Streets in India Rise, Protesting Arrest of Human Rights Activists, Against State Fascism

August 31, 2018
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Through Wednesday Central and Maharashtra Governments, together with their Telangana and Jharkhand counterparts, conducted raids at the houses of prominent activists, lawyers, writers and journalists, and arrested five of them. Through Thursday protests erupted across different cities in India, more have happened since, and others have been announced for the days to come. This show of resistance gives hope – and it is the need of the hour to further broaden their scope! GroundXero shares this photo essay of the first day of protests, with shots taken in Kolkata by GX, and photos collected from friends in other cities.

Sujata Bhadra (APDR) speaking to media.

APDR rally, Kolkata

APDR rally, Kolkata

Joint Action Committee for Social Justice – West Bengal

Democracy in chains

The APDR march took over arterial roads; here members of the Forum for Unorganised-sector Workers head out of the frame and are followed by other participants.

A section of the few hundred people who turned out to the protest called by the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights in Kolkata.

Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners

The march continues down S.N Banerjee Road.

Members of Progressive Democratic Student Federation bring up the rear.

The rain starts once the rally turns towards Esplanade. Members of Bastar solidarity network perform as the protest approaches a close.

A joint Press Meet was organised by 35 organisations in Mumbai, condemning the illegal arrests and raids, and demanding the arrest of Hindu right wing leaders Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote – the main accused behind the post-Koregaon riots. The Mumbai press club saw an unprecedented turnout of journalists, civil society members, activists, and common people, with a large number of attendees standing outside since the meeting hall was jam-packed.

Cement Factory workers in Bhilai protested asking for the immediate release of Advocate Sudha Bharadwaj and others. These are some of the people whose only hope of justice in legal matters are lawyers like Adv. Bharadwaj.