Bengaluru, Aug 17: Three days after the controversial event, Bengaluru Police Commissioner N S Megharikh on Tuesday night confirmed that 'Azadi' (freedom) slogans were raised at a cultural programme Amnesty International India organised here on alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Towards the end of the programme, a group of persons who were among the audience raised slogans seeking 'Azadi'. When the situation was getting volatile, the organisers suspended the programme and the police dispersed the people gathered there," said Megharik in a statement on Tuesday night.
Clarifying that police permission was neither sought nor given, as the event was an indoor function at United Theological College in the city on August 13, Megharikh said police persons were, however, deployed as the programme was brought to the notice of the local police station.
"During the function, it appears that some argument took place among the members of the audience regarding the action taken by the Indian army in Kashmir," the police chief pointed out.
Amnesty organised the programme, Broken Families' , which had an interactive discussion on peace and justice in Kashmir and where three families from the strife-torn valley shared human rights violations they faced with the rest of India.
"During the course of investigation, all possible evidence, including video footage will be collected, examined and appropriate legal action will be taken against the perpetrators of the alleged offence," Megharikh asserted.
The event is supposed to be part of a three-city tour of select families, covering Bengaluru, Mumbai and New Delhi.
The police chief also noted that Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad's (ABVP) organising secretary Jayaprakash had given a complaint, alleging that Amnesty representatives and other participants had indulged in anti-national slogans and criticised the role of Indian army.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) affiliated student wing also submitted with the complaint a video footage of the function, showing some of the participants raising 'Azadi' slogans loudly a couple of times in unison.
"The complainant demanded legal action against such persons. After obtaining legal opinion, an FIR was registered on the complaint on August 15 under various sections of the IPC (Indian Penal Code)," Megharikh added.
The case has been entrusted to the assistant commissioner of police in the J C Nagar sub-division, as charges of sedition, rioting, unlawful assembly and promoting enmity were mentioned in the FIR.
None of our employees shouted anti-India slogans at event: Amnesty
Bengaluru, Aug 17: Amnesty International India chapter on Tuesday said none of its employee shouted any anti-India slogan at an event in Bengaluru on Kashmir, allegations based on which the sedition charge was slapped against the human rights body.
Amensty India said the allegation mentioned in a complaint by an ABVP representative against it were “without substance” and that the only discussion at the event on Saturday was about allegations of human rights violations and denial of justice in Jammu and Kashmir.
The local police slapped sedition charge against Amnesty on Monday based on the allegation that anti-India slogans were raised at the event organised by it.
“No Amnesty International India employee shouted any slogans at any point,” the human rights organisation said in a statement referring to allegations that “slogans were raised that Indian Kashmir should be a part of Pakistan.”
To the charge that the event indirectly supported terrorists, Amnesty said the only discussion that had taken place was about allegations of human rights violations and denial of justice to families in Kashmir.
“These are issues that have regularly been discussed in the media. They have been written about at length by members of Parliament, politicians, judges and civil society,” it said.
The event was held as part of a campaign based on the report “Denied: Failures in accountability for human rights violations by security force personnel in Jammu and Kashmir”, published in July 2015, it said.
Amnesty said the report was based on in-depth research in Jammu and Kashmir, including interviews with family members of “victims”, RTI applications, examination of police and court records, and interviews with civil society groups, lawyers, and government officials.
The families of three Kashmiri victims that were interviewed for the report were invited to share their stories at the event, said Amnesty.
About allegations that some people at the event tried to assault ABVP activists, it said, “No Amnesty International India employee was involved in any form of assault.”
“Towards the end of the event, some of those who attended raised slogans, some of which referred to calls for 'Azaadi' [freedom]. Amnesty International India as a matter of policy does not take any position in favour of or against demands for self-determination. However, Amnesty International India considers that the right to freedom of expression includes the right to peacefully advocate political solutions. Amnesty International India had invited the Bengaluru police to be present at the event in the interest of the security of the invited families and other attendees,” the statement said.
About allegations that a women employee of Amnesty and two others raised raised anti-national slogans, it said they were not present on stage at any point during the event.
Amnesty said footage of the event was shared with the police.
The rights body said Amnesty had worked extensively on human rights violations in Pakistan, including “the enforced disappearances and unlawful killings of political activists in Balochistan, violations by security forces in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and violence against journalists by groups including the ISI”.
Comments
RSS is scared of Azadi MOvement
Azadi slogans was also raised by JNU students also.. but not from India,, Azadi from RSS, Azadi from Poverty, Azadi from cruel laws like afspa...
Azadi slogans from India also raised in JNU also... but by whom , still under investigation... here also , as per commissioners report.. when ABVP goondas tried to stop the programme, some people raised anti India slogans... but who ? must be investigated.... sangh affiliated org are expert in such activities... there is probability of their involvement.
The solution for Kashmir problem is not militarily.
This is pre-existing problem, dating back to independence era.
There was a treaty which calls for referendum when they want to quit the Indian union. There was a resolution witnessed by UNO.
The previous gov't has sent fact finding team consisting of very senior most journalists. Their finding was also the same as what the Kashmiris are asking for referendum.
Now who is the looser. Not only Kashmiris, our innocent military and police force. Let we Indian look deeply for solution, keeping our spirit of truth and justice.
The ruling come on the basis of fairness to all sides, regardless how dearly it costs as long as the justice is done to all.
There is a easy solution, but our leaders don't want to do it for personnel benefits.
We should stick to 1 point of Justice and fairness.
- That is if keeping Kashmir with us a just and fair without causing injustice, we should not bow to anybody.
- If losing of Kashmir is justified then we should do it with our conscience as long as justice and truth are prevailed. God will help us for our honesty.
Bottom line, why should our people, our police, our military die and their entire family should suffer. Who will fill this loss.
Our these brave soldiers to defend the nation from external invasion. Their life is not cheaper for dying for leaders selfishness.
These leaders may die without solving and carrying forward the problems to our future generation where future generation has to die, sacrifice for nothing.
May God help us.
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