Divya Bharathi

Filmmaker

Tamil Nadu

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on August 17 regarding the blatant violation of freedom of speech and expression given the threats and criminal charges put on Ms. Divya Bharathi regarding her documentary film on manual scavenging ‘Kakkoos’. HRDA has demanded that that all charges against her be dropped and adequate security be provided to her which should ensure her return to the state of Tamil Nadu.

Ms. Bharathi is a social activist and filmmaker from Arupukkottai in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu. She released the documentary film on June 14, 2017 via YouTube.

On August 3, 2017, the Madurai police charged Ms. Bharathi with violating Indian Penal Code, Section 153 A and Section 505 (1)(b) as well as the Information Technology Act (2006) Section 66 F relating to cyber-terrorism. The IPC laws prohibit “promoting enmity between different groups… on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever” … and “with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquillity”, respectively.

Meanwhile, Ms. Bharathi’s phone number was made public on Facebook, after which she received 2,000 calls and threats of rape, murder and acid attacks.

On July 25, 2017, she posted another video in which a Dalit couple, who are sanitation workers, made serious accusations against the Dean of Anna University, Dindigul, alleging harassment, while they were forced to perform manual scavenging. Sexual harassment was also alleged. A few days after this video was posted by her, she was arrested by the Madurai police in connection to the case registered in 2009. As a social activist, Ms. Bharathi is known for championing Dalit rights.