Many of the accused in the Bhima Koregaon–Elgar Parishad case have now spent one more year incarcerated without a trial. A far cry from the verbiage of high judicial officials that even a day’s denial of liberty is too much.
… Here is a recap of the major developments in the case this year, of bail applications granted, stayed and pending; the consistent pleas for the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to comply with the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973; and the courts heeding to medical conditions-related pleas of the accused. Read more
Koregaon Bhima Battle Anniversary: Images of Indian Constitution, Ambedkar adorn Jaystambh
Commemorative events like the Bhima-Koregaon battle anniversary open a pathway for alternative cultural expressions. Such sites become spaces for new political aspirations.
On January 1, hundreds of thousands of people gathered at the Bhima-Koregaon monument to mark the 206th anniversary of the battle of Bhima-Koregaon. For about a decade and a half now, the memorial at Bhima-Koregaon near Pune in Maharashtra has become a noteworthy site of public attention, underlining the significance of an alternative reading of social and political histories. Read more
Pune: Blue flags flutter across Nagar Road
02/01/2024
PuneMirror Bureau / by Chaitraly Deshmukh
Bhim Sainiks converge at Vijay Stambh to pay obeisance on 206th anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon Bhima
Amidst elaborate security arrangements, thousands of Bhim Sainiks assembled to pay homage at the historic Vijay Stambh (victory pillar) on Monday, marking the 206th anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon Bhima. Read more
Koregaon Bhima Battle Anniversary: Images of Indian Constitution, Ambedkar adorn Jaystambh
01/01/2024
The Indian Express / by Chandan Haygunde
This year, the state government has decorated the ‘Jaystambh’ with images of the Constitution of India with the caption “Bhartiya Samvidhanache Amrut Mahotsavi Varsh” (platinum jubilee year of the Indian Constitution).
Preparations were in full swing for the programme to be held at the ‘Jaystambh’ at Perne village in Pune district on Monday to mark the 206th anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon Bhima. Read more
Security stepped up for Koregaon Bhima battle anniversary at Perne
31/12/2023
Hindustan Times / by Nadeem Inamdar
Heavy security force has been deployed in and around Koregaon Bhima victory pillar Jaystambh at Perne village as the district administration expects around 20 lakh visitors to the historic memorial on January 1, 2024, for the anniversary of the battle of Koregaon Bhima. Read more
Koregaon Bhima battle anniversary: Security tightened at Jaystambh for Jan 1 event
30/12/2023
The Indian Express / by Express News Service
As a precaution, police have issued notices to a number of people including activists of different groups, local villagers and others, who were booked in different cases regarding the Koregaon Bhima violence, asking them to stay out of the region on the day of the event.
Heavy security is being deployed at the Jaystambh, which is expecting more visitors than 2023, for the January 1 programme in 2024, to mark the anniversary of the battle of Koregaon Bhima. Read more
Police monitor social media posts ahead of battle of Koregaon Bhima anniversary
26/12/2023
Hindustan Times / by Nadeem Inamdar
State home department instructs police authorities to monitor social media posts related to Koregaon Bhima anniversary events to ensure law and order
The Pune city and its rural counterpart under the directions from the district collectorate have begun security arrangements, surveillance and other safety measures ahead of the 206th anniversary of the battle of Koregaon Bhima at the village. Read more
Security measures intensified as Koregaon Bhima battle anniversary approaches
26/12/2023
Pune Mirror / by Prakhar Yadav
The state home department, in an effort to maintain law and order, has directed the police to closely monitor social media posts related to the upcoming festivities and events
As the 206th anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon Bhima approaches, the district collectorate has instructed both Pune city and its rural counterpart to initiate comprehensive security plans, surveillance, and other safety measures. The state home department, in an effort to maintain law and order, has directed the police to closely monitor social media posts related to the upcoming festivities and events. Read more
‘NewsClick’ case: Gautam Navlakha questioned by Delhi Police
31/12/2023
Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff
The activist and is a shareholder of PPK NewsClick Studio Private Limited since 2018, according to the first information report in the case.
Activist Gautam Navlakha was on Saturday questioned by the Delhi Police in connection with a case against news website NewsClick filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, reported PTI. Read more
Delhi police special cell questions Gautam Navlakha in NewsClick case
31/12/2023
Hindustan Times / by G Mohiuddin Jeddy
A team of the Delhi police special cell arrived in Mumbai on Saturday to question activist Gautam Navlakha in connection with the Newsclick foreign funding case. Navlakha is currently under house arrest in Navi Mumbai in the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon violence case. Read more
Activist Gautam Navlakha to be questioned over foreign funding, links with ISI
24/12/2023
India Today / by Arvind Ojha
The special cell of Delhi police will question activist Gautam Navlakha about his alleged involvement with Chinese funding and a nexus with Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai, who was arrested by the FBI in the US.
The Delhi Police special cell will interrogate activist and journalist Gautam Navlakha at his residence in Mumbai next week, as part of the ongoing investigation into allegations of foreign funding and connections with Pakistan’s spy agency ISI. Read more
Delhi Police seek 3-month extension for NewsClick probe, to question Gautam Navlakha Wednesday
19/12/2023
The Print / by Bismee Taskin
Also accused in Bhima Koregaon case, activist Gautam Navlakha will be questioned in connection with ‘illegal funds’ which Delhi police claim were routed to NewsClick, it is learnt.
The Delhi police have sought a three-month extension before a court here to complete its investigation in the NewsClick case, ThePrint has learnt. Read more
Delhi Police gets permission to question rights activist Gautam Navlakha in Newsclick case
16/12/2023
The Indian Express / by Express News Service
The police want to question Navlakha, a shareholder of PPK Newsclick Studio Pvt Ltd, about illegal funds’ they accuse him to have received in the past five years
Delhi Police’s Special Cell has got a court’s permission to question human rights activist Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the UAPA case registered against him and staffers of the NewsClick website, at his home in Navi Mumbai, where he has been under house arrest in the Bhima Koregaon case. Read more
Immediately withdraw pending pathalgadi cases, including on late Stan Swamy: JJM
02/01/2024
Countercurrents / by Representative
According to a recent RTI reply by the Superintendent of Police of Khunti, five pathalgadi cases of Khunti are yet to be withdrawn. It also includes the case registered against 20 activists and intellectuals, including Stan Swamy. Also, according to the RTI reply, another pathalgadi related case was registered in Khunti in March 2020 under the current Hemant Soren government. Of the total 21 cases registered by the Raghubar Das government in Khunti, 16 have been withdrawn. Read more
4 Years After Announcement, Govt Yet to Withdraw Cases Pending Against Pathalgadi Movement
30/12/2023
The Wire / by The Wire Staff
The pending cases name Stan Swamy along with 20 other activists and intellectuals associated with the movement. On 29 December 2019, Hemant Soren soon after taking the oath as chief minister had announced the withdrawal of all Pathalgadi cases.
Five cases registered in connection with the Pathalgadi movement in Jharkhand’s Kunti district are still pending to be withdrawn. Four years ago, in December 2019, when Jharkhand’s current chief minister Hemant Soren took over, he vowed to withdraw all cases in connection with the movement, filed under his predecessor Raghubar Das’s government. Read more
Granting bail to writer and activist, Gautam Navlakha in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case (Bhima Koregaon case), the Bombay High Court, found insufficient evidence to prima facie indicate Navlakha’s involvement in conspiring or executing terrorist acts
… The court’s assessment in the Gautam Navlakha bail hearing highlighted the lack of substantial material linking Navlakha to terrorist activities. It emphasized that his alleged membership with CPI (Maoist) could, at most, implicate him under sections 13 and 38 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, carrying a maximum punishment of ten years. Read more
Damning new forensic investigation reveals repeated use of Pegasus spyware to target high-profile journalists
28/12/2023
Amnesty.org / by Amnesty International
Amnesty International, in partnership with The Washington Post, has unearthed shocking new details about the continued use of NSO Group’s highly invasive spyware Pegasus to target prominent journalists in India, including one who had previously been a victim of an attack using the same spyware. Read more
Amnesty International Letter to the Technical Committee appointed by the Supreme Court of India
15/02/2022
Amnesty.org / by Amnesty International
In this letter, dated 15 February 2022, Amnesty International responds to the questions posed by the Technical Committee appointed by the Supreme Court of India to investigate the use of Pegasus in India, received by email on 7 February 2022. Read / download letter
Human Rights Defenders Targeted by a Coordinated Spyware Operation
15/06/2020
Amnesty.org / by Amnesty International
Nine human rights defenders, most of whom have been fighting for the release of the Bhima Koregaon 11 through litigation, research, or activism, were unlawfully targeted with a spyware attack Read more
Sudha Bharadwaj’s recently published book ‘From Phansi Yard: My Year with the Women of Yerawada’ is a tenderly written collection of her memories, through which one gets to witness her resilient spirit, and yet, her vulnerabilities. In the book, she observes, reflects and chronicles stories of women prisoners, prison conditions and her own journey.
… The book begins with an interview, in which she narrates her story, her memories of the beginning of her activism, her relationship with her daughter and the work she did with the Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha. Here are some excerpts from the book, that illustrate the warmth and compassion with which she wrote about her fellow prisoners (whom she has numbered and left anonymous), and her unyielding courage with which she survived incarceration. Read more
From Phansi Yard: My Year with the Women of Yerawada
Author: Sudha Bhardwaj Publisher: Juggernaut Pages: 216 Order
Also watch/read:
● Video – Book Release: Why is the state afraid of Sudha Bharadwaj?
By People’s Union for Civil Liberties, Jan 2021en + hindi | 2h 53min | 2021
Topic: Why is the state afraid of Sudha Bharadwaj?
A long interview conducted with Sudha over several days before she was arrested is now being published as an online book “Sudha Bharadwaj Speaks – A Life in Law and Activism”, and will be released at this webinar by the well-known writer, Nayantara Sahgal. Sudha’s daughter, Maaysha, her lawyer Yug Chaudhary, social activist Harsh Mandar, historian Uma Chakravarti amongst other coworkers & colleagues, will also share their experiences and memories of working with her. Watch video @ PUCL Facebook (videos)
● Sudha Bharadwaj speaks – A Life in Law and Activism
Publisher: Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Edition: January 2021 Language: English
Sudha Bharadwaj’s interview by: Darshana Mitra and Santanu Chakraborty Paperback: 316 pages
Access a free PDF copy of the book here: Sudha_Bharadwaj_speaks (2,1 MB)
● Video: The Conditions of Prisoners in Indian Jails
By All India Lawyers’ Association for Justice – AILAJ | March 2022 en | 1:21:23 | 2022
The huge number of undertrials, the overcrowding, and the disproportional numbers of Dalit, Muslim and Adivasi prisoners are part of the prison problem in India.
We are joined by Adv. Sudha Bharadwaj for a discussion on the Conditions of Prisoners in Indian Jails. Watch video
A look at charges against Hindutva leader Ekbote in 2018 Koregaon Bhima violence
Pune Crime Files: A look at charges against Hindutva leader Ekbote and court observations in 2018 Koregaon Bhima violence
26/12/2023
The Indian Express / by Chandan Haygunde
Widespread violence broke out in Koregaon Bhima area on January 1, 2018, when a few lakh people, mainly the Ambedkarites, had gathered to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle between the British Army and Peshwa forces.
Preparations are in full swing at the ‘Jaystambh’, a British war memorial at Pune’s Perne village, to mark the 206th anniversary of the battle of Koregaon Bhima that was fought between the British Army and Peshwa forces on January 1, 1818. Read more
6 years, 14 extensions later Koregaon Bhima Commission’s work still unfinished
26/12/2023
Hindustan Times / by Nadeem Inamdar, Yogesh Joshi
It has been six years since the caste conflict broke out at Koregaon Bhima and the work of the Commission to probe into the events that led to the clashes is yet to be completed after 14 extensions
As the 206th anniversary of the battle of Koregaon Bhima draws near, Pune district administration has teamed up with the law enforcing agencies to monitor social media to avoid any untoward incident. Read more
pudr.org / Peoples Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR)
PUDR welcomes the Bombay High Court order granting regular bail to Gautam Navlakha, a well-known civil rights activist, author, and journalist, on December 19, 2023. The two-member bench comprising Justices AS Gadkari and Shivkumar Dige ruled that based on a perusal of the documents presented, there was no material evidence to infer Gautam Navlakha’s involvement in terrorist acts as shown in the chargesheet against him under sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) by the National Investigating Agency (NIA). Read full statement
Mahesh Raut was granted bail in September but he remains in prison. A similar fate might await Gautam Navlakha, who was granted bail on Tuesday.
More than five years after he was arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case, journalist and activist Gautam Navlakha was finally granted bail by the Bombay High Court on Tuesday. However, he is unlikely to walk out of prison soon.
Another person accused in the case, activist Mahesh Raut, was granted bail by the High Court in September. Nearly four months later, he is still in prison. Read more
