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International Mother Language Day: Take Action for Hany Babu

International Mother Language Day: Take Action for Hany Babu

By PEN International

On 21 February each year, PEN International joins worldwide observations of International Mother Language Day, which celebrates the importance of linguistic diversity around world.
This year, PEN International calls for the release of linguistics scholar and activist Hany Babu (India), who has been unjustly detained by the Indian authorities as part of the government’s wider crackdown on dissidents and advocates for the rights of marginalised communities in India…

Take action
PEN International considers Hany Babu’s detention and that of his fellow activists a breach of their right to freedom of expression, and calls for their immediate and unconditional release.
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Also watch:

Video: Language and the Problems of Justice


en | 3h5min | 2021

By Field Linguistics JNU

An Online Conference to mark one year of Hany Babu’s imprisonment
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How Modi has Depressed Indian Democracy

How Modi has Depressed Indian Democracy

Intpolicydigest.org / by Manas Nag

In July of last year, Stan Swamy, a prominent tribal rights activist, passed away at a hospital in Mumbai. The 84-year-old became India’s oldest political prisoner and remained in custody for eight months while his bail plea on medical grounds was repeatedly rejected. Riddled with Parkinson’s disease, Swamy’s health deteriorated to the point where he could not feed himself. He was eventually moved to a hospital in May where he contracted COVID-19. Swamy was charged and arrested in 2020 under a draconian anti-terror law called the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) – an accusation he categorically denied.
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NIA court allows ED to question Gautam Navlakha in Newsclick “case”

NIA court allows ED to question Gautam Navlakha in Newsclick “case”

Hindustan Times / by Vinay Dalvi

The judge also directed the superintendent of Taloja prison to cooperate with the officers and make arrangements for the same.
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court has allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to record the statement of human rights activist Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Elgar Parishad – Maoist link case, at Taloja Jail from Wednesday to Friday.
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Also read:
● Income Tax department ‘surveys’ Newsclick, Newslaundry in tax case (Economic Times / Sep 2021)
● ‘Intimidatory and Blatant Attack’: Editors Guild on IT ‘Survey’ at NewsClick, Newslaundry (The Wire / Sep 2021)

Court allows Gadling access to ayurvedic medicines, table & chair / Surendra’s Prison Song

Court allows Gadling access to ayurvedic medicines, table & chair / Surendra’s Prison Song

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

Gadling had submitted that his son had brought ayurvedic medicines for him in November but the Taloja Jail superintendent did not allow him access to those.
A special court has allowed lawyer Surendra Gadling, an accused in the Elgaar Parishad case, access to ayurvedic medicines as well as a table and chair to study for his defence.
Gadling had submitted that his son had brought ayurvedic medicines for him in November but the Taloja Jail superintendent did not allow him access to those. He submitted that the court had, in 2018, permitted him to carry the prescribed medicines to prison. 
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Also watch:
Video: The Prison Song of Surendra Gadling

hindi | 11min | 2021
In August, when human rights lawyer Surendra Gadling was released on interim bail for a week, he made a quick visit to the Nagpur sessions court to meet his colleagues and friends. 51- year-old Gadling, a well-known criminal lawyer in Nagpur, was once a cultural activist, who sang songs of political resistance. The 11- minutes- long rendition tells you what it means to be incarcerated in Indian prisons. From food, water, to medical care, everything is a struggle, Gadling narrates.
Watch video

Bhide’s role in Bhima-Koregaon violence case cannot be established, Pune cops tell MSHRC

Bhide’s role in Bhima-Koregaon violence case cannot be established, Pune cops tell MSHRC

Free Press Journal / by Narsi Benwal

The Pune police informed the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) on Thursday that for lack of evidence it hadn’t named right-wing leader Manohar Bhide alias Sambhaji Bhide in the Bhima-Koregaon violence case. The commission accordingly adjourned the matter for final hearing till March 29, when it is likely to decide the compensation to be paid to Bhide.
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Also read:
● Bhima Koregaon: Is Milind Ekbote Being Protected? (Rediff.com / Feb 2022)

CM’s Statement On Saffron Flags During Protest ‘Extraneous’: NIA Court While Rejecting Bail / Statement by Sagar & Ramesh

CM’s Statement On Saffron Flags During Protest ‘Extraneous’: NIA Court While Rejecting Bail / Statement by Sagar & Ramesh

Special NIA Court rejects former CM Fadnavis’ statement as evidence, denies bail to three Bhima Koregaon accused

19/02/2022

The Leaflet / by The Leaflet

A special National Investigative Agency (NIA) court denied bail on Monday to three persons accused in the Bhima Koregaon (Elgar Parishad) case and declined to consider former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ statement in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.  The court, while denying bail, maintained that the accused hatched a “serious conspiracy” to create unrest in the country.
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CM’s Statement On Presence Of Crowd With Saffron Flags During Bhima Koregaon Protest ‘Extraneous’: NIA Court While Rejecting Bail

17/02/2022

Live Law / by Sahrmeen Hakim

Fadnavis spoke about the unexpected presence of over 200-300 people holding saffron flags on the day of violence.
The NIA court has declined to consider Maharashtra’s ex-Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s statement in the State Legislative Assembly on the issue of caste violence at Bhima Koregaon while rejecting bail applications of three accused. The then Chief Minister had spoken on the floor of the house about the presence of around 200-300 people holding saffron flags, sloganeering at the place of the caste violence on January 1, 2018.
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Accused wanted to create unrest in country, says NIA court

17/02/2022

Hindustan Times / by Vinay Dalvi

Though the verdict was pronounced on Monday, the detailed order became available late in the evening on Wednesday.
“From the documents and letters placed on record, prima facie it can be gathered that the applicants along with other members of the banned organisation hatched a serious conspiracy to create unrest in the entire country and to overpower the government politically,” the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court has said, while rejecting bail pleas of Kabir Kala Manch members Jyoti Jagtap, Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor.
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Video Statement by Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor (Sep 5, 2020)


hindi (en subtitles) | 2:20min | 2020
Before arresting them, NIA allegedly offered to let off Kabir Kala Manch musicians Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor if they admitted to Maoist links, to indict activists arrested in the #BhimaKoregaon case.
Watch video

Also read:
● The unravelling of a conspiracy: were the 16 charged with plotting to kill India’s prime minister framed? (The Guardian / Aug 2021)
● They were accused of plotting to overthrow the Modi government. The evidence was planted, a new report says (Washington Post / Feb 2021)
● The many plots to assassinate Narendra Modi (The Caravan / Sep 2018)

NIA Court refuses bail to Hany Babu, Ramesh Gaichor, Jyoti Jagtap and Sagar Gorkhe

NIA Court refuses bail to Hany Babu, Ramesh Gaichor, Jyoti Jagtap and Sagar Gorkhe

Mumbai Coourt rejects bail pleas of four accused

15/02/2022

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

Special Judge DE Kothalikar rejected bail applications of Kabir Kala Manch members Jyoti Jagtap, Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor and associate professor Hany Babu.
A Special Court in Maharashtra on Monday rejected the bail plea of four accused in the Bhima Koregaon case of 2018 being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The members of the allegedly banned organization Kabir Kala Manch along with Babu were arrested by the NIA in 2020.
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Special NIA Court Refuses Bail To DU Associate Prof Hany Babu And Three Kabir Kala Manch Members

14/02/2022

Live Law / by Sharmee Hakim

Special Judge DE Kothalikar refused bail to Delhi University associate professor – Hany Babu, and members of cultural group Kabir Kala Manch members – Sagar Gorkhe, Ramesh Gaichor and Jyoti Jagtap. The National Investigation Agency arrested Babu in July 2020 and the remaining three in September 2020.
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Hany Babu, three Kabir Kala Manch members denied bail in Bhima-Koregaon case

14/02/2022

Free Press Journal / by Bhavna Uchil

A special court on Monday denied bail to four accused in the Elgar Parishad – Bhima Koregaon case – Delhi University associate professor Hany Babu and Kabir Kala Manch members Sagar Gorkhe, Jyoti Jagtap and Ramesh Gaichor.
Gorkhe and Gaichor had sought bail on the grounds that they had been prosecuted in a similar case in 2014, in which they had secured bail from the Supreme Court.
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3 years in jail have made me stronger, says lawyer-activist Sudha Bharadwaj

3 years in jail have made me stronger, says lawyer-activist Sudha Bharadwaj

Times of India / by Priyanka Kakodkar

After being jailed for 3 years under the UAPA in the Bhima Koregaon case, human rights lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj was released on bail on December 9, 2021. An IIT alumnus who gave up her US citizenship to work as a trade unionist among tribals in Chhattisgarh, she later qualified as a lawyer and was teaching at the National Law University in Delhi at the time of her arrest.
Bail conditions prevent her from speaking about the case but she speaks to Priyanka Kakodkar about her experiences in jail, the desperate condition of undertrials and life ahead.
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Also listen to podcast:

Interview With Sudha Bharadwaj, Bhima Koregaon Accused And Human Rights Lawyer

en | 30:48 min | 2022

Scroll.in / by Smitha Nair

In today’s episode we speak to Sudha Bharadwaj, human rights lawyer and trade unionist who has worked with the most marginalised in Chhattisgarh over the last three decades.
Listen to the podcast

Also read:
● Sudha Bharadwaj: My greatest strength were prison inmates (Rediff.com / Feb 2022)
● Sudha Bharadwaj: I was imprisoned in the phansi yard (Rediff.com / Feb 2022)

Anand Teltumbde moves Bombay High Court for temporary bail after brother’s death

Anand Teltumbde moves Bombay High Court for temporary bail after brother’s death

Bombay High Court adjourns bail plea of Anand Teltumbde to February 16

11/02/2022

Indialegallive.com / by India Legal

The Bombay High Court adjourned till February 16, the hearing in the temporary bail application sought by activist Anand Teltumbde, an accused in the Elgaar Parishad case, to visit his nonagenarian mother.
A Division Bench of Justice S.S. Shinde and Justice N.R. Borkar on Friday passed the order after Senior Counsel Mihir Desai said the trial court had rejected Teltumbde’s application on the ground that his substantive/regular bail plea was pending before the High Court, before which he can seek relief temporary bail as well.
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Prof Anand Teltumbde Seeks Interim Bail To Visit Nonagenarian Mother Following His Brother’s Death In An Encounter

11/02/2022

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

Professor Anand Teltumbde has approached the Bombay High Court seeking interim bail to visit his 92-year-old mother for 14 days following his brother – Milind’s – death in an encounter.
A division bench led by Justice SS Shinde sought details of Teltumbde’s interim application and listed the matter for hearing on Wednesday, February 16.
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Anand Teltumbde moves Bombay High Court for temporary bail after brother’s death

11/02/2022

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

Teltumbde’s brother, Milind Teltumbde was killed in a gun-battle that took place in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra on November 13, 2021.
Anand Teltumbde has approached the Bombay High Court seeking interim bail to visit his mother and family, after the recent death of his brother Milind Teltumbde, also a wanted-accused in the 2018 case.
Milind Teltumbde was killed in a gun-battle that took place in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra on November 13, 2021.
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Activist Rona Wilson was targeted by two separate hacker groups, says report

Activist Rona Wilson was targeted by two separate hacker groups, says report

Rona Wilson Targeted in 10-Year Cyber Espionage Effort by Two Groups: Report

11/02/2022

The Wire / by The Wire Staff

Findings by US experts under the cybersecurity firm SentinelOne reveal that Wilson was targeted in a nearly decade-long effort – a time frame significantly longer than earlier realised.
A new report has found that activist Rona Wilson – incarcerated over what the Pune Police and NIA believe are his connections to the Elgar Parishad case – was targeted by two groups who took up cyber crime campaigns against him.
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Indian activist charged with terrorism was targeted by hackers linked to prominent cyber espionage attacks, new report finds

10/02/2022

The Washington Post / by Niha Masih and Gerry Shih

In early 2021, India was jolted by revelations that a jailed human rights activist and vocal government critic was targeted by hackers who planted incriminating evidence on his laptop before he was arrested on terrorism charges.
Now, a year later, a report by U.S. experts says the activist, Rona Wilson, was targeted by two separate groups, including one group that has been linked to widely documented cyberespionage campaigns against military targets in China and Pakistan, India’s top foreign adversaries.
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Activist Rona Wilson was targeted by two separate hacker groups, says report

10/02/2022

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

One of the groups has reportedly been linked to cyberespionage efforts against military targets in China and Pakistan.
Activist Rona Wilson, who has been named as an accused person in the Bhima Koregaon case, was targeted by two separate groups of hackers before he was arrested, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.
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