India – CASR Marks One Year of the Wrongful Incarceration of Priyanshu Kashyap
We hereby share a press statement published by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) on the 29th of July.
PRESS STATEMENT
Date: 28 July 2026
CASR Marks One Year of the Wrongful Incarceration of Student and Labour Rights Activist Priyanshu Kashyap
The Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) marks one year of the wrongful incarceration of student and labour rights activist Priyanshu Kashyap, who was arrested by the NIA in connection with the bogus Lucknow Conspiracy Case (RC-01/2023/NIA/Lucknow).
Priyanshu, a former student of the Department of History, University of Delhi, and a labour rights activist associated with the Delhi General Mazdoor Front (DGMF), has spent an entire year behind bars without trial. His incarceration is part of a broader pattern of using the Lucknow Conspiracy Case to target students, labour organisers, advocates, journalists, and democratic activists across northern India in an attempt to manufacture another Bhima Koregaon-type prosecution.
Belonging to an Adivasi family from the Bastar region, Priyanshu consistently stood with workers, students, and oppressed communities. His arrest reflects the state’s growing use of the NIA, UAPA, and other draconian laws to criminalise democratic dissent and silence those fighting against exploitation and injustice.
The continued denial of liberty through prolonged incarceration without the commencement of a fair trial is a grave assault on constitutional guarantees, due process, and democratic rights.
CASR reiterates its demands:
Immediately release Priyanshu Kashyap and all activists imprisoned in the Lucknow Conspiracy Case.
Quash the bogus FIR No. RC-01/2023/NIA/Lucknow.
End the misuse of the NIA and draconian laws such as the UAPA to suppress democratic movements.
Protect the constitutional rights to free speech, association, and peaceful protest.
On this painful anniversary, CASR calls upon democratic rights organisations, trade unions, student groups, lawyers, journalists, writers, artists, and all concerned citizens to intensify the campaign for the release of Priyanshu Kashyap and all political prisoners, and to resist the systematic criminalisation of democratic dissent.
CAMPAIGN AGAINST STATE REPRESSION (CASR)
Organising Team:
(AIRSO, APCR, ASA, BASF, BSM, Bhim Army, bsCEM, CEM, COLLECTIVE, CRPP, CSM, CTF, DISSC, DSU, DTF, Forum Against Repression Telangana, Fraternity, IAPL, Innocence Network, Karnataka Janashakti, LAA, Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan, Mazdoor Patrika, NAPM, Nazariya Magazine, Nishant Natya Manch, Nowruz, NTUI, People’s Watch, Rihai Manch, Samajwadi Janparishad, Samajwadi Lok Manch, Bahujan Samajwadi Manch,United Peace Alliance, WSS, Y4S)
