Three months after they were "illegally" detained, two of three UP forest rights activists released

Kismatiya and Sukhdev Gond

After spending three months in jail, Kismatiya and Sukhdev Gond, tribal human rights activists of Sonabhadra district of Uttar Pradesh, have been released on bail. These two, along with woman tribal rights leader were allegedly "illegally incarcerated under false charges, in what is the State's way of punishing those who are active in their fight for the proper implementation of the Forest Rights Act (2006), says the All India Union of Forest Workers (AIUFWP).
Citizens for Justice and Peace(CJP), which has been supporting the AIUFWP, adds, "Now, we await the bail hearing for Sukalo Gond, who we expect will be released next week. This development comes after Sukalo and Kismatiya were produced before the Allahabad High Court on September 7, following a Habeas Corpus petition filed by CJP, where the Court had allowed both women to seek ‘judicial remedy’.

Sukalo Gond

Roma, who serves as General Secretary of the AIUFWP, said, “We are very happy at this development. Even for a small thing like bail, it took so much time. But our persistent and collective efforts have finally made it possible. A lot of time was spent, just in the verification of documents. However, despite all hurdles they are finally being released. Now we await Sukalo’s release. All of us are very happy and hopeful.”

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