Date:13/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/13/stories/2008081361580300.htm

New Delhi

Joining hands for the sake of Chhattisgarh activist

Staff Reporter

‘State had unleashed a war against ordinary people and human rights activists’

NEW DELHI: Eminent people from different walks of life came together on a common platform to lend support to Ajay T.G., an independent documentary filmmaker and freelance journalist, who was kept behind the bars for almost three months “without any evidence” in Chhattisgarh.

Ajay, a member of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties, was arrested by the Chhattisgarh police in May this year on allegations of having association with an unlawful organisation and sedition against the Indian Government. He was given statutory bail on August 5.

“The Chhattisgarh police investigating the case failed to find any evidence to support the offences alleged against him. Consequently, the police were unable to file a charge sheet against Ajay in the court within the 90 days’ period. Despite finding no evidence against him, the police have not closed his case. While granting bail, the court has imposed conditions on his freedom of movement and personal liberty,” human rights lawyer Vrinda Grover told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday.

The Deputy Editor of The Hindu Siddharth Varadarajan, who is also a member of the “Committee for the Release of Ajay T.G.”, said in the past few years there has been a simultaneous expansion and withering away of the State in Chhattisgarh.

“There has been an expansion because the State has been grabbing more laws against the ordinary citizens and withering away as has been evidenced by the abdication of any responsibilities. There has been a mockery of justice in Ajay’s case. He has been arrested on the flimsiest of charges,” he added.

Mr. Varadarajan also pointed out that the media and civil society members who have tried to visit Chhattisgarh have been detained and intimidated as the State Government did not want the ugly reality to be brought out.

Delhi University professor Nandini Sundar said in Chhattisgarh anyone could be labelled as a Maoist and that the State had unleashed a war against ordinary people and human rights activists.