GUWAHATE: Two editors of local vernacular weeklies, reputed human rights activist Ravi Nair and seven others were arrested Dec.9, when they tied to address a rally here at Kalaigaon of Darrang district, police said.
The arrested included Parag Das, editor of Boodhbar, Ajit Bhuyan, editor of another prominent vernacular weekly, D.S.Giil, chairman of International Human Rights Congress, M.S.Grewal, general secretary of Punjab Sikh Lawyers Association, P.ASebastian, genera] secretary of Indian Human Right Commission, Nibaran Bora, Kitth Roy, Sujato Bhadra and Naoren Shamzawa, head of the department, law faculty of Gaukati University.
All of them gathered at the village to address a rally, organized by the Manav Adhikar Sangram Samiti (MASS) to protest the alloged state terrorism.
Police prevented them from addressing the rally at Section 144 had been in force and arrested them later, when they forcibly tied to address the rally.
Several thousand people took part in the rally. According to the organizers, many more were prevented from participating in the meeting.
Police also used lath is injuring a photographers. His camera was also seized.
Condemnation: Meanwhile, the MASS and the Bodo Women’s Justice Forum have condemned the arrest of the noted human rights activists who came to participate in the rally Thursday, They also termed the police assault on photographer Sandi pan Pathak and seizure of his camera as another example of infringement upon the freedom of the Press. Are lease issued by the organization demanded unconditional release of the arrested persons and the return of the camera. It also said that a convention will be held at 2 p.m., Friday at Lakhiram Barruah Sada in Guwahati on the occasion of international Human Rights Day.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 24, 1993
