanarayana, professor at the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) in Hyderabad are in shock after the National Investigation Agency has summoned them, as part of the ongoing Bhima Koregaon case probe. The duo, both prominent personalities in Hyderabad, are the sons-in-law of revolutionary poet Varavara Rao.
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NIA calls activist K Satyanarayana, academic Partho Sarothi Ray for questioning

07/09/2020

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

The National Investigation Agency has summoned Dalit scholar and activist K Satyanarayana to appear before it for questioning in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case on September 9. Satyanarayana is the son-in-law of Telugu poet-activist Varavara Rao, who is imprisoned in Mumbai’s Taloja Jail after being arrested in the Elgar Parishad cases on August 31, 2018.
Satyanarayana’s brother and senior journalist KV Kumarnath was also summoned to appear on the same day. Both of them have been asked to come to the central agency’s Mumbai office for questioning.
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Statement In Solidarity With Dr Partha Sarathi Ray

Statement In Solidarity With Dr Partha Sarathi Ray

Groundxero / statement by different organisations, academicians and activists

A statement issued by different organisations, academicians and activists condemning brazen assault by the state on democratic activities and demanding immediate withdrawal of NIA’s menacing and threatening interrogation notice to Partha Sarathi Ray.
6 September 2020
We have come to know that our dear friend and comrade Dr Partho Sarothi Ray, Associate Professor, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), has been summoned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case. He has been asked to present himself before the investigators in Mumbai on 10 September at 11am.
Read full statement