More than a thousand members of the scientific and academic community, from universities in India as well as abroad, signed a statement expressing their concern over summoning of scientist Partha Sarthi Roy for interrogation by the NIA in the Bhima-Koregaon case. The statement reflects a deep disquiet in the scientific and academic community about the shrinking democratic space in the country.

After the statement was opened for signatures, news came out that the NIA had arrested three cultural activists from the Kabir Kala Manch and also sent a notice to Prof. K Satyanarayana from the English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad and the senior journalist KV Kurmanath. These events add urgency to the statement’s call for “the government to immediately end its crackdown on dissidents, release those whom it has arrested in the Elgaar-Parishad case, and instead focus on identifying and prosecuting  the true perpetrators of the Bhima-Koregaon violence.”

Statement on NIA actions in the Bhima-Koregaon cases

Initiated: 6 September 2020.

Released:  9 September 2020.

We are members of the scientific and academic community

We are writing to express our deep concern at the actions of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in its investigation of the Bhima-Koregaon violence. Instead of investigating those responsible for the actual violent clashes in Bhima-Koregaon, the NIA (and earlier,  the Pune police) has focused on the Elgaar Parishad event—a large cultural and political gathering—where the main organizers were reportedly two eminent retired judges.  Surprisingly, in this process, the investigating agencies have arrested several illustrious citizens—including academics, lawyers and prominent activists.  

Most of the individuals who have been taken into custody were not even present at the Elgaar Parishad event. So it is very unlikely that the government will secure a conviction in this case. However, by using the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), the government has prevented those who have been arrested from obtaining bail. As Gautam Navlakha pointed out on the eve of his arrest, under the UAPA, “the process itself becomes punishment”  since the accused are deemed “guilty unless proven innocent.”

Therefore, it appears to us that the NIA’s claims of investigating the “conspiracy” in the Elgaar-Parishad case are actually a flimsy cover for cracking down on “urban naxals”—who, in reality, are only dissident intellectuals—and keeping them in prison indefinitely. 

After arresting Prof. Hany Babu of Delhi University a few weeks ago, the NIA has continued to interrogate academics and activists, and even the defence lawyers for some of the accused. Most recently, we understand that the NIA has summoned the well-known scientist and activist, Prof. Partho Sarothi Ray, of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (Kolkata) to Mumbai on 10th September for questioning in this case. Separate from his outstanding scientific work, Prof. Ray has also been deeply involved in social causes. He has been working extremely hard in coordinating efforts in the Nadia district to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, by helping to set up and operate the government-run COVID-testing center in the district.

Prof. Ray has publicly stated that he has no knowledge of the Bhima-Koregaon incident and has never visited the area.  But of course it is well known that Prof. Ray has been critical of the central government’s response to the pandemic and we suspect that this may not be unrelated with the summons that have been issued to him. We are concerned that Prof. Ray may also be arrested on false charges. 

We call on the government to immediately end its crackdown on dissidents, release those whom it has arrested in the Elgaar-Parishad case, and instead focus on identifying and prosecuting  the true perpetrators of the Bhima-Koregan violence. 

…………………………….

¹Aarefa Johari, “Judicial probe into Bhima Koregaon caste violence stalls, while NIA makes arrests in conspiracy case.” Scroll, 4 September 2020. Available from: https://scroll.in/article/972074/judicial-probe-into-bhima-koregaon-caste-violence-stalls-while-nia-makes-arrests-in-conspiracy-case

²Aarefa Johri, Retired judges who organised Pune’s Elgaar Parishad speak out”, Scroll, 1 September 2018. Available from https://scroll.in/article/892631/they-want-fascist-forces-to-reign-retired-judges-who-organised-elgar-parishad-speak-out

³ Special correspondent, “Gautam Navlakha hopes for speedy, fair trial ahead of surrender to NIA“, Hindu, 14 April 2020, Available from: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/gautam-navlakha-hopes-for-speedy-fair-trial-ahead-of-surrender-to-nia/article31336241.ece

⁴ Sukanya Shantha, Elgar Parishad Case: NIA Summons Three Lawyers for Questioning,  Wire, 27 August 2020,  Available from:  https://thewire.in/rights/elgar-parishad-case-nia-summons-lawyers-nihalsingh-rathod-viplav-teltumbde-questioning

⁵ Prajanma Das, “It is sad that I am being harassed on Teacher’s Day”, EdEx Live, 5 September 2020. Available from https://www.edexlive.com/news/2020/sep/05/sad-that-i-am-harassed-on-teachers-day-nia-iiser-prof-witness-in-elgar-parishad-case-14424.html

List of Signatories

(The institutional affiliations below are given only for purposes of identification. The signatories below have signed this statement in their personal capacity and not on behalf of their respective organizations)