Press Conference to condemn the Arrest and Sexual Violence of Nodeep Kaur by Haryana Police. 3 pm on Saturday, 23 January 2021. Press Club of India, New Delhi

By Dilip -

Press Conference Condemning Nodeep Kaur’s Arrest and Custodial Sexual Violence by Haryana Police

Date: January 23rd, 2021 (Saturday)

Time: 3 pm

Venue: Press Club of India

(1, Raisina Road, Near Central Secretariat Metro, Windsor Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110001)

Campaign for the Release of Nodeep Kaur!

On January 12th, as the Kisan Andolan continued unabated, Nodeep Kaur, a 24-year-old dalit woman worker was arrested by the Haryana Police from the Kundli Industrial Area adjacent to Singhu Border. After violently dispersing a rally by workers in the area and firing at the gathered workers, the police grabbed Nodeep Kaur, took her to Kundli Police Station, filed two FIRs against her under a wide range of fabricated charges. 

This was followed by brutal custodial violence by male police officers including targeting her genitals amounting to sexual violence. She is currently in judicial custody in Karnal Jail without adequate medical care.

This arrest comes following the targeting of a workers organisation in Kundli Industrial Area, Majdoor Adhikar Sanghatan (MAS) which has been at the forefront of forging solidarity between workers and the struggling peasantry at Singhu Border. The numerous worker marches and rallies taken out by MAS in support of the Kisan Andolan ensured that workers of the Kundli Industrial Area were a regular presence at the Kisan Andolan. 

This support was amply repaid by the peasantry, many of whom aided MAS in ensuring payment of wages to around 300 workers. Fearing a shift in power in Kundli, the Haryana Police at the instigation of the Kundli Employers' Association launched a vicious attack on MAS, beating and firing shots at protesting workers and arresting Nodeep Kaur.

This attack is not only an attack on workers and a trade union but an attack on the growing solidarity between workers and the peasants agitating at the Singhu Border.

Condemning this targeting of workers, denial of workers’ constitutional right to association, targeting the unity between workers and peasants and perpetuating sexual violence in custody by the Haryana Police, several members of civil society, democratic rights organisations, trade unions, women’s organisations, Dalit organisations and individuals have come together and will be addressing this press conference.

Some of those who will addressing this press conference include:

1.      Rajveer Kaur, Nodeep Kaur’s sister and student activist

2.      Shavinder, Bharatiya Kisan Union Krantikari (BKU Krantikari)

3.      Ravinder, Bharatiya Kisan Panchayat

4.      Sanjeev Mathur, Bahajun Samajwadi Manch

5.      Urmila, All India Revolutionary Womens' Organisation (AIRWO)

6.      Tuhin Deb, Trade Union Center of India (TUCI)

7.     Amit Srivastava, Lawyer, National Confederation of Human Rights Organisations (NCHRO)

8.      Nihal Siddiqui, Lawyer, National Confederation of Human Rights Organisations (NCHRO)

Please send a correspondent to cover this press conference.

 

 


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