India

Front Line is deeply concerned following the re-arrest of human rights defender Sapam Kangleipal Meitei following his release on bail. Sapam Kangleipal Meitei is the President of the Manipur Forward Youth Front (MAFYF), a voluntary civil organisation which works for the protection and promotion of human rights, peace building and social issues at the grass-roots level.  

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the arbitrary detention of human rights defender and human rights lawyer Bijaya Chanda on 5 March 2008. Bijaya Chanda is a practicing lawyer at Alipore District Sessions and Criminal Court in West Bengal where she defends victims of human rights violations. She is also a member of the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), and also closely attached to Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), both of are human rights organisations based in West Bengal.  

Front Line is deeply concerned following the attack against, and arrest of, human rights defender Arumugam Katuraja Kanagaraj. Arumugam Katuraja Kanagaraj is the District Human Rights Monitor in the Salem district, Tamil Nadu, of the National Project on Preventing Torture in India which is coordinated by People's Watch and sponsored by the European Union. Arumugam Katuraja Kanagaraj has also campaigned for the protection of the human rights of the Dalit minority community in the Salem district.  

Front Line expresses concern regarding the charges that have been filed against human rights defender Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi and other staff members of the People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR). Dr Raghuvanshi is the Convener of the PVCHR and also a member of the District Vigilance Committee on Bonded Labour in the State of Uttar Pradesh, in northern India. In his work in the defence of human rights, Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi has focused on the protection of the right to food and on victims of death due to starvation.  

Front Line is concerned following reports of the arrest of Subash Mohapatra, on 17 July 2007, in Chhattisgarh State and the subsequent judicial proceedings brought against him. Subash Mohapatra is the Director of the Forum for Fact-finding Documentation and Advocacy (FFDA), a human rights monitoring organisation based in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.