By People’s Union for Civil Liberties – Chhattisgarh
Release All Political Prisoners!
Repeal Draconian Laws!
Stop Gagging the Media!
June 25th, 2020: On this day in 1975, the then-Indian Government imposed the State of Emergency in India, suspending all fundamental rights and commencing one of the darkest periods of Indian democracy. Today, after a span of forty-five years, we the people of India find ourselves in a similar situation, living in a de facto state of emergency, which has not been officially declared, where scores of ordinary citizens to who dared to criticize the government are being arbitrarily arrested under draconian laws meant only for rarest cases of international terror. The Chhattisgarh chapter of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties is observing this day as the Anti-Emergency Day –to demand the release of arrested human rights workers, and to renew our pledge to uphold the Constitution of India, with all its promises of freedom and equality, in its true spirit. …
By India Civil Watch & Indian Cultural Forum (ICF)
On January 1, 2018, a group of people who had gathered at the site of the battle of Bhima Koregaon, were attacked by Hindutva forces. What followed, is a witch hunt – 11 activists have since been falsely implicated and put behind bars for their alleged, but unproved, role in inciting violence on that day. The civil society in India has come together once again, demanding the release of the wrongfully imprisoned. These videos, released by the Indian Civil Watch, is a part of one such effort. Watch videos on ICF Website
Video: Authors and Poets call on the Government of India to Release the BK11 Activists
The words of 80-year old #BK11 activist/poet Varavara Rao have inspired many. During the #COVID19 pandemic @meenakandasamy @NitashaKaul & Apoorvanand bring his words to life & call for his immediate release along with that of 10 other activists on humanitarian grounds. Watch video
Citing ‘Inhuman Treatment’ of 11 Activists, Brinda Karat Writes to Amit Shah [read letter]
We are herewith releasing the full text of the letter addressed to the Home Minister, Amit Shah by CPI(M) Polit Bureau Member, Brinda Karat. This pertains to the inhuman treatment of human rights activists arrested in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case. The letter was sent today. Read more
NEW DELHI: Over 300 prominent citizens appealed for the release of 11 jailed activists, including Varavara Rao and Sudha Bhardwaj, who are yet to get bail despite prisons being overcrowded and some inmates testing COVID positive. Read more
Things Getting Really Bad in Overcrowded Maharashtra Prisons
Even after 2 deceased inmates were found COVID-19 positive, testing is not being done in Taloja where rights activists, mostly 60+, arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case have been lodged. Read more
OF 269 PRISON INMATES WHO TESTED POSITIVE IN MAHARASHTRA, 115 RECOVERED
The Hindu / by Sonam Saigal
As of June 13, 17, 695 screenings and 1681 swab tests were conducted in 10 Central Prisons in Maharashtra and in the Additional Director General, Prisons (ADGP) office of which 269 tested positive, 115 recovered and four died, the Bombay High Court was informed on Monday. Read more
The Day Justice Hosbet Suresh Was Threatened With Arrest
The police’s relentless pursuit of human rights activists in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence did not spare judges either.
The Bhima Koregaon case, in which 11 prominent human rights activists, lawyers and academics languish behind bars, that too during a pandemic, has now become the template for similar arrests taking place in different parts of the country 2014 under the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah regime. Read more
Human Rights Defenders Targeted by a Coordinated Spyware Operation
Amnesty International / By Amnesty Internatioanl & Citizen Lab
Amnesty International and the Citizen Lab have uncovered a coordinated spyware campaign targeting at least nine human rights defenders (HRDs) in India. Eight of the nine HRDs have been calling for the release of other prominent activists, popularly known as the Bhima Koregaon 11, most of whom have been imprisoned in Maharashtra, India since 2018. Read more
Though there is a mountain of evidence to prove their innocence, the 9 activists arrested, allegedly for their role in the Bhima Koregaon violence still remain in jail. And the witch-hunt only continues, resulting in the arrests of Gautam Navlakha and Anand Teltumbde, also charged with UAPA for the same case. While it is very evident that the case against Anand Teltumbde is fabricated, he was asked to surrender amidst the deadly pandemic along with Gautam Navlakha. We demand the immediate release of all the 11 activists. Watch video
AI India: Release The BK11 on bail on humanitarian grounds (video)
Over the past 2 years, Sudha & 10 other activists have been repeatedly denied bail. In the wake of the #COVID19 pandemic, we at @AIIndia are concerned about their health. The Indian Government must immediately release the activists on bail on humanitarian grounds! Watch Video
