Preventing detention of activists ahead of Gujarat CM programme "no violation of human rights", is perfectly "legal"

Romel Sutariya

By A Representative
In an official communication, the Gujarat police suggests it doesn’t think there is anything wrong with detaining activists seeking to protest against programmes involving state chief minister Anandiben Patel. In a letter to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), New Delhi, the state police has justified the detentions, which took place on December 20, 2014, ahead of the chief minister’s visit to Chhotaudepur in South Gujarat.
The letter, which is with Counterview, is in response to the complaint by Adivasi Kisan Sangharsh Morcha (AKSM) chief Romel Sutariya, who was among tens of tribal farmer activists detained. Sutariya and his colleagues had planned protest against “failure” of the Gujarat government to act against sand mafia, corroding the local river, as also failure to pay dues to tribal farmers for sugarcane sold to a local industrial cooperative.
AKSM is an upcoming tribal farmers’ organization in South Gujarat, currently operating in two new districts – Chhotaudepur and Vyara – situated between the Narmada dam and Gujarat’s cultural capital, Vadodara.
Sutariya had made the complaint against “illegal” detentions, ordered by the then district police chief, Chhotaudepur, Rajan Sushra, on December 29, 2015. The NHRC sought reply from the state police on February 27, 2015. The reply, signed by Anupam Singh Gahlaut, deputy inspector general of police, Vadodara range, was sent on May 11, 2015.
While in between a large number of similar detentions and arrests have continued all over Gujarat, including of Jayram Gamit, a tribal activist under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities (PASA) Act for above a month, and more recently of Sutariya for a four days, a Gujarat court recently termed Sutariya’s arrest “illegal” (click HERE to read).
The Gujarat police letter to the NHRC says, the applicant, Sutariya, had alleged that the district pulice chief, Chhotaudepur, had “misused the police powers”. It says, “The complaint of the applicant, has been enquired through”, and that “the representation made by the applicant Sutariya is not true”.
Claiming that the detentions were under law, the reply says, “The Chhotaudepur district police intelligence branch had received secret inputs through various police stations that the applicant, with his workers will disrupt and organize agitation at Bodeli against the chief minister, which will lead into mass scale anarchy at the site of the programme and security of VVIP may be put under danger, which may lead to law and order situation in the district.”
“Following the input of disruption, necessary action to be taken was the priority for the Chhotaudepur police. Having this information some of police stations had watched the activities of the AKSM members”, the letter says, even as proceeding to give following details of detention of “disruptive persons” under sections 68 and 69 of the Gujarat Police Act:
(1) Eight persons of Sankheda police station area were detained under the Gujarat Police Act, under Section 68 (preventive detention), on December 20, 2014 at 10.30 am, and were set free at 4.35 pm after the programme was over.
(2) Four persons of Bodeli police station area were detained under the same section on that day at 8.45 am and were released the same day at 5 pm after the programme was over.
(3) Two persons of Jetpur Pavi police station area were detained, again under the section and on the same day at 11 am and were released under on the same day at 3.00 pm after the programme was over.
(4) Sangramsinh Naranbhai Rathva, a youth leader under the Chhotaudepur police station area was similarly detained on December 20, 2014 at 1.10 pm, and was released at 3.05 pm after the programme was over.
(5) Romel Sutriya, was also detained under the preventive detention section on the same day at 08.30 am and was released at 3.05 pm after the programme was over.
“All the detainees were well taken care of and well respected during detention period”, the letter claims, adding, “There was heavy presence of police in the area of the programme venue for maintaining law and order and to ensure security of the chief minister as well as the public.”
Insisting that “all the actions taken by police were totally legal and supported by the law”, the letter underlines, “No misuse of power was done in this case anywhere in the district. Police has exercised their power to maintain law and order in above mentioned situation. There was no violation of human rights.”

Comments

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

Workers' groups condemn Gujarat Ordinance increasing working hours, warn of statewide agitation

By A Representative At a consultation organised today by the Asangathit Shramik Hit Rakshak Manch at Circuit House in Ahmedabad, leaders of major trade unions and labour rights organisations strongly opposed the Gujarat government’s recent ordinance amending the Factories Act and the draft rules notified under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code, 2020. Around 50 representatives from central trade unions, independent unions, and labour welfare organisations participated in the meeting.

Deaths in Chhattisgarh are not just numbers – they mark a deeper democratic crisis

By Sunil Kumar For a while, I had withdrawn into a quieter life, seeking solace in nature. But the rising tide of state-sponsored violence and recurring conflict across India has compelled deeper reflection. The recent incidents of killings in central India—particularly in Chhattisgarh—are not isolated acts. They point to a larger and ongoing crisis that concerns the health of democracy and the treatment of marginalised communities.

'Bengali Muslim migrant workers face crackdown in Gurgaon': Academic raises alarm

By A Representative Political analyst and retired Delhi University professor Shamsul Islam has raised serious concerns over the ongoing targeting and detention of Muslim migrant workers from West Bengal in Gurgaon, Haryana. In a public statement, Islam described the situation as "brutal repression" and accused law enforcement agencies of detaining migrants arbitrarily under the pretext of verifying their citizenship.

Gender violence defies stringent laws: The need for robust social capital

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra* The tragic death of Miss Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College, Balasore, who reportedly self-immolated due to harassment, shocked the conscience of Odisha. Even before the public could process this horrifying event, another harrowing case emerged—a 15-year-old girl from Balanga, Puri, was allegedly set ablaze by miscreants. These incidents are not isolated; they highlight a disturbing pattern of rising gender-based violence across the state and the country.

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

The myth of population decline: India’s real challenge is density, not fertility

By N.S. Venkataraman* India’s population in 2025 stands at approximately 1.4 billion. In 1950, it was 359 million, rising sharply to 1.05 billion by 2000. The population continues to grow and is projected to reach around 1.7 billion by 2050.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

A matter of deep concern: The silent struggles of India's visually impaired women

By N.S. Venkataraman Visual impairment is one of the most severe forms of physical disability that afflicts humanity, and its impact is even more acute when it affects women. The burden becomes overwhelming when visually impaired women also belong to economically weaker sections of society, with little or no financial or institutional support. Their struggle for dignity, survival, and identity is often invisible—hidden in plain sight across cities and rural corners alike. And yet, these women form a large, neglected segment of society not just in India, but around the world. In India, governmental assistance to visually impaired persons exists but remains minimal. While policies are framed with good intent, they often fall short in implementation. More importantly, no real distinction is made between the unique challenges faced by visually impaired men and women. This gender-blind approach to disability support overlooks the compounded social vulnerabilities that women face due to...

Search This Blog