India: CRPP-WB Demands Immediate and Unconditional Release of Mukesh Malaud

We hereby share a press release issued by the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners – West Bengal (CRPP-WB).

Press Release

31.12.2025

Demanding immediate and unconditional release of Dalit land rights leader Mukesh Malaud

From several media reports we came to know that on 30.12.2025 Mukesh Malaud, a dalit land rights leader and president of the Zameen Prapti Sangharsh Committee (ZPSC) of Punjab has been arrested in Delhi by the Special Security Branch of Punjab Police while he was returning to Punjab after attending a programme of Ambedkar Mission held in Maharashtra.

Media reports revealed that Malaud has been arrested in several cases including a case registered 11 years back.This case is related to an agitation organized by ZPSC in 2014 at Balad Kalan village. The agitation was organized against the landlords who used to float dummy candidates during panchayat land auction for getting agricultural land meant for dalit farmers. As per Kirti Kisan Union, this agitation led by ZPSC was the first major movement demanding Dalits’ legal rights to get one-third share of the panchayat land.

The arrest of Malaud resulted in strong protest across Punjab by different mass organisations. We, as members of rights organisation, vehemently condemn this act of Punjab Police arresting Dalit land rights leader Mukesh Malaud and demand his immediate and unconditional release.

We already shared the statement on this same repressive case by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR):