Two women activists detained for distributing pamphlets

Mysuru, Dec 23: Vidyaranyapuram police on Sunday detained two women activists attached to Save Constitution Committee while they were distributing pamphlets on Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The activists Sandhya and Kalavathi, who are the members of the committee, were distributing pamphlets at Nachanahalli Palya coming under the jurisdictions of Vidyaranyapuram police station when they were detained.

They were distributing pamphlets with the title ‘Mysuru against CAA and NRC’ which expressed anger against the central government for introducing the acts which is unconstitutional. As the committee has planned to hold massive protest against CAA and NRC at Town Hall on December 24, the activists who were conducting door-to-door campaign were requesting people to participate in the protest.

Police who came to know about the door-to-door campaign, took the activists to the police station.

Committee member Chandrashekar Meti told TOI that the women activists were detained by police around 8am on Sunday.

“They were distributing pamphlets and asking people to participate in the protest at Town Hall. Police told the activists that speaking against CAA and NRC itself is a crime. They also switched off the women activists’ mobile phones to prevent them to contact their friends and family members. It is inhuman,” he said.

As there was no communication from the women activists, Chandrashekar and others have visited the place where they were campaigning. “The residents told us that police took the activists with them. We immediately contacted the police commissioner and rushed to the police station. As commissioner had spoken to the police inspector, the activists were released around 11.30am,” he said.

He said various organisations, including Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Hasiru Sene, Dalit Sangharsha Samiti, Swaraj India and other associations have jointly formed the committee to fight for justice.