Several human rights organizations in Tamil Nadu, led by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and some other NGOs, have protested against the arrest of Teesta Setalvad and retired Director General of Police (DGP) RB Sreekumar by the Gujarat Police.
Protests were held in Chennai, Tiruchi, Madurai, Coimbatore, Dindigul, Salem and other major cities in Tamil Nadu. “The state has misused the observations made in the Supreme Court judgment and is retaliating against those fighting against human rights violations,” PUCL national general secretary V Suresh told reporters.
The two were arrested by Gujarat police after the Supreme Court acquitted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 Gujarat clashes. The Supreme Court had dismissed a petition filed by Zakia Jafri and called for an inquiry into the criminal conspiracy. This led to communal violence and killings after the 2002 Godhra train burning incident.
Madras High Court senior advocate R Bhaiga, who participated in a protest procession, said the state was launching a direct attack against social activists.
PUCL office officials added that they will hold protest rallies and meetings across the state to inform the public about the worst human rights violations in the country.
Officials of the civil liberties organization’s office said the Gujarat government was conducting retaliatory politics against social activists. Human rights groups in Tamil Nadu will protest by any means.
Pughal, an NGO working against human rights violations in Salem and Erode, had protested against the arrest of Teesta and Srikumar.
“The state is breathing hard on human rights activists and this is unbecoming of a democratic country like India. The government must withdraw the arrest drama against Teesta and Sreekumar sir and release them immediately,” the organisation’s chief coordinator KR Senthil told IANS You have to give it.”
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