Odisha: Activists approach UN rapporteurs, NHRC for Lingaraj Azad’s release

TIMES OF INDIA
Hemanta Pradhan | TNN | Mar 8, 2019, 22:35 IST
BHUBANESWAR: Rights activists including Prafulla Samantara on Friday appealed the state government to unconditionally release Niyamgiri Surakshya Samiti advisor Lingaraj Azad from Bhawanipatna jail. He was arrested by Kalahandi police on Wednesday in connection with two cases pending against him.
The activists including Narendra Mohanty, Chandranath Dani and Gopinath Majhi have approached United Nations’ special rapporteurs, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) for their intervention into the matter in order to release Azad.
Samantara, president of Lok Shakti Abhiyan, said the press release issued by the state police headquarters on Wednesday revealed the tactics of the police to arrest him.
“The release at the beginning said that Azad is a Maoist sympathiser, while it later mentioned him as an activist who organises meetings against bauxite mining in Niyamgiri area. If an activist stages protest against mining in their area, it is not an offence. Even the Supreme Court had earlier asked the gram sabhas to decide whether mining can be held in Niyamgiri or not. People have the right to stage peaceful assembly against any wrongdoing of the state. Police has slapped fabricated charges on him,” he added.
Inspector general (headquarters) Asheet Kumar Panigrahi said the Kalahandi police arrested Azad for his involvement in a case in 2017 and another case on February 18 for unlawful assembly and other charges.
“According to the election guidelines, the director general of police (DGP) has issued detailed instructions to take measures to curb anti-social activism, warrant execution and raid on excise. In this particular case, DGP RP Sharma has not particularly ordered to arrest Azad or anybody. Kalahandi police issued the warrant and arrested Azad for his involvement in two cases pending against him,” he added.
The activists urged chief minister Naveen Patnaik to intervene into the matter immediately and ensure that all cases against Azad and other innocent activists are immediately dropped. “Azad should be released at the earliest otherwise the movement will be intensified to expose the government,” said the activists.

COURTESY OF TIMES OF INDIA

TIMES OF INDIA

Lingaraj Azad's arrest evokes protests in Berhampur

Bikash Khemka, Hrusikesh Mohanty | TNN | Mar 8, 2019, 14:05 IST


BHAWANIPATNA/BERHAMPUR: A day after police arrested Lingaraj Azad, a known tribal rights campaigner, members of various outfits staged protests demanding his unconditional release.
Several social activists staged demonstration in front of the revenue divisional commissioner (RDC)’s office in Berhampur and submitted a memorandum addressed to Governor Ganshi Lal demanding his unconditional release. Many tribals have threatened to demonstrate in front of Kalahandi collector’s office on Friday.
Lingaraj, adviser Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti, a tribal outfight opposed to mining in Niyamgiri, was sent to Bhawanipatna Jail on Wednesday after police arrested him for allegedly possessing arms, supporting the Maoists and mobilising other tribal leaders against mining in Lanjigarh.
Theopil Gamang, convenor, Ingenious People’s Forum, a tribal outfit, termed Azad’s arrest as illegal. "It’s a government ploy to favour certain companies by arresting Azad as he is opposed to mining Niyamgiri. He has been fighting for protection of tribals’ interest,” Theopil said.
Prafulla Samantara, an activist who has also been at the forefront of anti-mining movement of tribals in Niyamgiri hills, said it’s a cause of serious concern that the government is trying to falsely implicate Azad as Maoist sympathiser. “It seems, a well-crafted strategy to keep Azad behind bars to kill the tribals’ movement,” he said.
Satya Mahar, the convenor of Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti said Lingraj was the first person, who had motivated the locals of Trilochanpur to participate in the 2014 election when Maoists had threatened the people to keep away themselves from voting. “How could be Lingaraj linked to Maoists,” Satya asked. The government is trying to supress the tribal voice against the mining, he added.
Police sources said Lingaraj was arrested in the wake of DGP R P Sharma directing police to nab the anti-socials, Maoists sympathisers and other disturbing elements before the general elections-2019.
Additional SP of Kalahandi, M K Mohanta told the reporters in Bhawanipatna on Thursday that Lingaraj was arrested in two different cases.
Police said, Lingaraj along with tribals had agitated and threatened in front of Vedanta gate for which Vedanta security head, Rajiv Ranjan had lodged an FIR against Azad and his associates in 2017.
In 2019, Bijepur police station, ASI-Tankadhar Budhia, had registered another case against Lingaraj and four other tribal leaders for holding rallies and threatening the police against setting up of proposed CRPF camp at Trilochanpur.
State co-ordinator of SC, ST, OBC and minority Sangram Samiti, Satyabadi Naik said Lingaraj peacefully protested against the CRPF camp bcause the jawans forcibly acquired the panchayat building of Trilochanpur in the name of proposed construction.

COURTESY OF TIMES OF INDIA

Yogendra Yadav‏

Shocked to hear this. Have known Lingaraj Azad bhai for over a decade as relentless, non violent leader of adivasi movements against land grab in Niyamgiri. What's his crime? He must be released immediately.

COURTESY OF TWITTER.COM 

Aruna Chandrasekhar‏

Lingaraj Azad- Gandhian, Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti (NSS) leader- has been arrested, taken to Bhawanipatna jail in Odisha. NSS members have been targeted ever since they mobilised local Adivasi and Dalit communities who vetoed UK-based Vedanta’s mining plans.
3:17 AM - 6 Mar 2019

COURTESY OF TWITTER.COM 


Activist Jailed for Joining Protest by Tribals ‘Armed With Bows and Arrows’
Lingaraj Azad has supported the Dongria Kondh tribe’s iconic resistance to the Vedanta group’s plan to mine the Niyamgiri hills for bauxite.
READ FULL ARTICLE 


...In Odisha, the members of the Dongria tribe of Niyamgiri, have planned to take out a march in the state capital on March 11 to protest against the Supreme Court’s order to evict them from forest land. Their leader Lingaraj Azad was arrested on March 6 on various charges including that of sedition....
Nachiketa Desai - National Herald

READ FULL ARTICLE