Dalit thinker, activist and ex-IG Police SR Darapuri, Shravan Kumar Nirala of Ambedkar Jan Morcha and writer-journalist Dr. Ramu Siddharth were arrested in Gorakhpur on October 10 when they were in the city to attend a protest demonstration for land rights to the landless organised by Ambedkar Jan Morcha. They were sent to jail after falsely implicating under various criminal sections. Terming this draconian step by the Yogi administration undemocratic, the CPIML has demanded all arrested persons’ immediate release and withdrawal of charges which are undoubtedly false. The Yogi government is attacking people’s movements to suppress the voices of the poor who dare to rise up against BJP misrule. Mr. Darapuri, who is 80 years old, and others had attended and addressed a peaceful protest at the Commissioner’s office, the next day he was arrested under CrPC section 307, 7 Criminal Law Amendment and other charges including electricity theft. This vindictive act of the UP government is utterly condemnable.
CPIML Gorakhpur district secretary Rajesh Sahni, Pragatishil Adhivakta Sangh president Subhash Pal, CPI leader Ram Murti, Purvanchal Sena’s Dhirendra Pratap and many other activists and prominent citizens have sent memorandum to the government demanding release of all arrested activists. The protest on 10 October was organised after duly informing the administration. A memorandum was also submitted through that protest which was received by the SSP Gorakhpur himself at 10 pm who also assured to carry forward the demands of the dharna to the administration. After that the protest dharna was lifted and people started to return. Suddenly police raided the spot and arrested many activists including women. The main organiser of this dharna was lifted from the road when he was on his way home. SR Darapuri was arrested the next morning from a hotel where he was staying.
The administration is now trying to further sensationalise the incident by raising a foreign national’s presence in that protest, which is more condemnable. This repressive act of Gorakhpur district administration is aimed at terrorising the poor.
