Adv. Surendra Gadling, Mr. Sudhir Dhawale, Prof. Shoma Sena, Mr. Rona Wilson and Mr. Mahesh Raut

Advocates and Activists

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on 28^th August, regarding the raids and arbitrary arrest conducted by the Pune and Maharashtra police on lawyers and human rights defenders - Adv. Surendra Gadling, Mr. Sudhir Dhawale, Prof. Shoma Sena, Mr. Rona Wilson and Mr. Mahesh Raut.

After their arrests, the activists were taken to Pune from various locations on transit remand by the Pune Police and are currently under judicial remand in Yerwada Jail in Pune. It is falsely alleged in the FIR that the human rights defenders had circulated controversial pamphlets and delivered hate speeches in an event organised by a coalition of 260 non-profit organisations, called Elgar Parishad on December 31, 2017, at Pune’s Shaniwar Wada, which police claim led to the Bhima Koregaon violence that broke out on January 1, 2018. This FIR, originally registered u/s 153(A), 505 (1)(b), 117 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was turned into a conspiracy case in March 2018, and sections of the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) were added.

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