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Tag: UAPA

NAPM stands in solidarity against state repression of activists, lawyers and progressive persons

NAPM stands in solidarity against state repression of activists, lawyers and progressive persons

By National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM)

Release all political prisoners, including Sudha Bharadwaj who has been imprisoned for 2 years!
Arrest the real criminals of ‘Bhima Koregaon’!
Repeal the UAPA Law!

28th August 2020: In India’s dark history of human rights violations, 28th August 2018 has become a very important day. On this day, Sudha Bharadwaj was arrested by Pune police from her home in Faridabad. On the same day, Gautam Navlakha from Delhi, Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves from Mumbai and Varavara Rao from Hyderabad were also arrested. Although Gautam Navlakha was granted relief from arrest for a while by the Delhi High Court, he was also arrested a few months ago. In the ‘Bhima Koregaon case’, baseless and false facts have been used to fabricate a criminal case. …

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More than 400 students, faculty members sci-tech institutes demand bail for Varavara Rao, GN Saibaba

More than 400 students, faculty members sci-tech institutes demand bail for Varavara Rao, GN Saibaba

Hindustan Times / by Priyanka Sahoo

More than 400 students, faculty members, and alumni from various science and technology institutes in the country have signed a petition to the Central government, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde, demanding bail and medical care for Varavara Rao and GN Saibaba, who are in jail for their alleged Communist Party of India (CPI)-Maoist links, and the release of other political prisoners.
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Varavara Rao Bail Plea: COVID No Excuse for Political Prisoners?

Varavara Rao Bail Plea: COVID No Excuse for Political Prisoners?


+++ Matters concerning Mr. VV Rao’s interim bail appeal, Dr. Anand’s and Vernon’s Covid 19 test did not reach hearing in the Bombay HC today. Next date could be July 28 +++

The Quint / by Shorbori Purkayastha

Podcast: Is it ethical for Bhima Koregaon accused Varavara Rao to be refused interim bail in this pandemic?
Should we be looking at heath conditions or the gravity of offense for prisoners seeking interim bail on health grounds in view of the pandemic?
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Refusal of bail to Sudha Bharadwaj is based on inadmissible evidence

Refusal of bail to Sudha Bharadwaj is based on inadmissible evidence

The following article refers to the bail dismissal of Oct 15, 2019. The ongoing bail hearings are in the context of medical bail.

It is unjust that refusal of bail to Sudha Bharadwaj is based on inadmissible evidence

The Indian Express / by Colin Gonsalves

The observation of the Court in Bharadwaj’s case that the decision as to whether a document is admissible in evidence or not will have to wait for the trial stage is unbelievable. Courts routinely exclude inadmissible documents or statements (such as hearsay) from consideration while deciding bail applications.
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How The UAPA Is Perverting The Idea Of Justice

How The UAPA Is Perverting The Idea Of Justice

Article 14 / by Abhinav Sekhri

Varavara Rao. Sudha Bharadwaj. Devangana Kalita. SafooraZargar. Scores of activists and students, all labelled criminals, all charged under a law whose legal processes ensure that proof of their innocence or guilt is rendered irrelevant.
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Travesty of Justice – Persecution of Human Rights Defenders

Travesty of Justice – Persecution of Human Rights Defenders

By Civil Liberties Committee (AP &Telangana State)

We cannot forget 2018. In fact that the violence in Bhimakoregaon in Maharashtra on January 2018 was a planned and organized by the RSS and other Hindhutva outfits in order to foil Edgar Parishat, a conglomeration of dalits, bahujans and minorities who gathered in a single  platform. The Parishad proclaimed to fight against fascist hindutva forces and reclaim Constitution and its ideals. In the months of June and August the Maharashtra Police raided selectively the houses of human rights and social activists across the country.
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Injustice In The Courts: Four Indian Laws That Should Have Never Existed

Injustice In The Courts: Four Indian Laws That Should Have Never Existed


Drawing by Fathima Z. B.

Maktoobmedia.com / by Mrinal Sharma, Amnesty International India

First published May 6, 2020
The criminal justice system loses credibility when people are detained for no good reason. In India, this happens frequently under many laws, where journalists, human rights defenders, lawyers, and students are arrested just for being critical of the government.
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Denial of bail: Will courts inquire into their writings, speeches?

Denial of bail: Will courts inquire into their writings, speeches?

Counterview / by Vidya Bhushan Rawat

It is deeply disturbing that 81-year-old poet Varavara Rao has been denied bail and has now been admitted to a hospital in Mumbai. Reports suggest that the prison in Taloja, Navi Mumbai, where he was lodged, has several Covid-19 patient. The family and friends of Varavara Rao have protested in Hyderabad, as they were not even allowed to visit him.
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EU sub-committee expresses serious concerns about recent arrests [read letter]

EU sub-committee expresses serious concerns about recent arrests [read letter]

Scroll.in / by Malini Subramaniam

The subcommittee also questioned India’s use of UAPA to silence activists such as Safoora Zargar, Khalid Saifi, Meeran Haider and Sharjeel Imam, among others.
The European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressing concern about the recent arrests of activists Anand Teltumbde and Gautam Navlakha by the National Investigative Agency, and urged India to immediately release all political prisoners in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The activists are accused in the Bhima Koregaon case.
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Open Letter: Release human rights defenders at risk in the context of COVID-19

Open Letter: Release human rights defenders at risk in the context of COVID-19


Drawing by Arun Ferreira

By International Federation for Human Rights

Dear Home Minister,
We, the undersigned organizations, write with great concern regarding the situation of student activists Safoora Zargar, who is four months pregnant, Meeran Haider, Shifa-Ur-Rehman and Sharjeel Imam, all detained under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). …
Their situation is not unique. For example, on 14 April 2020, the authorities also detained human rights activists Anand Teltumbde and Gautam Navlakha under the UAPA for allegedly inciting caste-based violence during a 2018 demonstration in Bhima Koregaon, Maharashtra state. Nine other activists have been detained since 2018 in relation to the same case. They are known for their work defending the rights of Adivasi and Dalit communities and should all be released immediately.
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