NIA raids activists who protested disenfranchisement via SIR in Bengal

Kolkata: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted near-simultaneous search operations at premises linked to three rights activists and researchers, who were vocal against the disenfranchisement via Special Intensive Revision in West Bengal. The raids conducted across the state early on Thursday drew criticism from civil liberties groups that viewed the action as an attempt to intimidate organisers of people’s movements in the state, The Wire reported.

The searches, which activists said began around 4.30 am, were carried out in connection with a 2022 Ranchi case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and provisions of the Indian Penal Code relating to the alleged revival of the Maoist movement in eastern India.

Among those searched were scholar and activist Jhelum Roy of Feminists in Resistance, Revolutionary Students’ Front general secretary Tathagata Roy Chowdhury, and Sukumar Kayal, a government school teacher and organiser of the Sangrami Krishak Manch. All three have been associated with grassroots campaigns, anti-displacement movements and student activism. The searches targeted individuals who have also been vocal critics of disenfranchisement linked to the Special Intensive Revision process.

NIA teams visited Roy’s residence in south Kolkata and the home of Roy Chowdhury in the city at nearly the same time, while officials in Nadia district reportedly questioned Kayal at his school. According to the activists, investigators seized legal documents, magazines, pamphlets and literature that they said were publicly available and not prohibited. Among the materials taken were publications addressing SIR-NRC issues and copies of the NIA charge sheet in the same case under investigation.

Following the search, Roy Chowdhury was served a summons directing him to appear before investigators in Ranchi. The APDR condemned the raids, alleging an effort to create fear among organisers of growing public protests in Bengal.