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India: Release on bail of human rights defender Mr Ahongsangbam Mobi Singhposted on: 2011/01/07

On 5 January 2010, human rights defender Mr Ahongsangbam Mobi Singh(hereinafter A. Mobi Singh) was released on bail following seven nights in detention in Imphal, Manipur, on charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967.

Further Information

A. Mobi Singh is the Editor of the local daily newspaper “The Sanaleibak” as well as Vice President and spokesperson of the All Manipur Working Journalist's Union (AMWJU), a state-wide union which works to defend freedom of the press and journalistic independence in the context of the ongoing conflict between various State and non-State armed groups in Manipur.

On 28 December 2010, A. Mobi Singh was contacted on his mobile phone by an individual who identified himself as a member of the Tabungba faction of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), who requested that A. Mobi Singh send three members of the AMWJU to Delhi to meet and discuss publication of their statements, at the expense of the KCP.

On 29 December 2010, A. Mobi Singh was again contacted by an individual claiming to represent the KCP asking him to collect a sum of Rs.

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India: Human rights defender Dr Binayak Sen sentenced to life imprisonment posted on: 2011/01/06

On 24 December 2010, Dr Binayak Sen was sentenced to life imprisonment by Raipur Additional District and Sessions Court. Dr Binayak Sen is the General Secretary of the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) regional office in the state of Chhattisgarh, as well as the Vice-President of the PUCL at a national level.

Further Information

The PUCL, which was founded in 1976, is a non-governmental, non-political organisation dedicated to the defence of civil liberties and human rights. In recent decades, Dr Binayak Sen has been involved in training people living in rural villages with regard to community health and disease prevention.

In 2004, he was awarded the Paul Harrison Award by the Christian Medical College in Vellore. Dr Binayak Sen has also campaigned to raise awareness with regard to human rights violations committed by allegedly state-sponsored Salwa Judum militias.

Update: India -- Human rights defender Mr Mian Abdul Qayoom re-arrested three days after being released posted on: 2010/12/07

On 30 November 2010, human rights defender Mr Mian Abdul Qayoom was re-arrested as he left Kot Bhalwal jail in Jammu and is currently being held in Hiranagar jail under a 10-day judicial custody order.

Further Information

Three days previously, on 27 November, the High Court of Kashmir quashed his detention under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act of 1978 (PSA). Mian Abdul Qayoom is the president of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Srinagar.

On 27 November 2010 the Jammu and Kashmir High Court reserved its order to overthrow the detention order against Mian Abdul Qayoom and release him from prison following almost 5 months in custody under the PSA.

Upon leaving the prison Mian Abdul Qayoom was re-arrested and brought before the court of a judicial magistrate.

India: Attack on offices of human rights organisation Bachpan Bachao Andolanposted on: 2010/11/19

On 18 November 2010, the offices of the human rights organisation Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) were broken into and ransacked. During the attack valuable documentation containing confidential financial and legal information, as well as cash, computers and other office equipment was stolen from the premises. BBA is a human rights organisation working to promote the rights of the child throughout India by campaigning against child labour, child trafficking and child servitude. In particular, BBA has been instrumental in reuniting children who were victims of forced child labour with their families.

Further Information

In the early hours of 18 November 2010, the attackers gained entry to the offices of BBA using force and ransacked furniture and filing cabinets, as well as vandalising other office equipment. During the attack sensitive legal and financial documentation was stolen. In the past the offices of BBA have been vandalised on numerous occasions.

India/Manipur: Human rights community salutes Ms. Irom Chanu Sharmila - on hunger strike for 10 yearsposted on: 2010/11/02

"Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) salutes Ms. Irom Chanu Sharmila’s untiring courage in demanding the repeal of the Armed Forced Special Powers Act of 1958 (AFSPA). Her 10-year hunger strike is an example of the struggle for genuine peace and freedom from violence in the north- eastern part of the country".

India: Ongoing harassment of human rights defender Mr Gopen Chandra Sharma posted on: 2010/03/29

Human rights defender Mr Gopen Chandra Sharma has been subjected to threats, harassment and a series of false allegations against him over recent years. He has received information that a false complaint has been filed against him by a man named Mr Jahar Lal Mazumdar.

India - Arrest of human rights defenders Mr Chotan Das, Mr Bhanu Sarkar and Mr Ramesh Dasposted on: 2009/10/27

On 20 October 2009, human rights defender Mr Chotan Das was arrested in his home in Kolkata and interrogated at a local police headquarters before being released later that night. On 12 October 2009, Mr Bhanu Sarkar and Mr Ramesh Das were arrested and detained overnight in Kolkata. They were interrogated during the course of the night before being released the following morning. No explanation was provided for either of the arrests, nor was any arrest warrant provided. Chotan Das is the Secretary of Bandi Mukti Committee (Committee for the Release of Prisoners) and a civil rights activist.

Lachit Bordoloi - Indiaposted on: 2009/09/26

Lachit Bordoloi is a journalist and adviser of Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti (MASS), an organisation working to defend human rights in the Assam region. With other representatives of civil society he was invited to join the People’s Committee for Peace Initiatives in Assam (PCPIA) and is a member of the People’s Consultative Group (PCG), an organisation set up to initiate peace discussions between the Indian Government and the United Liberation Front of Assam.

Hebal Abel Koloy - Indiaposted on: 2009/09/26

Hebal Abel Koloy is Chairperson of the Borok People’s Human Rights Organisation (BPHRO), which protects the rights of the Borok indigenous people of Tripura. He has been very vocal about atrocities and human rights abuses and has spoken at various international fora. He has been targeted because of the pressure this brought on the Government.

India – Renewed threats against human rights defender, Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi posted on: 2009/07/24

A human rights defender, Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi has been subjected to renewed death threats, received on his mobile phone on 22 and 23 July 2009. Dr Raghuvanshi is the convener of the People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) and also a member of the District Vigilance Committee on Bonded Labour in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India.