Sandeep Pandey

Social Activist

Uttar Pradesh

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on March 24, 2020 regarding the detention and harassment of Dr. Sandeep Pandey and other activists by Uttar Pradesh Police for distributing pamphlets during an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest in Lucknow. Dr. Pandey is a Gandhian activist and educationist, and a recipient of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay award.

On January 17, 2020, Dr. Pandey was arrested along with nine other activists under Section 151 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for violating prohibitory orders. The activists were “accused of distributing pamphlets criticising the Citizenship Amendment Act” and later released on personal bonds. This arrest has to be viewed in the context of his vocal criticism of the CAA.