Dalit Voice Editor Arrested, Handcuffed
Charged with Sedition and Terrorism Home Minister Expresses Regret.
The Statesman story datelined Wednesday, August 27 carried an account of low “this year’s Independence Day was an unpleasant day for a Bangalore journalist. On the day the nation was rejoicing Mr. V.T. Rajashekar, editor of Dalit Voice of Bangalore, travelling handcuffed from his home town in a second class compartment arrived in Delhi.
After being moved from one police post to another, he found himself at the Paharganj police station where he was “treated like a criminal”. He was taken in the evening to Chandigarh where he spent nearly two weeks in “illegal” detention.
For three hours after reaching Delhi he was denied water and food. His wife who had forced herself to “accompany” him to Delhi was insulted at the police station. A sub-inspector of the Chandigarh Police who brought him from Bangalore was rude to Mr Rajashekar and even told him that he would get neither food nor water.
His first glass of water on August 15, after arriving in Delhi a little after noon, was at about 4 p.m. and he feels that was possible only because of intervention by an MP. But his shackles were removed only when he reached Chandigarh.
He was told that he was being charged under Sections 1244 153A and 4 of the Terrorists and Disruptive Activities Prevention) Act 1985 because an article he had written in Delhi Voice was reproduced in a Chandigarh journal, Dignity, on March 2.
Mr Rajashekar says the article gave the Dalits (oppressed people) view of the Pun jab problem which he saw as a class struggle between the poor Sikhs, who include the extremists, and the rich Sikhs represented by the Akali Dal leaders, including Mr S.S. Barnala and Mr. P.S. Badal. He added that he had criticized the demand for Khalistan.
Dalit Voice is six years old but Mr Rajashekar has been a journalist for 29 years during which he has mitten 25 books on the downtrodden. He is the recipient of the national award from the Bharatiya Dalit Sahitya Academy for 1986 for his contributions to the cause of the Dalits.
We reproduce below an appeal dated August 18, 1986 to the Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh, Shri S.S. Bay from Mrs. V.T. Rajashekar.
Mr. V.T. Rajashekar was released In Chandigarh on Tuesday August 26. The Home Minister has reportedly expressed his regret and apologies to the Bangalore editor.
Sir,
VT. Rajashekar (54), my husband, is a well-known and senior journalist and writer. having served national newspapers like Indian Express, Free Press Journal, Patriot, Deccan Herald, etc. for the past 29 years. He is also the author of about 25 books on different issues connected with the downtrodden. He is the recipient of the National Award presented by the Bharatiya Dalit Sahitya Academy for the year 1986 for his outstanding contribution to the cause of the Dalits. He is closely associated with several human rights and civil rights organisations. For the last six years, he is the Editor of ‘Dalit Voice’, the only English fortnightly of. its kind dealing with the problems of the oppressed.
On Aug. 12, 1986, the Chandigarh police came to Bangalore and wrongfully arrested him without giving any reasons and not even showing him the arrest warrant. We were denied even the basic right to produce him before a Magistrate in the presence of our lawyer, and to appeal for bail. (On the basis of a newspaper report in March, 1986, anticipatory bail was obtained from the Karnataka High Court under Section 124A. 153A and 295A of the IPC). No details were given to us by the police about where and when he would be taken. On the other hand, every effort was made to misguide us about his next destination, and he was handcuffed and taken from one police station to another as if he were a professional criminal.
On Aug. 13, he was clandestinely whisked away to Chandigarh via Delhi. It was only because I and my family members decided to pursue him till the end, against all odds, that we were able to keep trace of his movements.
On Aug. 15, he was brought to Police Station Chandigarh, and only on Aug. 16 our lawyer was told that he was arrested because of an alleged reproduction of an article published earlier in ‘Dalit Voice’, Bangalore, in a Chandigarh journal called ‘Dignity’ of March 2, 1986. Our lawyer was told that he is being charged under Sections 124A, 153A and Sn. 4 of the Terrorists & Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1985.
While our lawyer waited outside on the whole of Aug. 16 for my husband to be presented before the Duty Magistrate, only at about 6 p.m., strangely enough, the very same Executive Magistrate who had issued the arrest warrant came to the police station itself and remanded my husband to police custody upto Aug. 21. It is learnt that the other accused on different charges housed in the same police station were produced before the Duty Magistrate at about 3 p.m. on that day, I write this appeal from the police station in Chandigarh where my husband is being detained, a strange place thousands of miles away from my house, helpless and uncertain of the future.
I appeal to you to help us as:
- My husband cannot be held responsible for the alleged reproduction of an article published in Dalit Voice at Bangalore when he was not even aware of any such act, let alone giving his consent.
- ‘Dalit Voice’ is published in a far-off place like Bangalore and cannot be deemed to have any repurcussions in Chandigarh.
- ‘Dalit Voice’ is being published for the last six years without facing any charges. If the article had not been allegedly reproduced in Chandigarh, my husband would not have been charged of any offence.
- My husband has always been against the divisive forces in the country. Instead, he has always upheld the need for the integrity and unity of the country.
- ‘Dalit Voice’ only reiterates the thoughts of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution of India.
- This baseless allegation against an eminent journalist like my husband is a gross infringment of Article 19 (1) (A) of the Constitution of India which guarantees freedom of speech and expression.
- My husband, who has a weak health, may not be able to withstand the rigours of this unjust ordeal.
The continuous physical and mental torture undergone by us since Aug. 12 is leading us to a breaking point. And I am afraid that we may not be able to carry on any further till such time as justice reaches us. I therefore request your Excellency to kindly intervene and immediately order the withdrawal of the charges against this eminent journalist.
Mrs. V.T. Rajshekar
Camp: Police Station East
Sector 26, Chandigarh
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