Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners- WB

Press Release
21.04.2026

Condemn the arrest of journalist Satyam Verma and labour rights activist Aditya Anand and all other members of Mazdoor Bigul Dasta

From various media sources, we have learned that Mr Satyam Verma, a noted journalist and the owner of a bookstore named Jan Chetana, has been arrested by the UP Police on charges of instigating workers in Noida who have been protesting for legitimate wage demands and other issues. Though the police took away Mr Verma on the night of 16th April after conducting a raid at his office, he has been produced in the court after more than 48 hours. The list of illegal activities of the UP Police doesn't end here. They seized all personal electronic devices of Mr Verma and another social activist Katyayani without handing over a copy of that seizure list. Such an attitude of the UP Police is indicative of a larger conspiracy being hatched by the Jogi government which is very similar to that of the infamous Bhima Koregaon case. Based on the latest news, we suspect that along with Satyam and Katyayani, activists like Rupesh, Aditya, Manisha, Himangshu Thakur, Akriti and Shristi have also been framed in a totally fabricated case. We can see how mainstream media, as usual, has been collaborating with the government in this conspiracy by portraying Aditya Anand, a member of Mazdoor Bigul Dasta, as the main mastermind of the Noida protest.
Taking into account the whole incident, we think that the UP government being afraid of the mass protests of workers, is trying to create an atmosphere of terror so as to stop the democratic-minded people from taking the side of the workers.
We want to categorically state that the workers being at the receiving end for a long period of time have burst into protest quite spontaneously, because living a family life with 8-9 thousand rupees in a city like Noida is in itself enough instigation to come to the streets for a decent wage and secured working conditions. But with the tacit cooperation of the State government, big corporate houses are exploiting the workers for a long period of time and the implementation of the four new labour codes is making such exploitation even more unbearable.
Under such circumstances we demand
1. Withdrawal of all charges against the members of Jan Chetana and Mazdoor Bigul Dasta and their immediate and unconditional release.
2. Withdrawal of four new labour codes with immediate effect and accepting all demands of the workers.

Press Release
15.04.2026

News about brutal repression unleashed by the State on the workers of Haryana and UP who have been protesting against low wages, long working hours and others, is highly disturbing and condemnable.
On 1st April, 2026, a protest began at the IOL plant in Panipath, Haryana. But soon after, it spread to other factories in states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and UP. As per reports from media sources, workers in more than 20 factories spread across half a dozen states joined in this protest. Thousands of agitated workers from the industrial hub of Manesar (Haryana) and Noida (UP) came to the streets to demand a wage hike, reduction of working hours, double overtime and safe working conditions.
But on 8th April police started to lathi-charge on the peaceful protesters of Manesar causing injury to a large number of workers. Not only that, but around 45 workers were arrested including 17 workers. But defying all such regressive actions of the state police, the wave of protest spread to the factories in the Noida region of UP.
As per the latest report around 350 workers have been arrested so far. To malign the workers' protest, the Jogi government imported the usual conspiracy theory of Pakistan being involved in this protest. But finally, the government had to yield to the demands of workers. As per the latest report, Jogi Adityanath has announced an interim wage hike, though the workers being unsatisfied have not yet joined the factories.
Given the situation, we demand
1. Immediate withdrawal of all charges against protesting workers and their unconditional release.
2. A decent wage, 8 hours working day and proper working conditions should be implemented immediately.
3. Withdrawal of anti-worker new labour codes.

Press Release
09.04.2026

We are deeply concerned about the recent police excesses on the local tribal people of Sagabari village located in the Kashipur block of the Raygara district of Orissa. We know that the Orissa government had given mining lease of Sijimali hills spreading across Kalahandi and Raygara district to Vedanta Limited in 2023. Since then clashes between local tribals of the affected villages protesting against the mining project had been threatened by the police administration and the company goons. Hundreds of tribals implicated in false charges have been suffering in jail for more than a year.
Under this scenario a fresh round of attack has been inflicted on the residents of Sagarbari village on 7 th of April because of their protest against the construction of a 3 km long road from Purlong to Sagarbari Ghat, which would provide access to mining in the Sijimali hills. Teargas shells thrown and rampant lathicharge along with indiscriminate beating by the police led to a large number of people being injured. Reports revealed at least two women had serious head injuries.
On March 11 a large police force accompanied by company goons attcked the house of a leader of Ma Mati Mali Suraksha Manch, the platform built to spearhead protest against the mining project. Several other houses were also attacked, and people were beaten up randomly. But instead of arresting the culprits, on the same day police arrested 21 adivasis from Talaampadar village on a fabricated complaint made by a company loyalist. As per reports, at least 10 arrested persons are women, with one among them being pregnant and at least two have breast-feeding babies kept at home.
In order to supress the movement against the mining of Sijimali hills by Vedanta, on March 25, police arrested Lingaraj Azad, a renowned anti-mining activist from Orissa, and Suresh Sangram, both of whom acted as advisors of Ma Mati Mali Suraksha Manch.
We condemn all such acts of the Orissa police which are against the legitimate rights of the tribal people to fight for protecting their rights guaranteed under the 5th schedule of the Indian Constitution.

We demand
*Withdrawal of all charges against the tribal people to ensure their immediate release
*Immediate and unconditional release of Lingaraj Azad and Suresh Sangram
*Complete halt of mining activities by Vedanta Limited

Press Release
03.04.2026

As per reports in news media, we came to know that senior political activist Mr. Prashant Bose lodged in Birsa Munda Central Jail, Ranchi, has died today in Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences located in Ranchi.Though he was an octogenarian political prisoner, and was having serious health issues, his bail was not granted by the court. We all know that prisons in India barely have any medical facility for its inmates. So death of prisoners in judicial custody is a regular occurrence in India.
We therfore demand proper judicial inquiry into the cause of death of Mr. Prashant Bose.

প্রেস বিবৃতি
০৩.০৪.২০২৬

আমরা গভীর উদ্বেগের সাথে লক্ষ্য করছি যে পশ্চিমবঙ্গে বিগত চার মাসের বেশি সময় ধরে চলা এস আই আর প্রক্রিয়া কিভাবে জনগণের সাধারণ জীবনযাপনকে বিপর্যস্ত করছে। একদিকে আমরা দেখছি ভোটার তালিকা সংশোধনের নাম করে এস আই আর -এর আড়ালে চালানো হচ্ছে নাগরিক বাছাইয়ের কাজ, যা আসলে এন আর সি -র তালিকা তৈরির প্রস্তুতি। অন্যদিকে কেন্দ্রে ক্ষমতাসীন বিজেপি দলের নেতারা রাজ্য থেকে বিদেশী অনুপ্রবেশকারী তাড়ানোর নাম করে প্রতিদিন বাংলার জনসাধারণকে সন্ত্রস্ত করছেন। ভীত সন্ত্রস্ত মানুষ বিগত চার মাস ধরে নানান নথিপত্র সংগ্রহ করে, ঘণ্টার পর ঘণ্টা হিয়ারিং-এর লাইনে দাঁড়িয়ে নিজেদের ভোটাধিকার তথা নাগরিকত্ব প্রমাণের চেষ্টা চালিয়েছেন। এই হয়রানি সহ্য করতে না পেরে এ পর্যন্ত প্রায় ১৫০ মানুষের প্রাণ গেছে। অথচ এত কিছুর পর যখন ভোটার তালিকা প্রকাশ করা হচ্ছে তখন দেখা যাচ্ছে অসংখ্য সংখ্যালঘু, আদিবাসী, মহিলা ও প্রান্তিক লিঙ্গের মানুষের নাম হয় বাদ দেওয়া হয়েছে নয়তো বিবেচনাধীন বলে ঝুলিয়ে রাখা হয়েছে। এই অবস্থায় একটা অসম্পূর্ণ ভোটার তালিকা দিয়েই নির্বাচনের দিন ঘোষণা করে দেওয়া হলো। আর আজ আমরা দেখছি, সমস্ত রাজনৈতিক দল ভোট প্রচারে বেরিয়ে পড়েছে।
যে রাজ্যবাসীর ভোটে জিতে এ যাবৎ তাঁরা ক্ষমতা ভোগ করলেন আজ তাঁদেরই এক বৃহৎ অংশের ভোটাধিকার কেড়ে নিয়ে, বেনাগরিক করার ছক কষে দিব্যি আবার ভোট ভিক্ষায় নেমে পড়েছেন! এর থেকে বড় গণতন্ত্রের পরিহাস আর কী হতে পারে?
ঘটনা এখানেই থেমে নেই। রাজ্যের মানুষ আজ রাজনৈতিক দলগুলোর এই ষড়যন্ত্রকে বুঝতে পেরে নিজেদের অধিকার রক্ষায় পথে নামছেন। মুর্শিদাবাদ, মালদা, জলপাইগুড়ি, বর্ধমান, উ. ২৪ পরগণা সহ বিভিন্ন জেলার অসংখ্য মানুষ শান্তিপূর্ণ ভাবে আন্দোলনে নামছেন। গত ৩১ মার্চ মালদার মোথাবাড়ির সুজাপুর ব্লকে স্থানীয় মানুষ সকাল থেকে বিডিও অফিস ঘেরাও করে বিক্ষোভ দেখাচ্ছিলেন। কিন্তু আমরা দেখলাম গভীর রাতে বিডিও অফিস থেকে আটক বিচারকদের বের করতে রাজ্য পুলিশকে সঙ্গে নিয়ে কেন্দ্রীয় বাহিনীর জওয়ানরা বিক্ষোভকারীদের উপর দিয়ে গাড়ি চালিয়ে চলে গেল। এই ঘটনায় দুজন মানুষ গুরুতর আহত হয়েছেন বলে আমরা জানতে পেরেছি। কিন্তু আশ্চর্য হয়ে আমরা দেখলাম, যারা এইভাবে নিরীহ সাধারণ মানুষকে গাড়ি চাপা দিল তাদের বিরুদ্ধে কোনও আইনি ব্যবস্থা নেওয়ার বদলে বিক্ষোভকারীদের ১৮ জনকে আটক করা হলো। এ কোন দেশে আমরা বসবাস করছি? আইন কি সবার জন্য সমান নয়?
আজ আমরা জানতে পেরেছি, এই ঘটনায় কলকাতা হাইকোর্টের আইনজীবী মোফাক্কারুল ইসলামকে গ্রেপ্তার করা হয়েছে। আমরা এই অন্যায় গ্রেপ্তারের বিরুদ্ধে তীব্র প্রতিবাদ জানাচ্ছি।শান্তিপূর্ণভাবে প্রতিবাদ জানানোর অধিকার প্রত্যেক ভারতবাসীর সংবিধান স্বীকৃত অধিকার। সেই অধিকার কেড়ে নেওয়ার বিরুদ্ধে সমস্ত গণতন্ত্র-প্রিয় মানুষকে আজ পথে নামতে হবে। বাংলার মাটিকে যাঁরা রক্ত, ঘাম দিয়ে হাজার হাজার বছর ধরে উর্বর করেছেন, সেই মাটিতে সবার আগে তাঁদের অধিকার। কোনও বাংলা-বিরোধী শক্তি এসে তাঁদের সেই অধিকার কেড়ে নিতে চাইলে বাংলার মানুষ তার স্বভাব-সিদ্ধ প্রতিবাদের রাস্তা বেছে নেবে।

আমাদের দাবি
১) মোফাক্কারুল ইসলামকে অবিলম্বে নিঃশর্ত মুক্তি দিতে হবে
২) মোথাবাড়িতে গাড়ি চাপা দেওয়ার ঘটনায় দোষীদের বিরুদ্ধে আইনি ব্যবস্থা নিতে হবে এবং আটক সমস্ত ব্যক্তিকে অবিলম্বে নিঃশর্ত মুক্তি দিতে হবে
৩) নাগরিকত্ব হরণকারী এস আই আর অবিলম্বে বাতিল করতে হবে

People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR)
A civil liberties and democratic rights organisation based in Delhi, India

PRESS STATEMENT

Condemn Special Cell’s Impunity
Mar 16, 2026 | Violation of Civil and Democratic Rights

PUDR strongly condemns the Delhi Police’s abduction and illegal detention of ten activists between 12th and 14th March. The ten activists belong to different organizations, Bhagat Singh Chhatra Ekta Manch (BSCEM), Forum Against Corporatization and Militarization (FACAM) and Mazdoor Adhikar Sangh (MAS). The activists state that they were abducted from different locations in the city by plain clothed personnel from the Special Cell. Among the ten were three women, and the police locked two of them in their office on the 13th night when it conducted a midnight raid and picked up four activists. The police came back for the two women the following morning. In short, the police ‘disappeared’ ten activists and kept them in their custody without contact with the outside world.

It took three habeas corpus petitions filed by families for the activists to be released. Fortunately, the Delhi High Court agreed to hear the petitions on Sunday, 15th March. Because of this timely legal action, the Special Cell released nine of the ten activists on the night of 14th/15th March, hours before the High Court hearing. Because the state lawyer stated before the Court that all had been released, the police released the remaining activist at around 4 pm on 15th March, well after the court hearing at noon.

The shocking actions of the Delhi Police raise some very serious questions about its intentions and method of functioning in this present instance.

According to lawyers, at least seven of the detainees were badly beaten in custody.
The lawyers were not shown any official documents even while the police claimed before the court that the interrogation was based on an FIR.
The lawyers raised the mater that forcible signatures were taken from all the detainees stating that they had joined the investigation based on notices served to them. Based on these forcible signatures, the police hopes to protect itself charges of abduction, illegal detention and torture which the police personnel are guilty of.
Notably, the police did not bother to show the documentation regarding notices served, if as per its version, the activists had joined the investigation.
The lawyers also raised the matter of police seizing phones and digital devices from all the detainees.
Contrary to the police version, some of the abductions were carried out in broad daylight in the capital city. While two activists are stated to have been picked up from near a college in Central Delhi, one was tailed all the way from a public meeting at the Press Club and picked up from outside a metro station in North Delhi.

There are other very serious questions of violations of rights that this incident raises:

The incident shows a targeted attack on students affiliated with BSCEM, FACAM and activists associated with the well-known labour rights organization, MAS. The abductions, detention, torture and intimidation are police methods aimed at preventing these activists from asserting their constitutionally guaranteed right of joining associations and organizations.
The implications of the present incident become serious as the same Special Cell had detained eight members of BSCEM and FACAM in July 2025 for a over a week. The activists claim that the police brutally tortured, humiliated and harassed them. The police threatened them from not revealing what they underwent in custody on the ground that no FIR had been created for the incident. Consequently, information about the July incident was not known to many. In the light of the July incident, the March 2026 detentions serve as an ominous reminder as to how the police can repeatedly detain, torture and harass activists of these two organizations without official warrant or reason.
Despite the lawyers seeking CCTV footage of the place from where the activists were abducted and of the Special Cell office, the Court ordered preservation of only CCTV footage from the places where the activists claim to have been abducted. While the court performed its duty by an immediate listing of the petitions that prompted the release of the activists, it is to be noted that barring the directions on CCTV footage, the Court did not subject the police to strict examination. The activists have been granted permission to file affidavits of their version, and the matter is now posted for 27th In effect, there is an apparent shifting of onus to the activists to prove the brazen attack on them and how their life and liberty was in serious danger. In the case of one of the activists (Rudra) whose petition was listed on Monday (16th March), torture was alleged and a request for the constitution of a medical board, but the Court did not pass any directions on this aspect and listed this petition along with the others on 27th March.
Considering this shocking instance of the Special Cell’s impunity, PUDR demands immediate action against guilty policemen who were involved in abducting, illegally detaining and torturing the activists.

Deepika Tandon and Shahana Bhattacharya
Secretaries,
[email protected]

Campaign Against State Repression
Press Statement
Date - 14 March, 2026

CASR strongly Condemns the abduction of 10 activists, including 2 labour rights activists, 2 anti-displacement activists, and 6 students by Delhi Police, whose whereabouts remain unknown

On 12 March 2026, Ms Ilakkiya, a Delhi University student pursuing her Master’s in Psychology and associated with the student organisation *BSCEM*, along with Mr Shiv Kumar, a labour rights activist associated with *Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan*, had come to Dyal Singh College to meet Sachin N (faculty member, former elected executive of Delhi University Teachers' Association, Academic Council member, and part of the Common Teachers' Forum). The purpose of the meeting was to discuss organising activities for Anti-Imperialism Week.
They reached the campus around 12:00 pm. As the faculty member they were to meet was running late, they had lunch at the college canteen. When they stepped out of the campus around 1:00 pm, they were reportedly picked up by unidentified personnel believed to be from a state agency outside the *Dyal Singh College gate near the JLN Metro station.*

Shopkeepers in the area reported that a woman agent in civil clothes forcibly escorted Ms Ilakkiya into a waiting Scorpio vehicle around 1 pm. Ms Ilakkiya reportedly tried to shout something, but the incident happened very quickly. It appears that Mr Shiv Kumar had been taken into the vehicle earlier. Witnesses stated that 3–4 individuals in plain clothes were involved and the vehicle carried VIP lights. Ms Ilakkiya had messaged the faculty member around 1 pm asking how long it would take him to arrive. When he called her back around 1:30 pm, her phone had already been switched off. Local shopkeepers later informed the beat police officer of the area about the incident. However, *both Ms Ilakkiya and Mr Shiv Kumar remain untraceable and have not contacted their friends, family members, or colleagues since then*.

In addition, *Manjeet*, an activist associated with Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan, has also been missing since yesterday. He was last seen returning home after attending a programme organised by *Campaign Against State Repression* demanding the release of imprisoned lawyer *Surendra Gadling*, who remains incarcerated in the Bhima Koregaon case.

Furthermore, we have received alarming information that several more students and activists were picked up by Delhi Police last night around 8 pm from the office of the student organisation BSCEM in Vijay Nagar near Delhi University North Campus, as confirmed by local residents. These include *Akshay, Drishti, Rudra, Kiran, and Gaurav from BSCEM*, as well as *Badal and Ehtemam from the Forum Against Corporatisation and Militarisation (FACAM)*.

It must also be noted that *Mr Shiv Kumar was earlier arrested during the Singhu Border farmers' protest along with labour rights activist Nodeep Kaur*. During that time, he was brutally tortured in custody, and his case regarding custodial torture *is still pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court*.

In its observations, *Justice Deepak Gupta of the Punjab and Haryana High Court noted that Shiv Kumar had been kept in illegal confinement from January 16 to January 23, and was only later shown as arrested**. During this period of illegal custody, *torture was meted out to him at the CIA office in Sonepat*, and further torture continued during police remand.

The High Court further stated that he was “badly tortured” by the police, suffering numerous injuries across various parts of his body, including fractures. Shiv Kumar was *examined five times prior to his medical examination at GMCH-32*, which took place almost a month after he was shown arrested. This medical examination was *ordered by the High Court. The report also held Inspector Ravinder, in-charge of the CIA unit, responsible for the torture, despite his denial that Shiv Kumar had ever been brought to the CIA office.Shiv Kumar has still not fully recovered from that brutal torture, and the fact that he has now been abducted again raises extremely serious concerns about his safety and well-being.

It is also important to note that Ms Ilakkiya, Kiran, and Akshay were arrested in November last year after a protest at India Gate against the severe air pollution in Delhi. They were released from *Tihar Jail after one month of incarceration*.

It is further important to recall that *just eight months ago, Ehtemam, Badal, and Gaurav were abducted by the Delhi Police Special Cell in a similar manner and were brutally tortured for more than a week in illegal custody*. The repetition of such incidents raises serious concerns about a pattern of repression and unlawful detention targeting activists and democratic voices.

Given these circumstances, there is serious apprehension that they may have been illegally abducted by some state agency.
CASR views these developments with deep alarm and concern. The targeting, disappearance, and intimidation of students and activists poses a direct threat to democratic rights, civil liberties, and the right to dissent.

*CASR Demands*

• Immediate disclosure of the whereabouts of Ms Ilakkiya, Mr Shiv Kumar, and Manjeet

• Assurance of their safety and physical well-being.

• Immediate access to legal counsel and communication with their families.

• Accountability from the concerned authorities for these unlawful actions.

The Campaign Against State Repression calls upon students, teachers, trade unions, civil society organisations, and democratic citizens to raise their voices and demand accountability.

Where are Ilakkiya, Shiv Kumar, Manjeet, Akshay, Drishti, Rudra, Kiran, Gaurav, Badal, and Ehtemam?
The authorities must immediately disclose their whereabouts and ensure their safety.

*CAMPAIGN AGAINST STATE REPRESSION*
(AIRSO,AISF, 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, Smajwadi lok manch, Bahujan Samjavadi Mnach, United Peace Alliance, WSS, Y4S)

SOS

*Ms Ilakkiya (DU student of masters in Psychology, BSCEM) and Mr Shiv Kumar (Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan, Kundli Sonepat,* whom Haryana Police had brutally tortured alongwith Navdeep Kaur during Shinghu Border Farmers struggle) had reached Dyal Singh College to meet Mr Sachin N (Faculty, ex Duta Elected Executive & DU AC member, Common Teachers' Forum) to meet and discuss organising Anti imperialism week protest yesterday, 12.3.2026 around 12 pm. As Mr Sachin was getting late they had lunch in the DSC canteen and when they were moving out around 1 pm, they picked up by some state Agency personnel from outside Dyal Singh metro gate.

The shop people outside the DSC JLN metro gate saw a woman agent in civil clothes forcibly escorting Ms Ilakkiya into a waiting scorpio car around 1 pm. Though Ms Ilakkiya tried to shout something, it all happened very quickly. Mr Shiv it seems was escorted into the vehicle earlier. There were 3-4 agents in plain clothes, and vehicle was with vip lights.

Ms Ilakkiya had messaged the faculty around 1 pm asking how long it will take him to reach but her phone was switched off when he called back around 1.30. *The shop people had informed the beat police officer of DSC JLN metro of the incident later in the evening but Ms Ilakkiya and Mr Shiv are still not in contact with any of their friends and are untraceable.*

Campaign Against State Repression (CASR)

PRESS STATEMENT
Date: 10 March 2026

WE DON’T WANT ANOTHER POLITICAL PRISONER MURDERED BY THE INDIAN STATE

CASR DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF FORMER PFI CHAIRMAN E. ABUBACKER ON MEDICAL GROUNDS

The Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) expresses grave concern over the rapidly deteriorating health condition of senior Muslim leader, retired school teacher, journalist and activist E. Abubacker, who has been incarcerated as an undertrial political prisoner for the past 3 years and 6 months under the draconian UAPA. Despite his extremely fragile health condition, he continues to remain in custody, raising serious humanitarian concerns.

E. Abubacker, aged 72, is suffering from multiple severe health ailments. His condition has worsened in recent days as he is reportedly suffering from a serious chest infection accompanied by severe cough, along with dangerous fluctuations in blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Reports also indicate that his blood oxygen levels have dropped, further raising concerns about his overall health condition.
Due to these alarming complications, jail authorities recently admitted him to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital in New Delhi for treatment. However, the continued incarceration of a critically ill elderly prisoner despite such grave medical conditions reflects the shocking negligence of authorities towards the health and dignity of political prisoners.

Abubacker has long been battling multiple chronic illnesses. He suffers from Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, hypertension, and severe loss of vision. Earlier, he was diagnosed with a rare malignant cancer—gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, for which he underwent chemotherapy and surgery in 2020. His fragile condition requires constant medical supervision and assistance even for basic daily activities.The continued incarceration of E. Abubacker reminds us of the tragic custodial deaths of several political prisoners who were effectively murdered through deliberate denial of proper medical treatment during incarceration.

We cannot forget how Father Stan Swamy, an 84-year-old Adivasi rights defender, died in judicial custody after repeatedly being denied adequate medical care. Pandu Narote, a young Adivasi prisoner, died after authorities failed to provide timely treatment when he became critically ill. Prof. G.N. Saibaba, who was severely disabled, was forced to struggle for basic medical facilities throughout his imprisonment. Kanchan Nanaware also died after prolonged denial of proper medical treatment while incarcerated.These deaths reveal a disturbing pattern where political prisoners are slowly pushed towards death through systematic neglect and denial of medical care.

CASR warns that the continued incarceration of E. Abubacker in such a critical medical condition risks repeating the same tragic history. If society remains silent today, another political prisoner may be murdered through custodial neglect.
If we truly want to prevent another political prisoner being murdered by the Indian state, it is necessary for democratic voices across the country to raise their voices immediately.

The Campaign Against State Repression therefore calls upon civil liberties organisations, democratic rights groups, human rights defenders, lawyers, intellectuals and concerned citizens to come together and raise a strong voice demanding justice and humanitarian relief. If we have learned anything from the deaths of Stan Swamy, Pandu Narote, G.N. Saibaba and Kanchan Nanaware, it is that silence allows such custodial deaths to continue. We must act now to ensure that history does not repeat itself.

*CASR DEMANDS:*

1. Immediate release of E. Abubacker on humanitarian and medical grounds.
2. Proper medical treatment without delay.
3. Protection of the right to life and dignity of all political prisoners.

*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, Nishant Natya Manch, Nowruz, NTUI, People’s Watch, Rihai Manch, Samajwadi Janparishad, Samajwadi Lok Manch, Bahujan Samajwadi Manch, United Peace Alliance, WSS, Y4S)

PRESS STATEMENT
Campaign Against State Repression
Date: 8 March 2026

*On International Women’s Day: CASR Demands Immediate Release All Women Political Prisoners Incarcerated Under UAPA*

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) extends its solidarity to women across the world fighting for dignity, justice, equality, and freedom. However, while the day is globally celebrated as a symbol of women’s empowerment and resistance, in India several women political prisoners continue to languish in jails for years under draconian laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), often without trial.

CASR strongly condemns the continued incarceration of women activists, lawyers, teachers, and grassroots organisers who have been targeted under fabricated allegations and draconian anti-terror laws. Many of these women are undertrials who have spent years in prison without their cases reaching conclusion, exposing the punitive nature of the process itself.

Among those unjustly imprisoned are

1. Syeda Asiya Andrabi, Convicted 8 years in jail
2. Sofi Fehmeeda, Convicted 8 Years in jail
3. Nahida Nasreen, Convicted 8 Years in Jail
4. Advocate Bellala Padma, Undertrial 2 Years 9 Months
5. Binda Sona, Undertrial 2 years
6. Prabha, Undertrial 2 Years 6 Months
7. Suneeta Potam, Undertrial 1 Years 9 months
8. Sheela Marandi, Undertrial 4 Years 4 Months
9. Jayeeta Das, Undertrial 4 Years
10. Narla Vidya, Undertrial 8 Months
11. Madakam kosi, 3 Years
12. Savithri, Undertrial 4 Years
13. Unnimaya, Undertrial 2 years
14. Kamala, Undertrial 2 Years 8 Months
15. D.Devendra, Undertrial 3 Years 8 Months
16 . Ch.Shilpa, Undertrial 3 Years 8 Months
17 . K.Shireesha, Undertrial 2 Years 9 Months

And much more those who are not in this list.

These women represent different regions and struggles, yet their experiences share a common pattern: the misuse of UAPA to silence dissent and criminalise political belief. Several of these women come from marginalised communities, including Adivasi and rural backgrounds, and were actively involved in grassroots activism for the liberation of women before their arrests. Instead of addressing the legitimate concerns they raised—whether related to land rights, civil liberties, or social justice—the state has chosen to brand them as “terrorists” and incarcerate them under harsh anti-terror provisions.The situation of these women prisoners is deeply alarming. Most of them remain undertrials, deprived of the fundamental principle of justice that every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The UAPA’s stringent bail provisions ensure that incarceration itself becomes punishment, with trials often stretching for years.

Equally disturbing are the serious health concerns faced by these incarcerated women. Many have reported deteriorating physical and mental health due to prolonged imprisonment, lack of adequate medical care, and harsh prison conditions. Some have suffered severe reproductive health complications, including miscarriages while in custody, raising grave questions about the state’s responsibility toward the health and dignity of women prisoners.

International Women’s Day should be a moment to reaffirm the commitment to justice, equality, and the rights of women. Yet the continued incarceration of these women political prisoners reflects a disturbing contradiction between the government’s rhetoric of women’s empowerment and the lived reality of women who challenge injustice. CASR believes that criminalising dissent and incarcerating women activists under anti-terror laws is an attack on democratic rights itself. The growing pattern of arrests under UAPA demonstrates how the law is increasingly used not to combat terrorism but to silence political opposition, human rights advocacy, and grassroots movements.

On this International Women’s Day, CASR demands:

1. Immediate release of all women political prisoners jailed under UAPA and other draconian laws.
2. Immediate medical care and humane treatment for all incarcerated women facing serious health conditions.
3. An end to the misuse of anti-terror legislation to criminalise dissent and democratic activism.
4. Speedy and fair trials in all cases where individuals continue to remain imprisoned as undertrials for years.

CASR calls upon democratic institutions, women’s organisations, civil rights groups, and concerned citizens to raise their voices for these women whose lives and freedom are being crushed by a system that punishes dissent.

The struggle for women’s liberation cannot remain symbolic while women political prisoners continue to suffer in silence behind prison walls. Justice for these women is inseparable from the broader struggle for democracy, civil liberties, and human rights in India. On this day of resistance and solidarity, CASR reiterates its demand:

Free all women political prisoners. End the misuse of UAPA. Defend democratic rights.

*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, Nishant Natya Manch, Nowruz, NTUI, People’s Watch, Rihai Manch, Samajwadi Janparishad, Samajwadi Lok Manch, Bahujan Samajwadi Manch, United Peace Alliance, WSS, Y4S)