Comment
(This article has been republished in light of one year since the first five activists were arrested on 6 June 2018 in connection with the Bhima Koregaon protests. It was first published on 13 June 2018. The charge sheet against Surendra Gadling, Shoma Sen, Mahesh Raut, Sudhir Dhawale and Rona Wilson was filed by Pune Police in November 2018 in the Bhima Koregaon case.)
“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 organisation 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?