PEOPLE’S UNION FOR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS

The recent arrest of Fahad Shah, editor of Kashmir Walla, under S 13 of UAPA and S 124 A and 505 of IPC for ‘uploading anti-national content’ raises a debate about the fate of journalism in times of conflict. Shah was arrested as he had uploaded Inayat Ahmad Mir’s family’s protest over the police’s claim that Mir was a “hybrid terrorist”—an unlisted and camouflaged militant—in the encounter that had happened in his house in Naira Pulwama on January 30, 2022.

The invocation of UAPA charges against members of a fact-finding team shortly after they released its findings on the communal violence in Tripura, is shocking and condemnable. Besides S. 13 of UAPA (punishment for ‘unlawful activity’), a slew of IPC offences has also been invoked: 153 A and B of IPC (promoting enmity and anti-national activities), 120 B, 503, 504 (criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation, breach of peace) as well as charges of forgery and fraudulence for harming reputation (469, 471).

PRess statement

Marking a month since  Stan Swamy passed away in judicial custody in a private hospital, a month in which no official inquiry, even the mandated magisterial inquest, has not been initiated, Framed to die: The case of Stan Swamy documents the manner in which Stan Swamy was framed, fettered, and finally forced towards a fatal illness under due process of law called Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

In a blatantly repressive move aimed at foiling public protest at Shaheedi Park at noon today in support of the countrywide chakka jam called by the Kisan Unions, the Delhi police has prevented the movements of left union leaders and taken some into preventive custody since late last night and early morning.

PUDR condemns the Haryana Government and the Police for filing cases against farmers protesting against the three farmers and Electricity Act.  As per various news reports, Haryana Police have registered cases at Sadar Ambala PS, Baldev Nagar Ambala PS and Dabwali PS against Bhartiya Kisan Union and other farmers' organizations for allegedly breaking police checkpoints and entering Haryana during the 'Delhi chalo' campaign.

On November 17, 2018, Dr P Varavara Rao was taken into custody for his alleged role in the Elgar Parishad Case, after spending 79 days under house arrest. So far he has spent 732 days in jail. The trial has not started.

मार्च 2019 में, एनआईए स्पेशल कोर्ट, पंचकुला ने 2007 के समझौता ब्लास्ट केस में फैसला सुनाया, जिसमें 67 मारे गए और 13 यात्री घायल हुए, जिनमें ज्यादातर पाकिस्तानी नागरिक थे, जो पानीपत के पास अटारी एक्सप्रेस में सवार थे। समझौता धमाकों को अजमेर और मक्का मस्जिद विस्फोट मामलों जैसे मुस्