Guwahati: In a move sparking outrage from activists, prominent Adivasi leader Sarju Tekam was arrested by security forces on Tuesday, April 2, from his residence in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar.
The Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), a coalition of human rights organizations, has condemned the arrest, alleging it’s a blatant attempt to silence dissent.
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According to CASR, a large contingent of security forces raided Tekam’s house at Kalwar village of Manpur Mohalla district in Bastar region in the early hours of Tuesday, reportedly disregarding legal protocols.
Tekam was then brought before a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Bilaspur and slapped with charges under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and Arms Act. Police claim to have seized Naxalite literature, banners, and explosives during the raid.
CASR vehemently rejects these charges as fabricated. They assert that the incriminating evidence was planted during the raid and that Tekam is being targeted solely for his activism.
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Tekam has long been a vocal critic of human rights violations against Adivasis and a staunch opponent of the growing militarization and corporatization of Bastar’s mineral-rich territories.
He serves as the convener of the Bastar Jan Sangharsh Samanvay Samiti (Coordination Committee for Bastar People’s Struggle) and is the Vice-President of the Sarva Adivasi Samaj, an umbrella organization representing Adivasi groups across Chhattisgarh.
CASR goes further, alleging that Tekam has been particularly outspoken against the alleged practice of fake encounter killings targeting Adivasis, especially since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power in Chhattisgarh last year.
They believe his efforts to mobilize Adivasi communities against these killings are the true motive behind his arrest.
Demanding immediate action, CASR has called for the withdrawal of the fabricated charges against Tekam and his unconditional release.
They have urged all democratic organizations to join them in condemning his arrest, highlighting concerns over the suppression of dissent in Chhattisgarh.