Rights activists raided in several states; 5 arrested
Pune: The Maharashtra police on Tuesday carried out near simultaneous raids on the homes of several prominent human rights activists in different states and arrested at least five of them, alleging that they have 'Maoist links'. The raids, which triggered a nationwide chorus of outrage and protests, were carried out as part of a probe into the violence between Dalits and the upper caste Peshwas at Koregaon-Bhima village near Pune after an event called Elgar Parishad (conclave) on December 31 last year.
Those whose residences were raided and searched include legendary Telugu poet Varavara Rao in Hyderabad, trade union activist Sudha Bhardwaj in Faridabad, civil liberties activist Gautam Navalakha in New Delhi, and activists Vernon Gonzalves and Arun Farreira in Mumbai, informed a senior police official. Rao, Bhardwaj, Farreira, Gonzalves and Navalakha were all subsequently arrested under IPC Section 153 (A), which relates to promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place or birth, residence, language and committing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony, said the official.
Some other sections of the IPC were also pressed against those arrested, along with Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for "alleged Naxal activities," said the police official without elaborating. The premises of Father Stan Swamy, a tribal leader in Jharkhand, too were searched but he was not detained, the official said. According to unconfirmed reports, others whose residences were raided are Susan Abraham, Kranthi Tekula and Anand Teltumbde in Goa.
Soon after Navalakha's arrest in the national Capital, the Delhi High Court ordered the police not to take him out of New Delhi until at least Wednesday. The High Court was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of Navalakha by advocate Warisha Farasat.
The police alleged that the speeches made at the Elgar Parishad on the eve of the 200th anniversary of the Koregaon-Bhima battle were one of the triggers for the violence. They also said that the five activists arrested "for suspected Maoist links" had allegedly funded the 'Elgar Parishad' conclave held a day before the Koregaon-Bhima violence.
Reacting to the raid cum arrests, award-winning author Arundhati Roy said, "These are a dangerous sign of a Government that fears it is losing its mandate and is falling into panic. That lawyers, poets, writers, Dalit rights activists and intellectuals are being arrested on ludicrous charges ... tells us very clearly where India is headed."
"Fascist fangs are now openly bared," tweeted semior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan. "It is a clear declaration of emergency. They are going after anyone who has spoken against the government on rights issues. They are against any dissent," remarked Bhushan.
Noted historian-author Ramachandra Guha called the action "absolutely chilling" and demanded the Supreme Court's intervention to stop this "persecution and harassment" of independent voices. Many other prominent persnalities and organisations too slammed the raids and arrests. See P5
