A statement issued by different organisations, academicians and activists condemning brazen assault by the state on democratic activities and demanding immediate withdrawal of NIA’s menacing and threatening interrogation notice to Partha Sarathi Ray.  

6 September 2020 

We have come to know that our dear friend and comrade Dr Partho Sarothi Ray, Associate Professor, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), has been summoned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case. He has been asked to present himself before the investigators in Mumbai on 10 September at 11am. 

Partho has been pro-actively involved with peaceful, democratic people’s movements, especially the struggles for the rights of poor and marginalised dalits and adivasis. He is an active member of Persecuted Prisoners’ Solidarity Committee as well as Joint Action Committee for Social Justice. His tireless work in defence of civil liberties and for the release of political prisoners is exemplary. Partho has been ever-present in marches, rallies, and other street programmes with his stirring but lucid speeches and an endearing smile. 

At IISER, Partho has been carrying out extensive and useful research on molecular biology. His pioneering work on viruses has taken him to the lecture-halls in universities and scientific gatherings across the globe. He is a front-runner in the present battle against Covid-19 and his idea of community participation has been successfully implemented in Nadia district, inviting widespread interest. He was among the scientists consulted by the World Health Organization (WHO) to understand the character of the Coronavirus and formulate a policy to tackle the pandemic. 

The harassment of Dr Ray by the NIA is yet another sinister attempt in the fascist regime’s witch-hunt at silencing the voices of dissent and protest. We, the undersigned, strongly condemn this brazen assault on democratic activities and demand immediate withdrawal of NIA’s menacing, threatening interrogation notice. We stand hand-in-hand with Dr Partho Sarothi Ray. 

Signed by

1. Aamra ek Sachetan Prayas 
2. Aashita Dawer, Professor, OP Jindal Global University 
3. Abhijit Pathak, Chartered Accountant 
4. Abhijit Roy, Professor, Jadavpur University 
5. Achin Chakraborty, Professor, Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata 
6. Achin Vanaik, Professor (Retd), University of Delhi 
7. Adibashi Gaonta 
8. Adibashi Juan Mahal 
9. Adibashi Samanyaya Mancha 
10. Aditi Chowdhury, Citizen 
11. Aditi Roy Ghatak, Journalist 
12. Aditya Nigam, Professor, CSDS, Delhi 
13. Afaf Jameel, Schoolteacher 
14. AJC Bose, Professor, SRCC, University of Delhi 
15. Ajijul Haque, Writer 
16. Dr Alessandra Mezzadri, Dept of Development Studies, SOAS, University of London 
17. Alik Chakraborty, CPI (M-L) Red Star 
18. All India Central Council of Trade Union (AICCTU) 
19. All India Federation of Trade Unions (AIFTU – new) 
20. All India Kshet Mazdoor Kisan Sabha (AIKMKS) 
21. All India People’s Forum (AIPF) 
22. All India Peoples’ Science Network (AIPSN) 
23. All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA) 
24. All India Revolutionary Students’ Organisation (AIRSO) 
25. All India Revolutionary Women’s Organisation (AIRWO) 
26. All India Sanjukta Kisan Sabha 
27. All India Students’ Association (AISA) 
28. All West Bengal Sales Representatives’ Union (AWBSRU) 
29. Aloke Mukherjee, CPI (M-L) 
30. Alpa Shah, Associate Professor, London School of Economics 
31. Amal Sanyal 
32. Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle, IIT Madras 
33. Ambedkar-Periyar-Phule Study Circle, IIT Bombay 
34. Ambikesh Mahapatra, Professor, Jadavpur University 
35. Amit Bhaduri, Professor (Retd), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) 
36. Amit Roychowdhury, Prof. & Head, Dept of Aerospace Engineering & Applied Mechanics, 

Indian Institute of Engineering Science & Technology (IIEST), Shibpur 

37. Amitabha Chakraborty, Activist 
38. Amra Monbhashi 
39. Analabha Basu, National Institute of Biological Genomics 
40. Aneek Patrika (Bengali Monthly) 
41. Anik Dutta, Filmmaker 
42. Aniket Chattopadhyay, Filmmaker 
43. Anindita Sarbadhikari, Filmmaker 
44. Anindya, Blogger 
45. Anindya Sengupta, Professor, Jadavpur University 
46. Anish Vanaik, Professor, OP Jindal Global University 
47. Anjali Monteiro, Filmmaker & Academic 
48. Anomita Sen, Citizen 
49. Anup Gampa, Asst Professor, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California 
50. Anuroop Mallik, Folk Singer 
51. Anwesha Sengupta, Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata 
52. Arijit Mitra Smarak Committee 
53. Arundhati Dhuru, National Alliance of People’s Movements 
54. Arundhati Roy, Writer 
55. Arup Baisya, Writer, Silchar 
56. Arup Dasgupta 
57. Ashani Natyam 
58. Ashish Lahiri, Writer, Adjunct Professor, IISER 
59. Ashok Choudhary, All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP) 
60. Asit Basu 
61. Justice Asok Kumar Ganguly (Retd), Supreme Court 
62. Asoke Prasun Chattopadhyay, Dept of Chemistry, Kalyani University 
63. Association for the Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) 
64. Avishek Konar, Professor, OP Jindal Global University 
65. Avishek Mukherjee 
66. Ayodhya Buru Bachao Andolan 
67. Azad Gano Morcha 
68. Badshah Moitra, Actor 
69. Baidyanath Sengupta, Editor, Samaj Bignan o Prakriti Parichay Patrika 
70. Bandi Mukti Committee 
71. Banglar Krishak Shakti 
72. Banikanta Mishra, Professor, Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneshwar 
73. Banojyotsna Lahiri, Senior Researcher, CES, New Delhi 
74. Bedabrata Pain, Scientist & Filmmaker 
75. Bharati Mutsuddi, Lawyer 
76. Bharatiya Adibashi Ekata Mancha 
77. Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, MP & Former Mayor, Kolkata Municipal Corporation 
78. Bimal Chakraborty 
79. Dr Binayak Sen 
80. Bodhisatya Ray, Radical Socialist 
81. Bolan Gangopadhyay, Journalist & Social Activist 
82. Central Convening Committee (CCC), No NRC Movement 
83. Chanchal Chakraborty 
84. Chandan Sen, Playwright 
85. Chandrashekhar Bhattacharya, Journalist 
86. Charoibeti 
87. Chittaroopa Palit, Narmada Bachao Andolan 
88. Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP), West Bengal 
89. Confluence, IISER, Mohali 
90. CP Geevan, Former Senior Environmental Scientist, Independent Researcher 
91. Das Theke Das Hazaar 
92. DC Gohain, Jharkhand Krantikari Mazdoor Union 
93. Debashish Bhattacharya, Bharatiya Bigyan o Juktibadi Samiti 
94. Debdoot Ghosh 
95. Debdutta Paul 
96. Debmalya Nandy, NREGA Sangharsh Morcha 
97. Delhi Science Forum, Delhi 
98. Democratic Students’ Association, West Bengal 
99. Dhiman (Raina) Roy, Transgender Activist & Human Rights Defender 
100. Dhritisree, Theatre Activist 
101. Dhruva Narayan, Publisher 
102. Dibyendu Dey, Dept of Mathematics, Kalyani University 
103. Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPI (M-L) Liberation 
104. Doyeeta Majumder, Professor, Jadavpur University 
105. Ebong Bisongbad 
106. Prof. Felix Padel, Anthropologist & Writer 
107. Feminists in Resistance 
108. Forum Against Monopolistic Aggression (FAMA) 
109. Freny Manecksha, Independent Journalist 
110. Dr Fuad Halim, People’s Health Activist 
111. G Arunima, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) 
112. Ganatantrik Sangrami Udyog 
113. Gautam Chakraborty 
114. Githa Hariharan, Writer 
115. Gorky Chakraborty, Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata 
116. Goutam Seal 
117. Harkumar Goswami, Guwahati 
118. Hosiery Workers’ Unity Centre 
119. Indian Federation of Trade Union (IFTU) 
120. Indira Ghose, University of Fribourg, Switzerland 
121. Indu Chandrasekhar, Publisher 
122. J Devika, Feminist Historian 
123. Jadavpur Commune 
124. Jagdeep Chhokar, Former Professor and Dean, IIM Ahmedabad 
125. Jai Bhim India Network 
126. Janakalyan o Santras Birodhi Gana Abhijan Mancha, Bagnan 
127. Janaswasthya Suraksha o Adhikar Mancha, Uluberia 
128. Jayashri Sarkar, Activist 
129. Jayati Ghosh, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) 
130. Joint Action Committee for Social Justice 
131. Joint Platform of Academicians 
132. Joint Platform of Doctors, West Bengal 

Association of Health Service Doctors; Doctors for Democracy; Health Service Association; Shramajibi Swasthya Udyog; West Bengal Doctors’ Forum 

133. Jomi Jibika Bastutantro o Poribesh Raksha Committee 
134. Joyraj Bhattacharya, Theatre & Social Activist 
135. Kaldhwani (Little Magazine) 
136. Kamal Sur, No NRC Movement 
137. Kaushik Sen, Playwright & Actor 
138. Kavita Krishnan, AIPWA 
139. Keya Bhaumik Gupta, Activist 
140. KP Fabian, Ambassador (Retd) 
141. KP Jayasankar, Filmmaker & Academic 
142. Kranti Shilpi Sangha 
143. Krishna Bandyopadhyay, Activist in Women’s Movements 
144. Kumar Rana, Social Activist 
145. Kunal Chattopadhyay, Professor, Jadavpur University 
146. Kuntal Rudra 
147. Little Magazine Samannaya Mancha 
148. Madhuchhanda Karlekar, Social Activist 
149. Mahila Jagaron Samiti, Bagnan 
150. Manabesh Sarkar, Researcher 
151. Manoj Bhattacharya, RSP 
152. Manzar Jameel, Social Activist 
153. Maroona Murmu, Associate Professor, Jadavpur University 
154. Masood Akhtar 
155. Dr Matilde Adduci, Dept of Development Studies, SOAS, University of London 
156. Mazdoor Kranti Parishad 
157. Megha Unwer, Professor, Purdue University, Italy 
158. Miratun Nahar, Writer 
159. Mitra Sengupta 
160. Moinak Biswas, Professor, Jadavpur University 
161. Nagarik Udyog 
162. National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), West Bengal 
163. New Democratic Students’ Front 
164. New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI) 
165. Nikhil Banga Mahila Sangha 
166. Nilanjan Dutta, Writer, Filmmaker, Human Rights Activist 
167. Nisha Biswas, Activist 
168. Nitish Roy, Singer 
169. Nivedita Menon, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) 
170. No NRC Movement 
171. Nupur Basu, Bachik Shilpi 
172. Pallab Kirtania, Singer & Composer 
173. Pamela Philipose, Journalist 
174. Papiya Adhikari, Actor 
175. Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, www. paranjoy.in 
176. Partha Chatterjee, Professor, Columbia University 
177. Partha S Banerjee, Writer & Retired Journalist 
178. Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay, Dept of Library & Information Science, Kalyani University 
179. Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity 
180. Paschim Banga Ganasanskriti Parishad 
181. People’s Film Collective 
182. People’s Study Circle 
183. People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) 
184. Persecuted Prisoners’ Solidarity Committee 
185. Prabhat Patnaik, Professor Emeritus, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) 
186. Prabir Mukhopadhyay, Teacher (Retd), South Point School 
187. Pradip Chatterjee, Activist 
188. Prakriti Sebasram Sangha 
189. Pramod Gupta, Social Activist 
190. Pranab Kanti Basu, Professor (Retd), Vishva-Bharati 
191. Prantajan 
192. Pratip Nag, Activist 
193. Probal Dasgupta, Professor (Retd), Indian Statistical Institute Kolkata 
194. Progressive Democratic Students’ Federation (PDSF) 
195. Progressive Plantation Workers’ Union 
196. Progressive Students’ Union (PSU) 
197. Progressive Youth League (PYL) 
198. Pulak Chanda, Professor (Retd), Shyamsundar College 
199. Purba Rudra, Citizen 
200. Purbasha Auddy, Jadavpur University 
201. Purbayan Chakraborty, Student, Karnataka State Law University 
202. Purulia Bauri Samaj Kalyan Samiti 
203. Rajashri Dasgupta, Social Activist 
204. Ramesh Dixit, President, Samvidhan Bachao Desh Bachao Abhiyan, Uttar Pradesh 
205. Ranjan Palit, Filmmaker 
206. Ranjana Padhi, WSS 
207. Ranjit Sur, Human Rights Activist 
208. Ratan Khasnabis, Former Professor, Calcutta University 
209. Ravi Pallur, Political Activist 
210. Refraction (Magazine) 
211. Revolutionary Cultural Forum 
212. Revolutionary Youth and Students’ Federation 
213. Revolutionary Youth Federation of India (RYFI) 
214. Revolutionary Youth Front (RYF) 
215. Richa Singh, SKMS, NAPM UP 
216. Right to Food & Work Campaign, West Bengal 
217. Rimi B Chatterjee, Professor, Jadavpur University 
218. Ritam Bhaumik, INRIA, Paris 
219. Ritam Palit, Student Activist 
220. Rohan Banerji 
221. Romar Correa, Professor, University of Mumbai 
222. Rongili Biswas, Writer & Musician. Associate Professor, WBES 
223. Ronny Sen, Photographer-Filmmaker 
224. Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Actor 
225. Sabyasachi Chatterjee 
226. Sabyasachi Chattopadhyay, Dept of History, Kalyani University 
227. Sabyasachi Deb, Poet 
228. Sachetana 
229. Sahoman 
230. Sailendra Nath Bhattacharya, ECL Colliery Sramik Union 
231. Sajni Mukherjee, Professor, Jadavpur University 
232. Salil Biswas, Principal (Retd), South City College 
233. Samantak Das, Professor, Jadavpur University 
234. Samar Bagchi, Science, Education, Environment & Social Activist 
235. Samir Aich, Painter 
236. Sampradayikota o Fascibad Birodhi Ganatantrik Mancha 
237. Sandeep Pandey, Socialist Party (India) 
238. Sanjay Basak, Journalist 
239. Sanjay Kak, Filmmaker 
240. Sanjeeb Mukherjee, Calcutta University 
241. Saswata Ghosh, Professor, Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata 
242. Saswati Ghosh, Academic & Activist 
243. Satarupa Sanyal, Filmmaker 
244. Satya Sagar, Journalist 
245. Dr SC Byne, Gana Adhikar Mancha, Durgapur 
246. Shakti Pada Badyakar, SC-ST-OBC & Minority Employees’ Federation, Durgapur 
247. Dr Sarmistha Dutta Gupta, Independent Researcher 
248. Shamim Ahmed, Writer 
249. Shuddhabrata Sengupta, Delhi 
250. Shukla Bhowmick 
251. Sipra Mukherjee, Professor, Jadavpur University 
252. Sitansusekhar, Na Hanya Te 
253. Solidarity Against NRC, Murshidabad 
254. Soma Marik, Associate Professor, RKSM Vivekananda Vidya Bhavan 
255. Sonali Dutta Roy, Faculty, Ambedkar University, Delhi 
256. Soumitra Bhose, Citizen 
257. Soumitra Dastidar, Filmmaker 
258. Dr Soumya Sahin, Asst Professor, National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS) 
259. Souvik Mukhopadhyay 
260. Sramajibi Mahila Samiti 
261. Srikanta Mohanty, CPI (M-L), Odisha 
262. Students for Change 
263. Subhash Deb, CPI (M-L) PCC 
264. Subhasis Bandyopadhyay, Associate Professor, IIEST, Shibpur 
265. Subhendu Maiti, Singer 
266. Sugata Ray 
267. Sukanta Chaudhuri, Professor Emeritus, Jadavpur University 
268. Sukumar Muralidharan, Journalist and Journalism Instructor 
269. Sumit Bhaduri, Scientist (Chemist) 
270. Sumit Sarkar, Historian 
271. Sumit, Filmmaker, Writer 
272. Sunandan Chakraborty 
273. Supriya Chaudhuri, Professor Emeritus, Jadavpur University 
274. Sushanta Mukherjee, Activist 
275. Sushil Khanna, Professor (Retd), Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC) 
276. Sushovan Dhar, Trade Union Activist 
277. Susmit Bose, Singer-Composer, Activist 
278. Suvrat Raju, International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Bengaluru 
279. Swastha Siksha Nirman 
280. Tanika Sarkar, Historian, Professor (Retd), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) 
281. Tanima Saha, Dept of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Kalyani University 
282. Tapas Kumar Bandyopadhyay, Professor, Dept of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Kalyani 

University 

283. Tarakdas Basu, Dept of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Kalyani University 
284. Tarun Bhartiya, Imagemaker & Union Activist, Shillong 
285. Tobu Banglar Mukh 
286. Trade Union Centre of India (TUCI) 
287. Tuhin Maparu 
288. Umar Awais, United Forum for National Integrity (Rajabazar Shireen Bagh) 
289. United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) 
290. Utpal Basu, Dept of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Kalyani University 
291. Vandana Misra, Civil Liberties Activist 
292. Vanessa Chisti, OP Jindal Global University 
293. Women Against Sexual Violence & State Repression (WSS) 
294. Yuva Bharat 

7 September 2020 

This is an updated list with 65 new signatories added to the statement issued on 6 September 2020