R K Sail arrested State’s deliberate attempt to disrupt peaceful demonstrations

Human rights activist Adv.R K Sail arrested State’s deliberate attempt to disrupt peaceful demonstrations against blck laws

25th May 2007, Raipur (Chhattisgarh) Adv. Rajendra Kumar Sail, Human Rights Activist and presently President of Chhattisgarh PUCL was arrested on 24th May 2007 by heavily armed Chhattisgarh Police in pursuance of the one week simple imprisonment sentence given by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the Contempt of Court case involving contempt of the Jabalpur High Court on the Judgment delivered by the Jabalpur High Court in the Shaheed Niyogi Murder Trial. The timing and manner of his arrest proves that it was a deliberate attempt by the Chhattisgarh Government to deliberately remove Adv. R K Sail from the scene of the protest and disrupt against the arrest of Dr. Binayak Sen, General Secretary of Chhattisgarh PUCL & Vice-President, National PUCL under the provisions of the highly controversial Black Laws: Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, 2005 and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (amended in 2004).

It may be recalled that Adv. RK Sail is heading the campaign against the arrest of Dr. Binayak Sen and the use of Black Laws like CSPSA on Human Rights and Social Activists working for the rights of the workers, farmers, adivasis, women and the youth. The Social Movements & Human Rights Organizations are protesting against this action of the CG Government and on 24th May 2007 one-day dharna was organized at the District Headquaters all over the State, and State level & Natioanl Level dharna will be organized on 28th May and 31st May 2007, respectively. A signature campaign was also launched on 24th Mat 2007 mobilizing public against Dr. Sen’s detention under the black laws.

Adv. RK Sail was sentenced to six month simple imprisonment by the Jabalpur High Court in 1998 for voicing his comments on the judgment delivered by the Jabalpur High Court in the Shaheed Niyogi Murder trial in which the High Court had completely changed the judgment of the Session Court, Durg and acquitted all the accused. Adv. RK Sail had gone in appeal in the Hon’ble Supreme Court and on 21st April 2005 the Hon’ble Supreme Court had reduced the sentence to one week with the comment that “…the sentence awarded to Rajendra Sail by the High Court having regard to nature of contempt cannot be said to be unjustified. But having regard to his background and the organization to which he belongs which, it is claimed, brought before various courts including this court many public interest litigation for general public good, we feel that ends of justice would be met if sentence of six month is reduced to sentence of one week simple imprisonment. We order accordingly.”

Yesterday, the Chhattisgarh Police arrested him after he was returning from participating in a daylong dharna at Raipur against the arrest of Dr. Binayak Sen. Heavily armed Police personals surrounded his vehicle in front of the Mahila Thana and took him to Civil Lines Police Station where he was served the warrant issued by the Jabalpur High Court on 12th March 2007. The police then proceeded to take him to Jabalpur by road. He will be produced before the Magistrate(Judicial) of Jabalpur High Court today to undergo the imprisonment of one week.

The manner and the timing of his arrest proves that it was a deliberate move by the Chhattisgarh Government to remove Adv. RK Sail from the scene of the protest and to undermine and jeopardize the peaceful campaign. But, the social action groups & human rights organizations are more determined then before to protest against the draconian designs of the State to suppress the voice of democratic struggle.

This is an appeal to all to join in the protest demonstration and raise our united voice against in defence of democracy. We will make an attempt to keep you informed on the progress.

Akshay Sail
098265-70111