On 12 June, Gopen Chandra Sharma was noting the name of a judge that was posted on a notice board outside a courtroom as part of a project called "Strengthening Access to Justice in India" (SAJI), run by the United Nations Development Project and the Ministry of Law and Justice in India. A policeman confronted him and enquired about his reasons for noting the judge's name. Gopen Chandra Sharma was then arrested and brought before the said court judge who asked him to record in open court his reasons for noting the name. Gopen Chandra Sharma allegedly detailed the project to the judge.
Gopen Chandra Sharma was released without charge at 17.20 pm on 12 June 2007. Gopen Chandra Sharma regularly collects information on human rights violations and submits petitions and complaints concerning these violations to various government authorities. He was previously arrested on 8 February 2007 when he was visiting Kaharpara Border to get updated information about a murder case allegedly committed, on 1 June 2006, by staff members of the Border Security Forces 136 Battalion.
Front Line believes that Gopen Chandra Sharma was arrested as a result of his peaceful human rights activities, and in order to intimidate him and dissuade him from carrying out his investigations for the SAJI project
Front Line urges the Indian authorities to carry out an immediate and impartial investigation into the acts of intimidation and arrest of Gopen Chandra Sharma and take measures to ensure that all human rights defenders in India, carrying out their legitimate work in human rights, are able to operate free of all restrictions and harassment.