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India: Narmada Bachao Andolan Khandwa Office Sealed and all Key activists of NBA arrested

Thousands still protesting infront of Collectorate

by NAPM, 30 October 2009

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Press Release
- 30th October 2009

  • PEACEFULLY PROTESTING NBA ACTIVISTS ARRESTED IN KHANDWA IN AN OUTRAGEOUS AND EXCESSIVE POLICE ACTION BY MADHYA PRADESH POLICE.
  • NBA OFFICES IN KHANDWA SEALED AND WITHOUT ANY WARRANT SEARCHED AND INFORMATION STOLEN
  • PHONE / FAX / WRITE LETTERS TO CHIEF MINISTER, PRIME MINISTER AND KHANDWA COLLECTORATE

Following the demonstration by over ten thousand men and women affected by the Indira Sagar and Omkareshwar dams on the 28th of October 2009 in Khandwa, Khandwa police in an unprecedented action has arrested all the key activists of Narmada Bachao Andolan from their offices and the dharna site, in front of the Khandwa Collectorate. From 29th October more than a thousand adivasis had been protesting infront of the Khandwa Collectorate, since the MP government refused to live up to the Jabalpur High Court order of giving 5 acres of land to elder son of each of the oustees.

On 29th evening Chttaroopa Palit and 18 other activists were arrested and today without any provocation police came in large numbers and locked NBA’s office alleging anti-state activities. They arrested five of the activists, including Alok Agarwal, present at the office around 5:15 pm and then locked the office. After some time five police people came and without any search warrant and copied files from the computer and taken some files from the office.

After some protest they have released 4 people but kept Alok Agarwal in custody though have not explained the charges under which he has been kept in custody.

It is a clear case of violation of the rights of the activists and also an attempt at breaking the peaceful protest by police action. Yesterday they had lathi charged the protesters but even then the protest had continued, innervating the district administration. This is a clear cut attempt at breaking the morale of the thousands of protesting famers, adivasis and workers.

NBA unequivocally condemns this action and also demands that the activists be released unconditionally and action been taken against the responsible police officers.

Phone / Fax / email letters of protesting police action on peacefully protesting people affected from Indira Sagar, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Upper Beda and Maan dams. Also write letters to Chief Minister and Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh Government asking them to release activists immediately, unseal NBA office, live up to High Court order and take action against the police officers responsible for this high handedness and unlawful action.

Prime Minster :
- Shri Manmohan Singh
- Room No. 148 B, South Ablock, New Delhi
- Office Nos : 91-11-23012312 Fax : 230116857
- Residence : 91-11-23011166, 23018939. Fax : 23015603
- Email : manmohan@sansad.nic.in |

Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
- Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
- Office Phone : 91-755- 2441581, 2441033, 2441096, Fax:91-755-2441781
- Residence Phone : 91-755-2440241, 2440242 Fax : 91-755-2540501
- email : cm@mp.nic.in

MP Government, Chief Secretary
- Shri Rakesh Sahni
- Off Phone : 91-755-2441848. Fax 2441751
- Email : cs@mp.nic.in

Khandwa Collectorate :
- 91-733-2224153, 2223333
- Email : dm@mpkhandwa.mp.nic.in

Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission of India
- Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi 110 001,
- Tel: +91 11 230 74448, Fax: +91 11 2334 0016, Email: chairnhrc@nic.in

Ramkuwar Rawat, Sangita, Kailash Chouhan, Rahmat, Kalu and others

Narmada Bachao Andolan
- 2, Sai Nagar, Mata Chowk,
- Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh.
- Telefax : 0733-2228418/2270014
- E-mail : nbakhandwa@gmail.com

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Contact : Sangita 09425928007 Madhuresh 9818905316

National Alliance of Peoples’ Movements (NAPM)
- Mobile +91 9818 905316
- email :napmindia@gmail.com / kmadhuresh@gmail.com