| 30 Oct: Narmada Arrests Update |
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30th
October 2009 *** NBA OFFICES IN KHANDWA SEALED FOR TWO HOURS AND WITHOUT ANY WARRANT SEARCHED AND INFORMATION STOLEN
Following the demonstration by over ten thousand men and women affected by the
Indira Sagar and Omkareshwar dams on the 28th of October 2009 in Khandwa,
Khandwa police in an unprecedented action has arrested all the key activists of
Narmada Bachao Andolan from their offices and the dharna site, in front of the
Khandwa Collectorate. From 29th October more than a thousand
adivasis had been protesting infront of the Khandwa Collectorate, since the MP
government refused to live up to the Jabalpur High Court order of giving 5
acres of land to elder son of each of the oustees that lost their land in the
project.
On 29th evening Chttaroopa Palit and 18 other activists were arrested and today (30th Oct) without any provocation police came in Vajra vehicle and locked NBA’s office alleging anti-state activities. They arrested six of the activists, including senior activist Alok Agarwal, present at the office around 5:15 pm and then locked the office. After some time five police people came and without any search warrant and probably copied files from the computer and taken some papers/documents from the office. After some time they have released 5 people and unsealed NBA office but kept Alok Agarwal in custody though have not explained the charges under which he has been kept in custody. It is a clear case of violation of the rights of the activists and also an attempt at breaking the peaceful protest by police action. Yesterday they had lathi charged the protesters but even then the protest had continued, innervating the district administration. This is a clear cut attempt at breaking the morale of the thousands of protesting famers, adivasis and workers. NBA unequivocally condemns this action and also demands that the activists be released unconditionally and action been taken against the responsible police officers. |
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