Peaceful Protestors

Human Rights Defenders

Tripura

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on February 12, 2019 regarding the fabricated charges of sedition against human rights defenders. A suo motu case of sedition has been filed against Mr. Jagadish Debbarma leader of Indigenous National Party of Tripura (INPT), Mr. Aghore Debbarma, leader of Tipraha faction of Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) and Activist Mr. Anthony Debbarma of Borok People’s Human Rights Organisation (BPHRO) and many others at Radhapur Police Station on charges of  sedition under Sections 120 (B), 124(A), 153(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for participating in a protest rally against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

As a supporter of the protest attended a public rally at Khumulwng, Tripura on January 30, 2019 where they expressed their views against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 and opposed the passing of the said Bill by exercising their fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India.

When family members of the HRDs approached the Radhapur Police Station, the then officer in-charge refused to provide a copy of the First Information Report (FIR) or the FIR Number. To approach the court for anticipatory bail, the HRDs require the certified copy of the FIR and moreover it is a legal right of any person accused of an offence to be given a copy of the FIR, as per the guidelines of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.

HRDA prayed for thorough investigation and to take immediate actions on the perpetrators of the case.