Skip to main content

Detentions galore in Ahmedabad, Vadodora on Kakori martyrs' day: An 'insider' story

Protesters in Ahmedabad being taken away in police van 
By Bhavik Raja*
It was the morning of December 19, 2019 – a historic day for our country. It is the martyrdom day, a day to remember Kakori martyrs Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan and Roshan Singh. We remember the martyrs with great respect, and it reminds us afresh that our freedom movement was conducted by lakhs of people from all communities, religions, castes, races and regions.
These martyrs gave away their life on December 19, 1927 fighting for India’s freedom shoulder-to-shoulder with Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh. In that period, the British imperialists were trying to pursue a policy of divide and rule. But the urge for freedom united all as Indians.
Alarmingly, we are in the midst of a similar situation just now. The present ruler appear to be trying to pursue the same policy. But contrary to their intention, people have begun coming united, reaching the streets against what they perceive as anti-people, anti-secular and anti-democratic policies. And the most heartening fact is, the lead for this movement is being taken by students.
The rulers of our country are bent upon curbing the students’ movement at any cost. The incident of police brutality on the students of the Jamia Millia Islamia, who were agitating against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), stunned the entire country. Virtually the whole of India burst forth into agitation in almost all the states, from north to south, from east to west.
The Left parties had given a call to protest day on December 19. We were also one of the participants. We had applied for police permission in advance, and were given the permission for demonstration and dharna at Sardar Bagh, Lal Darwaja, Ahmedabad. But suddenly, on the night of December 18, fresh orders were issued to cancel the permission.
In Gujarat they gave the excuse of a bandh call given by some organisations. But this wasn’t true. First of all, the administration in Karnataka had also cancelled all the public programme permissions, though no one had given a bandh call there. And secondly, the a pro-CAA-NRC group organised a demonstration at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Ahmedabad. But their permission was not cancelled.
The protesting group at Sardar Bagh before the detention
People were furious because of the behaviour of the police administration at Jamia. So, to show the resentment, all the organisations decided to continue with their public programme, irrespective of the attitude of the police and the administration. At the scheduled time, at one in the afternoon, we reached the spot and in a very peaceful, disciplined and democratic manner, and began our demonstration.
But, suddenly, cops led by the police inspector of the Karanj Police station reached there and started grabbing us from the venue, saying that we were doing an illegal activity as we did not have the required permission. When we resisted, they forcefully detained us in a police van. Our banners were taken taken away, and we were not allowed to talk to the media.
But the most extraordinary incident took place when the police were about to you start the van to take us to the police station. About 200 to 300 persons, who appeared to be belonging to different communities, all of them unknown to us, stood in front of the van, and blocked the way, demanding that we be released.
We have never witnessed such a thing in the past. Here, unknown people take the risk for our sake. They appeared to be aware of the fact that they might be punished for this. And yet, without worrying about the consequences, they just thought of relieving us from the police van. The police took us from a different route after resorting to lathicharge on these people.
But before the van began, we could see: They had started checking nearby vehicles, even as lathicharging those who came in their way. They picked up many randomly, even those who were in the Sardar Baug Garden, bringing them all to the Shahibag Police Stadium, where we were detained.
During the detention our names, addresses and phone numbers were taken. We were not given any food or tea. We were allowed to manage tea and some snacks. We were kept there till late evening. Along with the people whom they had detained for blocking the road, they had also detained Arun Mehta, a central committee member of CPI-M. He, as also some others, were separated from us and were taken to the Ranip Police Station.
There, we learned later, the police behaved very roughly with them, taking away their mobiles, putting them into custody, charging them for rioting (Section 146). They were produced the next day afternoon in the metropolitan court after medical check-up, where initially the magistrate denied them bail. But following strong arguments by advocates, the magistrate allowed them bail.
A veteran passerby injured during the protest
They were called the next day again to the police station. They were now charged with Section 151 (joining or continuing in assembly of five or more persons after it has been commanded to disperse) in addition the section on rioting – and they had to undergo the process of bail yet again. Those of us who had been released earlier on the evening of December 19 were also called by the police to give our statement.
This was also an extraordinary experience, because in the past also we have been detained in various agitations by the police, but after getting relieved, we wouldn’t be called again for any kind of statement. For the first time the protesters were treated by the police and the administration as if we were criminals.
Like in Ahmedabad, in Vadodara too they had cancelled the permission given for joint protest by Left parties. They decided to call off their protest programme and dispersed. But when on the next day a delegation of four went to submit a memorandum to the district collector, they were detained by the Raopura police, saying that they had not taken the permission to submit the memorandum!
This was very vague. Section 144 is imposed for unlawful assembly of four or more persons at public place. Hence, we were compelled to take the permission for the public programme. But does this apply to even for the submission of a memorandum, which is not a public programme?
And yet, the delegation, which consisted ofTapan Dasgupta and Inderjeet Singh Grover of the SUCI (Communist), Dhanjibhai Parmar of CPI-M, and a very senior citizen, Manzoorbhai Saleri of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUC), were kept in detention till late evening.
Never ever have we seen such atrocious and undemocratic behaviour of the police and the administration. I felt that this is nothing less than fascism. Common people always behave in a democratic manner. But the administration with its adamant behaviour compels them to break the law. And, taking advantage of the situation, their activities are declared illegal, and they are labelled anti-social, criminal, etc.
Alas! On the martyrdom day of Kakori martyrs, I strongly felt that there is an urgent need for another freedom movement in our country from these tyrannical rulers.
---
*With Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist), Gujarat

Comments

TRENDING

Aurangzeb’s last will recorded by his Maulvi: Allah shouldn't make anyone emperor

By Mohan Guruswamy  Aurangzeb’s grave is a simple slab open to the sky lying along the roadside at Khuldabad near Aurangabad. I once stopped by to marvel at the tomb of an Emperor of India whose empire was as large as Ashoka the Great's. It was only post 1857 when Victoria's domain exceeded this. The epitaph reads: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast." (The rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave) The modest tomb of Aurangzeb is perhaps the least recognised legacies of the Mughal Emperor who ruled the land for fifty eventful years. He was not a builder having expended his long tenure in war and conquest. Towards the end of his reign and life, he realised the futility of it all. He wrote: "Allah should not make anyone an emperor. The most unfortunate person is he who becomes one." Aurangzeb’s last will was re...

Beyond his riding skill, Karl Umrigar was admired for his radiance, sportsmanship, and affability

By Harsh Thakor*  Karl Umrigar's name remains etched in the annals of Indian horse racing, a testament to a talent tragically cut short. An accident on the racetrack at the tender age of nineteen robbed India of a rider on the cusp of greatness. Had he survived, there's little doubt he would have ascended to international stature, possibly becoming the greatest Indian jockey ever. Even 46 years after his death, his name shines brightly, reminiscent of an inextinguishable star. His cousin, Pesi Shroff, himself blossomed into one of the most celebrated jockeys in Indian horse racing.

PUCL files complaint with SC against Gujarat police, municipal authorities for 'unlawful' demolitions, custodial 'violence'

By A Representative   The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has lodged a formal complaint with the Chief Justice of India, urging the Supreme Court to initiate suo-moto contempt proceedings against the police and municipal authorities in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The complaint alleges that these officials have engaged in unlawful demolitions and custodial violence, in direct violation of a Supreme Court order issued in November 2024.

How the slogan Jai Bhim gained momentum as movement of popularity and revolution

By Dr Kapilendra Das*  India is an incomprehensible plural country loaded with diversities of religions, castes, cultures, languages, dialects, tribes, societies, costumes, etc. The Indians have good manners/etiquette (decent social conduct, gesture, courtesy, politeness) that build healthy relationships and take them ahead to life. In many parts of India, in many situations, and on formal occasions, it is common for people of India to express and exchange respect, greetings, and salutation for which we people usually use words and phrases like- Namaskar, Namaste, Pranam, Ram Ram, Jai Ram ji, Jai Sriram, Good morning, shubha sakal, Radhe Radhe, Jai Bajarangabali, Jai Gopal, Jai Jai, Supravat, Good night, Shuvaratri, Jai Bhole, Salaam walekam, Walekam salaam, Radhaswami, Namo Buddhaya, Jai Bhim, Hello, and so on. A soft attitude always creates strong relationships. A relationship should not depend only on spoken words. They should rely on understanding the unspoken feeling too. So w...

CPM’s evaluation of BJP reflects its political character and its reluctance to take on battle against neo-fascism

By Harsh Thakor*  A controversial debate has emerged in the revolutionary camp regarding the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s categorization of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Many Communists criticize the CPM’s reluctance to label the BJP as a fascist party and India as a fascist state. Various factors must be considered to arrive at an accurate assessment. Understanding the original meaning and historical development of fascism is essential, as well as analyzing how it manifests in the present global and national context.

State Human Rights Commission directs authorities to uphold environmental rights in Vadodara's Vishwamitri River Project

By A Representative  The Gujarat State Human Rights Commission (GSHRC) has ordered state and Vadodara municipal authorities to strictly comply with environmental and human rights safeguards during the Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation Project, stressing that the river’s degradation disproportionately affects marginalized communities and violates citizens’ rights to a healthy environment.  The Commission mandated an immediate halt to ecologically destructive practices, rehabilitation of affected communities, transparent adherence to National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders, and public consultations with experts and residents.   The order follows the Concerned Citizens of Vadodara coalition—environmentalists, ecologists, and urban planners—submitting a detailed letter to authorities, amplifying calls for accountability. The group warned that current plans to “re-section” and “desilt” the river contradict the NGT’s 2021 Vishwamitri River Action Plan, which prioritizes floodpla...

Haven't done a good deed, inner soul is cursing me as sinner: Aurangzeb's last 'will'

Counterview Desk The Tomb of Aurangzeb, the last of the strong Mughal emperors, located in Khuldabad, Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, has this epitaph inscribed on it: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e maa ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast" (the rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave).

How polarization between different ideological trends within the communist movement sharpened in India

By Harsh Thakor*  This article is a rejoinder to A Note on Slogans of “Left Unity,” “Unity of the Communist Revolutionaries” and “Mass Line” by Umair Ahmed, published on the Nazariya blog .

राजस्थान, मध्यप्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, झारखंड और केरल फिसड्डी: जल जीवन मिशन के लक्ष्य को पाने समन्वित प्रयास जरूरी

- राज कुमार सिन्हा*  जल संसाधन से जुड़ी स्थायी समिति ने वर्तमान लोकसभा सत्र में पेश रिपोर्ट में बताया है कि "नल से जल" मिशन में राजस्थान, मध्यप्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, झारखंड और केरल फिसड्डी साबित हुए हैं। जबकि देश के 11 राज्यों में शत-प्रतिशत ग्रामीणों को नल से जल आपूर्ति शुरू कर दी गई है। रिपोर्ट में समिति ने केंद्र सरकार को सिफारिश की है कि मिशन पुरा करने में राज्य सरकारों की समस्याओं पर गौर किया जाए। 

Implications of deaths of Maoist leaders G. Renuka and Ankeshwarapu Sarayya in Chhattisgarh

By Harsh Thakor*  In the wake of recent security operations in southern Chhattisgarh, two senior Maoist leaders, G. Renuka and Ankeshwarapu Sarayya, were killed. These operations, which took place amidst a historically significant Maoist presence, resulted in the deaths of 31 individuals on March 20th and 16 more three days prior.