Seeking permission to protest, cops 'abduct, arrest' Adivasi activists

By A Representative

The civil rights network, Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), has blamed the police force for alleged the abduction of three activists associated with the Moolwasi Bachao Manch, Sodhi Bhima of Jabbagatta village in Bijapur, Madkam Joshan of Gudrajguda village in Sukma, and Madkam Joga of Gomaguda village of Bijapur from Polampalli in the Dantewada district on June 8.

In a statement, CASR said, following this, "On 13th of June, Krishnakumar Kadati was arrested from the Dornapal police station", asserting, "All of these individuals are Adivasis. These activists were trying to meet the relevant authorities to get the permission necessary to hold an event in remembrance of the Silger firing that happened in Bastar. In the Silger firing, Adivasis were shot at for protesting against the establishment of a camp in the area."

According to CASR, Madkam Joshan, Sodhi Bhima and Madkam Joga had approached the collector to get the required permission for the event. They were refused an appointment with the collector, and therefore they approached the magistrate for the required permission." It added, "The magistrate had proclaimed that no such permission can be granted by him, without consent from the SP."

Claimed CASR, "The activists had already approached the collector to seek permission; they were not given the required permission then. This forced them to postpone the event further to the 10th of June. After the refusal from the authorities, the activists were returning back home when they were abducted by the police forces near the Polampalli police station."

It noted, "On 13th June, Krishnakumar Kadati,:also associated with the Moolwasi Bachao Manch, was arrested by the police. He had also gone to get permission from the authorities to hold the event. The police attempted to force a confession from the said activist by torturing him. They wanted him to declare that he was associated with the CPI(Maoist)."

Commented CASR, "This is part of the state's attempt to completely dissolve the Moolwasi Bachao Manch, and to clamp down on the democratic right to dissent of the Adivasis. One can see that activists like Surju Tekam, Sunita Pottam and multiple other Adivasi activists associated with the Moolwasi Bachao Manch had to face similar treatment."

It added, "The state has also been tagging all of these activists as Maoists, in an attempt to criminalize voices that speak truth to power. The state's intimidatory tactics and attempt to clamp down on dissent are against the constitutional rights that each citizen has in this country."

CASR continued, "The state is attacking those activists who utilize the rights that exist to ensure the protection of Adivasis. These are the individuals who talk about the encounter killing of Adivasis and the state violence on Adivasis and by attacking the voices by talking about the repression, they plan on ensuring the silence of the Adivasis."

It demanded the release of all the activists associated with Moolwasi Bachao Manch who have been arrested along with all political prisoners.

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