Police raids in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana against activists accused of Maoist links
In a vast operation, India's National Investigation Agency raided 62 locations, arresting Chandra Narasimhulu, for alleged membership in an organisation linked to Maoists. Human rights groups condemned the police action, saying two and a half years of investigation have found nothing.
Amaravati (AsiaNews/Agencies) – India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday raided 62 locations in the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, including the homes of researchers and human rights activists accused of providing logistical and financial support to Maoist rebels, whose party has been banned by the Indian government.
According to The Wire, the raids led to the arrest of Chandra Narasimhulu, a member of the executive committee of Pragathiseela Karmika Samakya, an organisation that Indian authorities consider part of the Communist-Maoist Party of India. Security officers also said they seized a pistol with 14 rounds.
The arrest is related to a 2020 case, in which journalist Pangi Naganna was detained by police in Munchingiputtu, Alluri Sitharamaraju district (Andhra Pradesh) on charges of being a Maoist courier and informant.
At the time, police said they found him in possession of “Maoist revolutionary literature, books, medicines, red colour banner cloth, electrical wire bundles, Nippo batteries and pamphlets”, to be handed over to the Maoist cadres.
His charges are based on the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and certain sections of the Indian Penal Code.
According to law enforcement, Naganna named several activists involved with the Maoists, leading to the searches two days ago.
Durba Suresh Kumar, a lawyer, is among the people under investigation. The NIA summoned him to appear in the case in question as a witness, which is illegal, since he is the legal representative of the people under investigation.
“I am a counsel for many persons named in the case,” he told The Wire. “I represent them in the high court and now the NIA wants me to appear before them as a witness in the same case.”
This would not be the first time that Indian authorities have accused activists of membership in rebel groups in order to crack down on people supporting the land rights of indigenous tribes.
Fr Stan Swamy SJ died in 2021 at the age of 84 in Mumbai after he was jailed on false accusations of links with Maoist guerrillas.
The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) claims that the NIA’s searches are a witch hunt against activists whose concern is to protect the most marginalised groups in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
In two and a half years, the investigation has not come up with any evidence proving the defendants’ guilt.
“The timing and manner of conducting the raids is suspect and supports the suspicion that the raids have been stage-managed by the NIA to intimidate, threaten and silence rights defenders, grassroots activists, media persons and concerned citizens from seeking accountability, criticising or questioning the government and the political executive,” the PUCL said.
The organisation also alleges that the agency seized electronic devices without providing cloned copies of the data on them, which is a violation of proper procedures.
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