INDIA: CASR STRONGLY CONDEMNS THE ARREST OF ADIVASI LEADER SARJU TEKAM UNDER UAPA & ARMS ACT

We publish an statement from CASR that we have received.

Popular Adivasi leader of Chhattisgarh Sarju Tekam was arrested by security forces on Tuesday, 2nd April 2024 from his own house in Kalwar village of Manpur Mohalla District in Bastar region. Before arresting him, a huge number of security forces raided his house and conducted illegal seizures, violating all norms and laws, in the early hours of Tuesday.

Campaign Against State Repression condemns the arrest of Adivasi leader Sarju Tekam, which is yet another attempt to silence the voice of Adivasis. Later, we came to know that he was produced in a special NIA court in Bilaspur and falsely charged under sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and Arms Act, alleging that the police seized Naxalite literature, banners and explosives. It is a clear case of fabrication by planting the said materials illegally in his house while stage-managing a supposed raid and search operation. He was also arrested in false cases in October last year.

Sarju Tekam is a well-known Adivasi leader who has been speaking against the violations of Adivasi rights and leading Adivasis in Chhattisgarh against the militarization and corporatization in the mineral rich area. He is the convener of Bastar Jan Sangharsh Samanvay Samiti (Coordination Committee  for Bastar People’s Struggle) and Vice-President of Sarva Adivasi Samaj, a collective of all Adivasi organisations in Chhattisgarh.

Sarju Tekam has been fighting against fake encounter killings of Adivasis in the recent period, particularly after BJP came to power last year in Chhattisgarh. His attempts to mobilise Adivasi people against fake encounter killings is the main reason for this fabricated case.

We demand immediate withdrawal of the false case fabricated against Sarju Tekam and release him unconditionally. We appeal all democratic organisations to condemn Sarju Takam’s arrest.

Campaign Against State Repression

(AIRSO,AISA, AISF, APCR,BASF, BSM, Bhim Army, bsCEM, CEM, CRPP, CTF, , DISSC, DSU, DTF, Forum Against Repression Telangana, Fraternity ,IAPL, Innocence Network, Karnataka Janashakti, LAA,Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan, Mazdoor Patrika, , NAPM, , Nishant Natya Manch, Nowruz, NTUI, People’s Watch, Rihai Manch, Samajwadi Janparishad,Smajwadi lok manch, Bahujan Samjavadi Mnach, SFI, United Against Hate, United Peace Alliance, WSS,Y4S)