Citizens for Justice and Peace
Asif Tanha
Asif Iqbal Tanha is a 24-year-old student from Hazaribagh in Jharkhand, who is studying for a BA in Persian Studies at Jamia Milia Islamia. He joined the Students Islamic Organization of India (SIO) – the student’s wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, at the age of 15. Tanha has also been instrumental in organizing protests and mobilising students against the anti-Muslim measures of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Tanha fought against injustice in the campus and actively participated in protests for the restoration of the Students Union and the right to association, which was suspended in 2006. He was also involved in the protest movement against the CAA-NRC right from the beginning and was an important decision-maker in the Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC).
Charges
Initially booked under Sections of UAPA, Arms Act, and plethora of IPC Sections. Significantly, the Delhi High court has only charged him under Sections 143 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), noting that the accused will not be charged under other sections of law mentioned in the chargesheet since there is not enough material to implicate him under those sections of law.
TEESTA SETALVAD
The journalist, activist and educationist is also the secretary of Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP). As a journalist Setalvad has written for multiple publications since 1983. Her coverage of the communal violence in Mumbai in 1992-93 set the tone for much of her work as an activist. In 1993, she co-founded the magazine Communalism Combat with her husband and fellow human rights defender Javed Anand. CJP was founded in 2002 in wake of the communal violence that broke out in Gujarat. CJP, through Teesta Setalvad was the second petitioner in the Zakia Jafri case that sought to pin accountability for failure to control the violence on authorities in the state at the time. Setalvad was detained from her Mumbai home by a unit of the Gujarat ATS on June 25, just a day after the Supreme Court dismissed the petition in the Zakia Jafri case. She was taken to Ahmedabad where she was remanded to police custody by a magistrate. After a long legal battle, Setalvad was finally granted interim bail by the Supreme Court, and released from Ahmedabad's Sabarmati Jail.
Charges
194 (Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of capital offence), 211 (False charge of offence made with intent to injure), 218 (Public servant framing incorrect record or writing with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture), 468 (Forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (Using as genuine a forged document or electronic record) read with 120 B (Criminal Conspiracy)
KHALID SAIFI
Khalid Saifi is a member of United Against Hate. He was implicated in the February 2020 Delhi violence case after being accused of dropping Delhi violence accused Tahir Hussain outside a building on February 27 and then seen entering the building with Umar Khalid.
Charges
IPC Sections 109 and 114 (abetment), 147, 148, (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 186 (obstructing a public servant from doing his duty), 212 (harbouring offender), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant), 395 (dacoity), 427 (causing mischief), 435, 436 (causing mischief by fire), 452, 454 (trespassing), 505 (public mischief), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy), 124A (sedition), and UAPA Sections 13 (unlawful activities), Section 16 (terrorist acts), Section 17 (raising funds for terrorist acts) and Section 18 (conspiracy).
ISHRAT JAHAN
An advocate, activist and a political leader, Ishrat Jahan, has been incarcerated in connection with the Delhi Riots conspiracy case. She was the first woman to become Congress’ Municipal Councilor from 2012-17, and had reportedly also been associated with the All India Congress Committee (AICC). She has been facing constant harassment and physical abuse from fellow inmates and has also developed medical issues like hypertension, anxiety and also suffered a spinal injury after taking a fall in prison.
Charges
Sections 13 (Punishment for unlawful activities), 16 (punishment for terrorist act), 17 (punishment for raising funds for terrorist act) and 18 (punishment for conspiracy) of the UAPA. Sections 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 307 (attempt to murder), 186 (voluntarily obstructing public servant on duty) of the Indian Penal Code.
RONA WILSON
Rona Wilson is the public relations secretary for Committee for Release of Political Prisoners. He was at the forefront of the struggle to release SAR Geelani in the 2001 Parliament attack case. A voracious reader, he continues to prepare for his PhD from jail where he has been lodged for over 2 years now.
Charges
Sections 153A (promoting enmity), 501(1)(b) (statements conducing to public mischief), 117 (abetting commission of offence by the public or by more than ten persons), 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against Government of India), 121(A) (Conspiracy to commit offences punishable under Section 121), 124(A) (sedition) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) read with Sections 13 (advocating, abetting or inciting unlawful activity), 16 (terrorist acts), 17 (punishment for raising funds for terrorist act), 18 (conspiracy),18(B)( Punishment for recruiting of any person or persons for terrorist act), 20 (being member of terrorist gang or organisation), 38 (membership of a terrorist organisation), 39 (supporting terrorist organisation) and 40 (fundraising for terrorist organisation) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA)
NATASHA NARWAL
One of the founding members of Pinjra Tod- a women’s collective that works for making hostels and Paying Guest accommodations less restrictive for women, Natasha Narwal has been devoted to women’s issues and advocates for gender and student rights.
Charges
Sections 13 (unlawful activities), 16 (terrorist activity), 17 (raising funds for terrorist act) and 18 (conspiracy) of UAPA. Sections 147 (rioting),148 (rioting with deadly weapon),149 (member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence) 186 (obstructing public servant), 302 (murder), 353 (assault or use criminal force against public servant), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 427 (mischief) of IPC. Sections 25 and 27 (punishment for possessing arms) of the Arms Act. Sections 3 and 4 (public mischief caused to damage public property) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
DEVANGANA KALITA
Co-founder of Pinjra Tod, Devangana Kalita, is a women’s rights activist and was also a part of the anti-CAA protests in Delhi.
Charges
Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with a deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing public servant), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), section 302 (murder), section 307 (attempt to murder), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 109 and 114 (abetment), 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity), 186 (obstructing public servant), 201 (disappearance of evidence), 212 (harbouring offender), 295 (defiling place of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class), 341 (wrongful restraint), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant), 395 (dacoity), 419 (impersonation), 420 (cheating), 427 (mischief causing damage), 435 and 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance), 452 and 454 (house trespass), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act (PDPP), Sections 25 and 26 of Arms Act, and Sections 13 (advocating, abetting or inciting unlawful activity), Section 16 (terrorist acts), Section 17 (raising funds for terrorist acts) and Section 18 (conspiracy) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
ATHAR KHAN
Athar is a 25-year-old who actively participated in the anti CAA protests held at the Chand Bagh protest site in New Delhi in 2020. He was initially drawn towards the movement after he was disturbed by the horrific incidents at Jamia Millia Islamia University where peaceful protesters were beaten up. He began to take part in the protests at Jamia every Sunday in 2020 and got more and more involved in understanding the ramifications of the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019. He was pursuing his distance education (BBA) at Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) when he was arrested in July 2020.
Charges
IPC sections of 124A (sedition) 153A (promoting enmity between religious groups), 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 212 / 295 (insulting someone's religion) / 302 (punishment for murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant), 395 (dacoity), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). Sections 13 (punishment for unlawful activities), 16 (punishment for terrorist act), 17 (punishment for raising funds for terrorist act), and 18 (punishment for conspiracy) of UAPA.
AKHIL GOGOI
Perhaps best known as a peasants' rights activist, Akhil Gogoi is also a known crusader against corruption. He is the recipient of Shanmugam Manjunath Integrity Award 2008 for his undeterred fight against corruption, National Right to Information Award by Public Cause Research Foundation. He is also the founder of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) in Assam. He also won a state assembly election, contesting from behind bars, and is now the MLA from Sibsagar.
Charges
Gogoi has been charged by Assam Police in 12 cases. IPC sections 120B (criminal conspiracy). 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, etc), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integrity), 144 (unlawful assembly) sections 18 (punishment for conspiracy) and 39 (support given to terrorist organisation) of UAPA. Sections 3 and 4 (public mischief caused to damage public property) of The Prevention of Damage to Public Property.