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Month: September 2021

Koregaon Bhima inquiry commission to resume hearings in Pune from September 27

Koregaon Bhima inquiry commission to resume hearings in Pune from September 27

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

The two-member commission, headed by retired high court judge Justice J N Patel, is probing into the cause of Koregaon Bhima violence of January 1, 2018, in which one person was killed and several injured.
Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry has released its schedule of hearing witnesses in Pune from September 27 to October 1. The Commission had postponed its hearings in Mumbai between August 23 and August 25 due to the unavailability of a bigger place given the Covid-19 situation.
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Human chain formed in Tamil Nadu seeking release of prisoners in Bhima Koregaon case (pictures)

Human chain formed in Tamil Nadu seeking release of prisoners in Bhima Koregaon case (pictures)

Human chain formed in Tamil Nadu seeking release of prisoners in Bhima Koregaon case

15/09/2021

The Hindu / by Staff Reporter

‘It is a protest against stifling of all voices for democratic rights’
The arrest of thinkers, social activits and writers in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case is not just a blantant violation of human rights, but a threat to intellectuals who speak against Hindutva forces, said Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan on Wednesday.
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Activists Form Human Chains to Demand Release of Bhima-Koregaon Detainees

15/09/2021

Newsclick / by Neelambaran A

Left, youth, Dalit and human rights organisations in Tamil Nadu slam the BJP government for muzzling dissent.
More than 25 Left, youth, Dalit and human rights organisations in Tamil Nadu formed human chains on the International Day of Democracy on Wednesday to protest the illegal detention of intellectuals and activists, including in the Bhima-Koregaon case, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.
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Also read:
● 95% pendency of trial of UAPA cases, 85% cases pending investigation: NCRB report (Sabrang / Sep 16, 2021)

● Anyone who exposes the agenda of Sangh Parivar is silenced: Thirumavalavan (The Hindu / Sep 15)

In pictures

Pictures shared by Era.Athiyamaan / @EraAthiyamaan
Pictures shared by CPI (M) / @cpimspeak
Pictures shared by SimpliCityCoimbatore / @simplicitycbe

Release Bhima-Koregaon Prosoners Immediately – Release All Political Prisoners

Bombay HC adjourns plea challenging probe being transferred to NIA to September 27

Bombay HC adjourns plea challenging probe being transferred to NIA to September 27

Not replying to plea against probe transfer in Bhima Koregaon case: Maharashtra

15/09/2021

The Hindu / by Special Correspondent

Petition challenged transfer of investigation to NIA after chargesheet was submitted.
In an unusual move, the Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court on Tuesday that it does not want to reply to a plea filed by two accused in the Bhima Koregaon caste violence case challenging the transfer of the probe from Pune Police to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
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Bombay HC adjourns plea challenging probe being transferred to NIA to September 27

14/09/2021

The Times of India / by Swati Deshpande

The state government on Tuesday informed the Bombay high court that it does not wish to file any affidavit in reply to a petition by two Elgar Parishad accused who have challenged the transfer of probe from state police to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The HC bench of Justices S S Shinde and N J Jamadar recorded the statement by the public prosecutor made on instructions from the state and posted the petition for the final hearing on September 27.
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Petition filed in Bombay High Court challenging transfer of case investigation to NIA

19/06/2020

The Leaflet / by Ujjaini Chatterji

A Writ Petition has been filed before the High Court of Maharashtra at Bombay, challenging the transfer of the investigation for Bhima Koregaon and Elgar Parishad cases, to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The Petitioners in the writ are Advocate Surendra Gadling, prominent lawyer who is famous for his court craft and immense knowledge of criminal law, and Sudhir Dhawale, a freelance journalist and anti-caste activist.
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UN rights chief condemns ongoing restrictions on freedom of assembly

UN rights chief condemns ongoing restrictions on freedom of assembly

Jurist.org / by Sambhav Sharma

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, on Monday condemned India’s restrictions placed on public assembly in Jammu and Kashmir, pursuant to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967 (UAPA)…
This condemnation comes after many in India have continuously criticised the allegedly arbitrary and abusive law that punishes dissenters who are vocal against government actions. As many as 5,128 cases have been registered in India under the UAPA since 2015.
The law was also severely scrutinised in July after the demise of Father Stan Swamy, a tribal rights activist who was arrested under the UAPA for his alleged involvement in the Bhima Koregaon violence in 2018 and his links to Maoists.
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Anand Teltumbde challenges UAPA bail provisions before Bombay High Court

Anand Teltumbde challenges UAPA bail provisions before Bombay High Court

Anand Teltumbde challenges UAPA bail provisions before Bombay High Court

14/09/2021

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

The Bench of Justices SS Shinde and NJ Jamadar issued notice to the NIA in the matter, with a direction to file a reply within three weeks.
Bhima Koregaon accused Anand Teltumbde has approached the Bombay High Court challenging bail provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and misuse of the term “front organisation” by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
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Anand Teltumbde Moves Bombay High Court Challenging Stringent Bail Conditions & ‘Vague Terminology’ In UAPA

13/09/2021

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

In a significant challenge, Professor Anand Teltumbde, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon- Elgar Parishad Caste Violence Case, has filed a writ petition in Bombay High Court to quash the terminology “and all its formations and front organizations” attached to the banned CPI (Maoist) in the first schedule of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
He claims that the “vagueness” of the terminology is used as a tool to circumvent due process wherein the State does not notify a particular organization as banned under the UAP Act but investigating agencies keep using the ‘front organization’ card with impunity and no oversight, especially to oppose bail.
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Bombay HC seeks NIA response to Teltumbde’s pleas seeking bail, challenging UAPA

13/09/2021

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

A division bench of Justice S S Shinde and Justice N J Jamadar was on Monday hearing Anand Teltumbde’s appeal against the July order of the NIA court that rejected his bail application.
The Bombay High Court on Monday issued a notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), seeking its response to an appeal filed by Elgaar Parishad case accused Anand Teltumbde against rejection of his bail application by the special NIA court.
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Teltumbde moves HC on UAPA”s ”frontal organisation” provisios

13/09/2021

Outlook / by pti

Anand Teltumbde, an accused in the Elgar Parishad Maoist links case, has filed a writ petition in Bombay High Court seeking that a provision under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) to brand certain groups as a front for banned or terrorist organisations be quashed as it was bad in law.
The UAPA provides for the declaration of an association as unlawful and for the listing of organisations in the first schedule of the Act as “terrorist organisations”.
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Also read: ‘Mass frenzy has made India’s destroyers nationalists, its selfless servers traitors. Hope you speak out before your turn comes’ (The Polis Project / by Anand Teltumbde, April 14, 2020)

Podcast: The unravelling of a conspiracy: were the 16 charged with plotting to kill India’s prime minister framed? 

Podcast: The unravelling of a conspiracy: were the 16 charged with plotting to kill India’s prime minister framed? 


en | 35min | 2021

The Guardian / by Siddhartha Deb

In 2018, Indian police claimed to have uncovered a shocking plan to bring down the government. But there is mounting evidence that the initial conspiracy was a fiction – and the accused are victims of an elaborate plot.
Listen to the podcast

Pegasus Espionage: End the global trade in spyware (international campaign)

Pegasus Espionage: End the global trade in spyware (international campaign)

By Pressenza.com

An Indian-led initiative is trying to ensure that the scandal surrounding the large-scale use of NSO Group’s Pegasus cyber-weapon does not simply die down (as previous scandals have).
We reproduce this call to organise and continue campaigning around some basic principles.
Dear friends, dear friends,
Warm greetings from India. You all know that we are going through a steady erosion of our democracy led by a right wing (Hindu) government under the leadership of Narendra Modi. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with its vast network of ideological supporters in India and abroad, seeks to establish a Hindutva majoritarian state based on the deprivation of its social, religious and other minorities.
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Also read: Leaked Data Shows Surveillance Net in Elgar Parishad Case May Have Crossed a Line (The Wire, July 18)

Income Tax department ‘surveys’ Newsclick, Newslaundry in tax case

Income Tax department ‘surveys’ Newsclick, Newslaundry in tax case

Economic Times / by pti

The Income Tax department on Friday conducted separate “survey operations” at the premises of online news portals Newsclick and Newslaundry here, officials said …
Newsclick and its founders were raided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in February under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and that investigation is linked to alleged dubious foreign funding received by its registered company, which runs the news portal…
The ED had claimed that it is also probing Newsclick and its promoters for alleged transfer of certain funds to activist Gautam Navlakha, accused in the Elgar Parishad case of Maharashtra.
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Also read: Intimidatory and Blatant Attack: Editors Guild on IT ‘Survey’ at NewsClick, Newslaundry [read full statement] (The Wire, Sep 11, 2021)

Who is a political prisoner? Time to define one

Who is a political prisoner? Time to define one

By Nandita Haksar

There has been a great deal of anguish, angst and anger expressed at the death of Stanislaus Lourduswamy (1937–2021), popularly known as Stan Swamy, an Indian Roman Catholic priest, a member of the Jesuit order, and a tribal rights activist for many decades…
His death has drawn focus to the cruelty of the system which denied the right to die with dignity to a senior citizen who was suffering from Parkinson’s disease. However, the imprisonment of Stan Swamy and other political prisoners, including poets, journalists, bloggers, women activists, students, Dalits and Muslims, raises crucial questions. It is not just a humanitarian issue but a political one.
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They Don’t Want us to Sing our Songs, Read our Poems

They Don’t Want us to Sing our Songs, Read our Poems

Newsclick / by Parth MN

Moved by the death of anti-caste activist Vira Sathidar, Ramesh Gaichor, an Elgar case accused, had penned a poem in Taloja prison, but the jail chief found it ‘objectionable’ for circulation. Gaichor has moved the court.
Civil and Sessions Court, complaining against one of its prisoners, Ramesh Gaichor. Gaichor, one of the 16 political prisoners arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case, had written a poem as a tribute to Vira Sathidar, a committed anti-caste activist and an Ambedkarite, who died of COVID-19 in April 2021.
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