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Month: September 2020

Activists protest arrest of rights defenders, say: Centre plans majoritarian rule in India

Activists protest arrest of rights defenders, say: Centre plans majoritarian rule in India

Jharkhand, Sep 5, 2020

Counterview / by Counterview Representative

Culminating into mass protests across the state against “growing attacks” on civil liberties, the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JJM)-supported eight-day long campaign which ended on September 5 has seen activists carrying out several activities, including distributing parcha, social media campaign, public action, submitting memorandum to the President and so on.
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Background: Organizations from All Over India Issue a call for a Protest Week, Aug 28 — Sep 5

Over 70 organizations and several individuals from around the country endorsed the call initiated by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties to conduct protest actions from August 28 to September 5, considering the deterioration in Civil Liberties in the recent past. This call was given marking August 28 as the day when two years ago, 5 human rights activists — Sudha Bharadwaj, Gautam Navlakha, Varavara Rao, Arun Ferriera and Vernon Gonsalves were arrested in the Bhima Koregaon Conspiracy Case.
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NIA raises objection over Surendra Gadling’s interim bail after his mother’s demise

NIA raises objection over Surendra Gadling’s interim bail after his mother’s demise

The Free Press Journal / by Bhavna Uchil

Gadling’s mother passed away mid-last month in a Nagpur government hospital due to COVID-19. Thereafter, Gadling, who is lodged in Taloja prison, through advocate R. Sathyanarayan sought temporary bail to attend a memorial function scheduled on 22 September.
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When The Dust Settles: An Ode To India’s Incarcerated

When The Dust Settles: An Ode To India’s Incarcerated


Drawing by Arun Ferreira

Live Law / by Zaid Sufi Wahidi

This story has been told before. But it is important that it be told at every given opportunity. This is the story of how the state subverted the rule of law to stifle dissent. This is a story of how the judiciary in part – abetted – and in part – thwarted the state’s attempt to incarcerate those who dared to speak against its excesses. Above all, it is a story of the resilience and unrelenting courage of those incarcerated.
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Solidarity Program in Chhattisgarh: Stand Up for Civil Liberties (pictures)

Solidarity Program in Chhattisgarh: Stand Up for Civil Liberties (pictures)

Click to enlarge pictures. Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) Sep 5, 2020

#FreeSudhaBharadwaj /#FreeBhimaKoregaon12

Bilaspur: Organizations demand the release of advocate and human rights activist Sudha Bhardwaj – The voice of the poor in Chhattisgarh.
Read report (hindi)

Video: Workers in Chhattisgarh demand the release of Sudha Bhardwaj and all political prisoners

28/08/2020

By India Crisis

Slogans in hindi | 1:10min | 2020

Background: Organizations from All Over India Issue a call for a Protest Week, Aug 28 — Sep 5

Over 70 organizations and several individuals from around the country endorsed the call initiated by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties to conduct protest actions from August 28 to September 5, considering the deterioration in Civil Liberties in the recent past. This call was given marking August 28 as the day when two years ago, 5 human rights activists — Sudha Bharadwaj, Gautam Navlakha, Varavara Rao, Arun Ferriera and Vernon Gonsalves were arrested in the Bhima Koregaon Conspiracy Case.
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Bombay HC seeks NIA reply to Gautam Navlakha’s petition

Bombay HC seeks NIA reply to Gautam Navlakha’s petition

Hindustan Times / by K A Y Dodhiya

The Bombay high court issued notices and directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to respond to a criminal appeal by Elgar Parishad accused Gautam Navlakha who moved the court against the order of a special NIA court rejecting his default bail plea. The HC will hear his plea on September 15.
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NIA sends notice to Bengal professor for questioning in Elgar Parishad case

NIA sends notice to Bengal professor for questioning in Elgar Parishad case

The Indian Express / by Santanu Chowdhury

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has issued a notice to Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER)- Kolkata professor, Partho Sarothi Ray, a renowned social activist and scientist and Convenor of Persecuted Prisoners Soliderity Committee (PPSC) West Bengal unit, for questioning in connection with the Elgar Parishad Case.
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It is sad that I am being harassed on Teachers’ Day: NIA summons IISER prof as witness

05/09/2020

edex live / by Prajanma Das

Dr Ray says that he has never been linked to the case neither has he ever visited Bhima-Koregaon ever. He only got to know about it when it became an issue.
Dr Ray is acquainted with multiple accused in the Elgar Parishad case and has worked with a few of them as well. “I have worked with Dr Anand Teltumbde on education reforms. I have also worked with activist Sudha Bharadwaj on adivasi issues. There a few more. All those who have been arrested are all well-known academicians,” said Dr Ray.
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Maharashtra jails, hospitals: Iron curtain on Covid-19 ‘violates’ right to life, says PUCL

Maharashtra jails, hospitals: Iron curtain on Covid-19 ‘violates’ right to life, says PUCL

Counterview / by Counterview Desk

In first of the “Lockdown on Civil Liberties” series, the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), has pointed towards how many of the convicted prisoners in Maharashtra whose parole is depended on the prison authorities managed to get paroled as some of the prison authorities were keen to remove congestion amidst Covid-19 onslaught. However, undertrials, many them human rights activists and scholars, charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), failed to get bail even on pure humanitarian grounds.
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Report: Lockdown on Civil Liberties I – A PUCL (Maharashtra) series

03/09/2020

By PUCL (Maharashtra)

The Lockdown on Civil Liberties Series The lockdown and attendant issues have led to major violations of civil liberties and human rights… In this context the PUCL Maharashtra has decided to bring out various segmantwise reports to record the impact. While some of the reports like the present one focuses on Maharashtra others deal with all India situation.
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UAPA: Descent from Rule of Law to Barbarism

UAPA: Descent from Rule of Law to Barbarism

The Leaflet / by Ravi Nair

India claims that its constitutional checks and balances prevent the abuse of counterterrorism laws; the evidence, including cases of false imprisonment and torture, suggests that these checks and balances are insufficient not only to protect civilians from abuse under counterterrorism laws but to protect them from terrorism itself.
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Judicial probe into Bhima Koregaon caste violence stalls, while NIA makes arrests in conspiracy case

Judicial probe into Bhima Koregaon caste violence stalls, while NIA makes arrests in conspiracy case

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

The Maharashtra government has not renewed the tenure of a judicial commission examining the riots of January 1, 2018.
A raging pandemic and nationwide lockdown this year did not stop the National Investigation Agency from making more arrests in the controversial Bhima Koregaon case of 2018. Academic Anand Teltumbde and journalist Gautam Navlakha were arrested in April, and Delhi University professor MT Hany Babu was arrested in July.
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Bombay HC Directs State & University To Pay Rs 5 Lakhs Each To Shoma Sen [Read Order]

Bombay HC Directs State & University To Pay Rs 5 Lakhs Each To Shoma Sen [Read Order]


Drawing by Mumbai Rises to Save Democracy

Live Law / by Nitish Kashyap

The Bombay High Court last Friday directed Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University and the State Government to pay Rs.5 lakh each to former Head Of Post Graduate Department Of English at Nagpur University Professor (retired) Shoma Sen towards payment of gratuity, which was withheld after Sen’s arrest in the Bhima Koregaon violence case in June 2018, a month before her retirement.
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