APCR accuses Goa police of suppressing Dissent amid arrest of NEET protesters

The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) on Thursday criticised the detention of activist Sudeep Dalvi, Danish and other NEET protesters in Goa, alleging that criminal law was being misused to silence peaceful dissent and undermine constitutional rights.

In a statement, the organisation described the police action as an attack on the constitutional rights to free speech, expression and peaceful assembly, and called for the withdrawal of what it characterised as politically motivated cases against the activists, Maktoob Media reported.

APCR said the controversy began after activist Danish displayed a placard at a peaceful gathering seeking the release of undertrial prisoners, including Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid and the Bhima Koregaon accused. According to the organisation, Danish was initially detained under Section 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), but the preventive detention was later revoked following public criticism. APCR maintained that advocating for the rights of undertrial prisoners falls within the protections guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.

The organisation further alleged that tensions intensified outside the Panaji Police Station, where demonstrators demanding Danish's release were confronted by members of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM).

Referring to a complaint filed by Dalvi, APCR said BJP ward councillor Kareena Shirodkar and BJYM vice-president Nishikar Raut Desai allegedly confronted him verbally before Shirodkar reportedly pushed him to the ground.

According to the statement, Dalvi claimed that police personnel and journalists witnessed the incident and that video footage had been submitted as evidence. He also alleged that a molestation case was subsequently registered against him as an act of retaliation.

APCR alleged that instead of investigating Dalvi's complaint, the authorities detained him and initiated criminal proceedings against him. It argued that the circumstances raised serious concerns about the use of criminal law to intimidate dissenters and said the allegations against Dalvi warranted close judicial scrutiny.

The rights body also expressed concern that branding individuals as "anti-national" for holding unpopular political views had contributed to an environment in which violence and arbitrary police action against dissenters were becoming increasingly normalised.

APCR urged the Goa government and the Goa Police to prevent unlawful detention and harassment of activists, withdraw criminal cases targeting peaceful protesters, carry out an independent and time-bound investigation into Dalvi's assault complaint, and ensure equal protection under the law for all demonstrators regardless of their political beliefs.