Posts – Page 61 – free them all

There is room for Fascism in Democracy: Siddique Kappan

07/05/2023 Asha

Countercurrents.org / by Rejaz M Sydeek

Siddique Kappan, a 43-year-old Malayali journalist and Delhi unit secretary of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists was arrested near Mathura toll plaza on October 5th, 2020, with student activists Atikur Rahman and Masood Ahmad, and the cab’s driver, Mohammad Alam. He was en route to Hathras to report on the gang rape and murder of a Dalit girl (the Hathras case) by four upper-caste Thakur men in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. Kappan was charged under various sections, including the UA(P)A and PMLA. He was released on bail on February 2nd, 2023, after spending 851 days in jail.
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This is the transcript of the interview. It has been lightly edited for syntax and clarity.
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Rejaz: Even in your case, they tried to link you with the Bhima Koregaon case and frame you as a Maoist. How do you see using the Maoist tag as a weapon to incarcerate human rights activists and journalists like Rupesh Kumar Singh?

Kappan: This is prevalent in every era, especially in the contemporary world, where journalists are framed as terrorists. Framing me as a Maoist was part of that. There is always an attempt to frame those who speak for Adivasis, Dalits, and Muslims and against the oppressors of the oppressed as Maoists.
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Prisoners aspire to pursue law, defend themselves; write entrance

05/05/2023 Asha

Sagar Gorkhe, Ramesh Gaichor. Poster by #bakeryprasad

The Indian Express / by Sadaf Modak

As per the Prison Statistics of India, 2021, while nearly 40 per cent of the prison population has studied below Class 10, 24 per cent have passed Class 10 but are below graduation.
Among thousands of aspirants who appeared for the Common Entrance Test (CET) for law held in Maharashtra on Wednesday was 35-year-old Sagar Gorkhe, who is in judicial custody in Taloja Central Jail in connection with the Elgaar Parishad case.
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Also read:
● Elgaar Parishad case accused allowed to appear for law entrance exam (The Indian Express / April 2023)

SC seeks response of NIA, Maharashtra government in bail pleas of Jyoti Jagtap, Shoma Sen

04/05/2023 Asha

Supreme Court Issues Notice On Bail Pleas Of Professor Shoma Sen & Jyoti Jagtap In Bhima Koregaon Case

04/05/2023

Live Law / by Sohini Chowdhury

The Supreme Court, on Thursday, issued notice in bail pleas filed by Jyoti Jagtap and Professor Shoma Sen, accused in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad Case under the anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
A Bench comprising Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia issued notice in both the Special Leave Petitions.
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Supreme Court seeks response of NIA, Maharashtra government in bail pleas of Jyoti Jagtap, Shoma Sen

04/05/2023

Bar & Bench / by Abhimanyu Hazarika

The Supreme Court on Thursday sought the response of the Maharashtra government and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on the bail pleas filed by, Jyoti Jagtap and Shoma Sen, accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence case.
A Bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia issued notice to the State and NIA.
Sen, an English Literature professor and Dalit and women’s rights activist, was arrested on June 6, 2018.
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SC issues notice to Maha, NIA on activist Jyoti Jagtap’s plea for bail

04/05/2023

The Print / by pti

The Supreme Court on Thursday sought the responses of the Maharashtra government and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on a plea filed by activist Jyoti Jagtap, arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, challenging a Bombay High Court order declining her bail.
Read more

Also read:
● Shoma Sen moves Supreme Court seeking bail (The Leaflet / Apr 2023)
● Inconsistencies in Bail Orders Mean Individual Liberty Is Now the Outcome of Judicial Lottery (The Wire / Oct 2022)
● Kabir Kala Manch incited hatred, passion at Elgar Parishad: Bombay High Court (India Today / Oct 2022)
● The Security Playbook Used To Erode Democracy In Modi’s India & How The Tide Might Turn (article 14 / March 2022)

Shoma Sen’s discharge application at NIA court claims lack of incriminating evidence

03/05/2023 Asha

The Leaflet / by Sarah Thanawala

The matter will now be heard on May 17.
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) court, presided by special judge Rajesh Kataria, on Tuesday heard a discharge application filed by women’s rights activist and academic Shoma Sen, claiming lack of incriminating evidence against her in the Bhima Koregaon–Elgar Parishad Maoist links and criminal conspiracy case.
Read more

Also Read:
● Shoma Sen moves Supreme Court seeking bail (The Leaflet / Apr 2023)
● Mahesh Raut, Sudhir Dhawale, Shoma Sen and Rona Wilson seek bail from Bombay HC on parity with Sudha Bharadwaj (India Today / March 2023)
● Bombay HC asks Elgar Parishad accused Prof Shoma Sen to first approach trial court for bail (India Today / Jan 2023)

Sagar Gorkhe allowed to appear for law entrance exam

30/04/2023 Asha

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

“The applicant shall be given a waiver for the escort charges. The applicant shall not misuse the permission granted to the applicant vide this order,” the court noted.
A special court in Mumbai on Friday allowed Elgaar Parishad case accused Sagar Gorkhe to attend a Law entrance exam.
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SC directs Gautam Navlakha to pay INR 8 lakhs as cost of deploying police for his house arrest

28/04/2023 Asha

Supreme Court directs Gautam Navlakha to pay INR 8 lakhs as cost of deploying police for his house arrest

28/04/2023

The Leaflet / by Sarah Thanawala

The NIA has been directed by the court to file a counter affidavit on Navlakha’s plea for change of place of house arrest to another part of Mumbai.
On Friday, the Supreme Court directed Gautam Navlakha to pay INR 8 lakhs towards the cost of deploying police personnel for his house arrest, which was granted to him by the court in November last year.
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Supreme Court Asks Gautam Navlakha To Deposit Rs 8 Lakhs Towards Surveillance And Security Expenses For House Arrest

28/04/2023

Live Law / by Sohini Chowdhury

The Supreme Court, on Friday, directed human rights activist Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, to deposit Rs 8 lakhs to meet the expenses of surveillance and costs as indicated in its order dated 10.11.2022.
On 10th November, 2022 the Court ordered to move Navlakha, 73, from Taloja Central Prison to house arrest, considering his advanced age and multiple multiple ailments. In that order, the court had recorded that while he was on house arrest, the expense of surveillance, approximately Rs. 2.4 lakhs, would be borne by Navlakha himself.
Read more

Also read:
● Gautam Navlakha moves SC seeking change of address for house arrest (The Telegraph / April 2023)
● Explainer: As activist Gautam Navlakha is allowed house arrest, what does this actually involve? (Scroll.in / Nov 2022)

Can Varavara Rao get free cataract surgery in Hyderabad? High Court seeks NIA response

27/04/2023 Asha

Bombay HC asks NIA to verify claim by Varavara Rao that he will get free cataract treatment in Hyderabad

27/04/2023

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

Rao made the claim in his application seeking permission to go to Hyderabad from Mumbai for three months to undergo cataract surgery.
The Bombay High Court Thursday asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to verify the claim made by Bhima Koregaon violence accused Dr. P Varavara Rao that State of Telangana would provide free cataract treatment to him.
Single-judge Justice Amit Borkar opined that this was the crux of Rao’s plea, and if the claim made by Rao was factually incorrect, then the complexion of the matter would change.
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Can Varavara Rao get free cataract surgery in Hyderabad? HC seeks NIA response

27/04/2023

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

In February 2021, the HC granted Rao medical bail for six months. Though it was extended from time to time, the high court in April 2022 rejected his prayer for permanent bail and asked him to surrender within three months.
The Bombay High Court on Thursday asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to respond to claims by Telugu poet and activist Varavara Rao, who is an accused in Elgar Parishad case that he can get cataract surgery done free-of-cost in Hyderabad, Telangana.
Read more

Also read:
● Bombay High Court seeks response from NIA on plea by Varavara Rao to undergo cataract surgery at Hyderabad (Bar & Bench / Jan 5, 2023)
● Can’t Allow Varavara Rao To Stay In Hyderabad For Three Months For Cataract Treatment, Will Delay Framing of Charges: NIA Court (Scroll.in / Sep 2022)

Shoma Sen moves Supreme Court seeking bail

27/04/2023 Asha

The Leaflet / by Sarah Thanawala

The Bombay High Court, in its order dated January 17, had refused to examine the correctness of the order of the trial court that rejected her bail application.
A special leave petition, filed by women’s rights activist and academic Shoma Sen challenging the order of the Bombay High Court on her bail plea, is listed to be heard on May 4. The petition was mentioned by senior advocate Anand Grover before a division Bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of India Dr D.Y. Chandrachud, on Wednesday.
Read more

Also Read:
● Mahesh Raut, Sudhir Dhawale, Shoma Sen and Rona Wilson seek bail from Bombay HC on parity with Sudha Bharadwaj (India Today / March 2023)
● Bombay HC asks Elgar Parishad accused Prof Shoma Sen to first approach trial court for bail (India Today / Jan 2023)

Gautam Navlakha moves HC against NIA court’s rejection of bail plea

27/04/2023 Asha

Gautam Navlakha moves HC against NIA court’s rejection of bail plea

27/04/2023

The Indian Express / by The Indian Express

Navlakha, who was arrested on April 14, 2020, has been incarcerated since then. Since November, he has been under house arrest in Navi Mumbai.
Elgaar Parishad case accused Gautam Navlakha recently approached the Bombay High Court with a fresh appeal challenging a special NIA court’s order that had rejected his bail application earlier this month. Navlakha’s previous bail plea, filed before the special court, was rejected last September. Following this, he had filed an appeal before the Bombay High Court.
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Gautam Navlakha moves HC for bail again

27/04/2023

Hindustan Times / by HT Correspondent

Last year, he had filed an appeal in HC when the special court rejected his bail application in September 2022.
Mumbai: Gautam Navlakha, one of the accused in the Elgar Parishad case has approached the Bombay high court for a second time and appealed against the rejection of his bail application by a special NIA court earlier this month. Last year, he had filed an appeal in HC when the special court rejected his bail application in September 2022.
Read more

Also read:
● Bombay HC quashes order rejecting bail plea of Navlakha by special court, orders expeditious rehearing (Sabrang / March 2023)
● Will the bail granted to Anand Teltumbde help others in the Bhima Koregaon case to get out of jail? (Scroll.in / Nov 2022)

Stan Swamy’s birth anniversary celebrated in Bagaicha / Fellowship for rights defenders

26/04/2023 Asha

Stan Swamy’s birth anniversary celebrated at his center

26/04/2023

Matters India / by P M Antony

Bagaicha, April 26, 2023: Friends and associates of late Jesuit social scientist Father Stan Swamy on April 26 observed his 86th birth anniversary at a center he founded near Ranchi, capital of Jharkhand state in eastern India.
Father Stan, as he was popularly known, died on July 5, 2021, as an undertrial prisoner at Mumbai, western India.
For his 86th birth anniversary, about 70 friends of Stan gathered at Bagaicha to cherish his memories, works and get energized and inspired by his life and works towards creating a more just and democratic society.
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Father Stan Swamy’s acquaintances launch fellowship for rights defenders

28/04/2023

The Telegraph / by Animesh Bisoee

‘Most of us are aware of Stan Swamy’s work and contribution to defending human rights, especially the Adivasis’ right to jal, jungle aur zameen’
Friends and acquaintances of Father Stan Swamy have on his birth anniversary launched a fellowship for rights defenders like him and individuals involved in social work.
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by Cedric Prakash / @CedricPrakash (April 26, 2023)
Today birth anniversary of #stanswamy He is fondly remembered by many as a brother, friend, mentor, guide, companion, human rights defender, crusader for justice & more! He was institutionally murdered on 5 Jul 2021; he will never die he LIVES in the hearts of many FOREVER !

Earthly Birthday Greetings to Stan Swamy in Heaven

26/04/2023

Countercurrents.org / by Cedric Prakash

Dear Stan,
It is your birthday today here on earth! You would have completed eighty-six years, if you were around. Well, that was not to be; on 5 July 2021 you were murdered by a brutal and fascist regime, which did not want a human rights defender like you to continue living! This is your second earthly birthday up above. Not sure how you will be celebrating it!
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Swamy and Friends: A Poem by Keki Daruwala

26/04/2023

LiveWire / by Keki N. Daruwalla

This poem was originally published on July 9, 2021 and is being republished on April 26, 2023.

Beyond the Gangetic plain and the Jumna,
they had their world, women dancing in the night
tapping their earth-and-sky-world into rhythm;
their days ruled by taboo and totem
long before Freud had heard of them;
cults flowered, and shamans held the long stick

Indian Jesuit who died in jail hailed for exemplary life

26/04/2023

UCA News / by UCA News reporter

84-year-old Father Stan Swamy was arrested on false charges and denied bail despite suffering from multiple ailments
The birth anniversary of Father Stan Swamy was observed in India by exhorting the youth to follow the Indian Jesuit priest’s path of dedicating life to the poor indigenous people.
“Usually, after death, one is buried. But Father Swamy was sown. His ideals and sacrifices have to be taught to people,” said Justice K Chandru, a retired Madras High Court judge in Tamil Nadu, the home state of Father Swamy.
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