India – RSF Speaks Out Against the Undemocratic and Targeted Arrest of Leftist Activist Layek Ali on False Charges
We hereby share an unofficial translation of a statement issued by the Revolutionary Students’ Front (RSF) on the 12th of July.
Friends, we have come to know that today (12/07/2026), a moment ago, the Baruipur police arrested Leftist activist Layek Ali on the false charges of ‘inciting’ mass protests following the brutal rape and murder of an underage girl in Baruipur belonging to a minority. After the brutal incident, an attempt is being made to frame him in the mob lynching and death, of one of the accused. Since that incident, we have seen time and again that the ruling BJP government in West Bengal is desperate to save the BJP workers accused in the incident. The main witness and one of the accused in the incident, Prabhas Mondal, was suspiciously killed in an encounter before he could be produced in court.
On the other hand, the leaders and ministers of the RSS-BJP-run Brahminist Hindutva fascist government in the state have resorted to giving this incident a religious color, using the incident to implement their own agenda. Instead of investigating the rape-murder incident in a fair and proper manner, an attempt is being made to suppress the voices of opposition across the state by using the mob lynching incident. The just public protests against the indifference of the government and police authorities are being made a ‘crime’ and the protesters are being targeted with imprisonment. Layek’s arrest is the result of that, not an isolated incident. A few days ago, the new Rowlatt Act and the Hooliganism Act were passed in the state. In fact, the BJP government is eager to make the state opposition-free by any means, so that they can carry out all the subsequent policy decisions as agents of imperialism unobstructed. For that purpose, they are determined to use any brutal incident to their benefit.
If we do not stand against this undemocratic arrest today, tomorrow any ordinary person can be falsely accused of opposing or questioning the government. We, on behalf of the Revolutionary Students Front (RSF), are calling on all democratic, progressive, anti-fascist and leftist organizations and individuals to build a larger militant mass movement demanding the immediate and unconditional release of our friend Layek Ali.
