Comment
(This article was published after the first five activists were arrested on 6 June in connection with the Bhima Koregaon protests. It has been republished from The Quint‘s archives in the context of the recent crackdown on five more activists.)
“Intent to strike terror in the people of India”
“Intent to threaten the unity, integrity, security, economic security, or sovereignty of India”
Raising funds “knowing that such funds are likely to be used by a terrorist organization to commit a terrorist act.”
These are elements of some of the charges that have been slapped against a professor, a lawyer who fights for the release of political prisoners, an editor of a magazine, a human rights activist and an anti-displacement activist by the Pune police, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 or UAPA.
These five people – Shoma Sen, Surendra Gadling, Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson and Mahesh Raut – were arrested on 6 June and remanded to police custody –which has now been extended till 21 June. The public prosecutor told the court that they are involved with banned Maoist organisations.
But does any of this stand up to scrutiny? What exactly did these people do to get arrested? And does any of it actually make out the offences they’ve been charged with?