Press release –
Condemning Arrest of Activists by Uttar Pradesh Government
AIPF public statement
Condemning Arrest of Activists by Uttar Pradesh Government.
The AIPF condemns the arrest today of AIPF Campaign Committee Member Roma Malik and AIYUWP leader Sokalo Gond in Sonbhadra. The arrest took place this morning, the same day that a rally of the AllIndia People’s Forum (AIPF) was planned in Sonbhadra.
The police also detained others including a District Committee member of the CPI(ML) Bijan and NTUI leader Avijit, but released them in the evening.
In spite of the efforts of the administration and police to disrupt and terrorise the participants in the rally, the rally took place.
Thousands gathered and assembled on the street itself and held the ‘sabha’ without a mike, with defiance and determination.
The sabha was addressed by Sandeep Pandey of Socialist Party India, Ashok Choudhury, All India General Secretary of the AIUFWP, CPI(ML) Central Committee member and AIPF Campaign Committee member Mohd. Salim, AIUFWP leaders Mata Dayal and Sanjay Kumar fromBundelkhand, All India Kisan Mahasabha (AIKM) leaders Jeera Bharti,Om Prakash Singh and Bhakt Prakash Srivastava, and activists Shankar Kol, Vijay Kol and Shahjehan. The meeting was conducted by CPI(ML) Central Committee member Sudhakar Yadav.
The arrests of Roma Malik and Sokalo Gond is the latest in a series of repressive actions by the Sonbhadra district administration to crack down on activists resisting the grab of forest land and for rights and dignity of the adivasis and the rural poor. The enthusiastic participation in the rally sent a message that the people’s struggles would not yield to terror tactics by the Government.
The AIPF demands the release of Roma Malik and Sokalo Gond, and an end to the harassment of activists in the region.
Kavita Krishnan
Kiran Shaheen
ND Pancholi
for AIPF Secretariat

Hastakshep