NAPM STATEMENT: Medha Patkar & others released unconditionally

By Dilip -

  • Chindwara Administration Presents Worst Face of Police and State; Violates all Procedural Guidelines in D K Basu Case
  • Medha Patkar, Mukesh Bagoriya, Braj Kishore Chaurasia and 20 others released unconditionally from Chindwara Jail. No Demand for Bail was Made.
  • Suniti S R and 34 Women Released from Pune Jail; 46 Men not Released Since Release Order could not Reach on Time. No Demand for Bail was Made.
  • Kishan Sangharsh Samiti Leader, Advocate Aradhana Bhargava's Bail Plea to be Heard Tomorrow in Chaurai Tehsil Court; Charged with Section 110 for Habitual Offenders, generally a preserve of Rapists and History Sheeter Criminals. Shame on Administration.
Chindwara, November 7 : Today afternoon, Medha Patkar and others were presented infront of the Chief Judicial Magistrate on charges under Section 188, in a packed Court room in heavy presence of police. The town remained tense due to unavoidable and unnecessary situation created by the District Collector and Superintendent of Police.Medha Patkar, stated to CJM Chindwara that the charges under Section 188 has been promulgated much after, the initial arrest was made under section 151. She recorded her statement in the court and alleged several violations by the police of D K Basu Guidelines : using force while arrest from a peaceful gathering inside a private house late in the night; not producing infront of any executive or judicial magistrate after arrest; not informing the nearest friend or family of arrest or allowing meeting them; putting in jail first and then issuing the arrest memos to many others. She accused the administration of collusion with the government in keeping her in illegal detention and pressuring the Executive Magistrate not to even admit the bail application. It was only after a Habeas Corpus application moved in Jabalpur High Court that she was produced in Court on trumped up charges.

CJM in its order said the alleged violations are beyond the authority of his Court but it is not desirable that the accused be kept in detention any longer and ordered their immediate release. On plea of the Prosecution that they should be further remanded for till 20th November, Judge said there is no ground for that and it will be injustice to them. At 2:30 pm Jabalpur High Court heard the Habeaus Corpus Petition and said since the police has already produced them in Court the HC application's purpose has been solved, however, applicant is at liberty to add to it all the charges of illegal detention and arrest which will be heard separately. Later at 7:00 pm all the people were released from the Chindwara Jail.

Advocate Aradhana Bhargava's case for hearing will come tomorrow at Chaurai tehsil Court. It needs to be noted that she was arrested from her house in Chindwara however, police has showed in jail diary that she was arrested in Chaurai Tehsil. Today we also learnt that she has been charged with Section 110, for which she can also be debarred from the district. It is extremely shameful and highly condemnable that charges reserved for habitual offenders like history sheeter criminals, rapists and others has been imposed on a committed social activist and lawyer. The administration is certainly acting on behalf of the Adnai Thermal Power Plant and State Governmnt's who has been threatened by the agitation led by Kisan Sanghrash Samiti under her leadership.NAPM condemns such vindictive move of the administration and will continue to fight the legal battle as well the ground battle in Chindwara.

In Pune, today afternoon, all the women prisoners were produced infront of the Executive Magistrate, who released them saying that they can't be kept any longer in the jail under the current circumstances. Release order was passed and they were released later in the evening at 6:30pm. However, the Pune police which was extremely quick to arrest and put them in jail late in evening could not deliver the release order for all the men on time, as a result they continue to be in Yeravada jail. Shame on Pune Police ! They will be released tomorrow morning at 10 am.

Support poured in from movements, supporters and well wishers from across the country and world. NAPM acknowledges their support and vows to continue fighting the struggle for people's rights over the natural resources and for equity and justice. We will challenge the misuse of the law by the police in High Court and see to it that action is taken against erring officials.

We would also like to extend an invitation to you all to our 9th biennial National Conventionat Salsabeel Green School, Thrissur, Kerala from November 17-19 on theme, “Development and Politics : Alternatives,” where we will collectively strategise for our future struggles and challenge the state and corporate authoritarianism and violence unleashed on people's movements. Nearly a thousand activists from more than 20 states are expected to join the event. We look forward to meeting you all there.

Sandeep Pandey, Ulka Mahajan, Prafulla Samantara, Akhil Gogoi, Arundhati Dhuru, Maj. Gen. Sudhir Vombatkere, Sister Celia, Gabriele Dietrich, Roma, Geetha Ramakrishnan, Bhupinder Singh Rawat, Vimal Bhai, Rajendra Ravi, Ramakrishna Raju, Saraswati Kavula, Gautam Bandopahdyay, Shrikanth, Madhuresh Kumar
for details call : 9818905316

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