Amnesty's unnamed reps booked for 'sedition' over Kashmir event

FIR follows plaint by ABVP; Amnesty condemns 'harassment' by cops

The Bengaluru police have booked unnamed representatives of Amnesty International India for sedition over an event on human rights abuses in Kashmir held at the United Theological College (UTC) here on August 13.

The FIR, registered at the JC Nagar police station on Monday afternoon, invokes section 124 (A) of the IPC that deals with sedition which is punishable with up to life imprisonment. Police also invoked sections 142, 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 153A (stoking enmity)  and 149 (common intent). The case follows a written complaint given by Jayaprakash, organising secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Bengaluru, on August 13.

Jayaprakash claimed that anti-India slogans were raised at ‘Broken Families’, an interaction with families of Kashmiri youths killed in fake encounters. In the complaint, he claimed that Sindhuja Iyengar, professor of political science at a private university in Bengaluru, journalist Seema Mustafa and rapper Roushan Illahi, popularly known as M C Kash, gave “anti-India” speeches and sang an “anti-India” song.

They “supported Pakistan’s spy agency Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and backed terrorists” and wanted Kashmir to be part of Pakistan”. Jayaprakash also claimed that they “attacked” ABVP workers when they attempted to prevent such activities.
Following the FIR, police are questioning those who attended the event. “A clear picture will emerge only after we question the organisers and the audience,” a senior police officer told Deccan Herald.

Police will obtain details of the event from the organisers, check the CCTV footage, videographs and photographs. The UTC administrative board members would also be questioned, he added.

Meanwhile, the UTC management clarified that it was in no way connected with the event. “The UTC administrative board members, staff and students were not part of the event. The UTC had just rented its premises,” J R John Samuel Raj, principal, UTC, said in a statement. The UTC is a 103-year-old institution and was never involved in activities that affect unity and integrity of the country. The UTC works hard for secular values of the country, he added.

ABVP activists had stormed into the venue and objected to what they said were comments against the Indian Army. Police detained around 30 ABVP activists and later let them off. They held an overnight protest outside the college seeking action against the organisers and those who made “anti-India” comments.

Reacting to the FIR, Amnesty International India executive director Aakar Patel said, “Merely organising an event to defend Constitutional values is now being branded ‘anti-India’ and criminalised. India’s archaic sedition law has been used to harass and persecute activists and others for their peaceful exercise of their right to free expression. The police were present at the event. The filing of a complaint against us now, and the registration of a case of sedition, shows a lack of belief in fundamental rights and freedoms in India.”

The NGO also invited representation from Kashmiri Pandits in Bengaluru to speak about human rights violations faced by members of the community. “Towards the end of the event, some of those who attended raised slogans, some of which referred to calls for ‘Azaadi’ (freedom). The AII does not take any position in favour of or against demands for self-determination,” Patel said.