UAPA levelled against ex-Hyderabad varsity Professor and 151 others
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Hyderabad: Renowned Human Rights Activist and former University of Hyderabad professor, G. Haragopal, along with 151 others, has been booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and sedition charges. The case came to light when Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) president, Chandramouli, applied for bail in the Rangareddy court after being arrested two months ago.
As the authorities retrieved the FIRs against Chandramouli, several prominent names, including Professors Gaddam Laxman and Padmajasha, former Mumbai High Court Judge Suresh, and activists Vimala and Sandhya, were also implicated.
The FIR, registered by the Tadvai police in August 2022, alleges that on a fateful day, the police received information about a gathering of Maoist members who were reportedly planning attacks on officials, destruction of government property, and recruitment of tribal youth to fund their activities.
When the police arrived at the scene, armed individuals in olive green uniforms fled into the dense forest upon being asked to surrender. The police were able to track down their abandoned tent, which contained various items such as kit bags, solar plates, water cans, rope, and Maoist literature. Among the documents, there was a list of 152 names, including that of Prof. Haragopal.
In response to the FIR, Haragopal, an eminent political scientist and human rights activist, expressed his awareness of the alleged links with the Maoists but dismissed the accusations. He criticized the police for their reckless behaviour and urged Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to rein in the law enforcement agencies, emphasizing the importance of civil liberties in Telangana.
Haragopal questioned the credibility of the police version of events, pointing out that individuals such as Padmaja Shaw, who is not even active in public life, and the late Justice Hosbet Suresh had been included in the list. He labelled the inclusion of these names as a work of fiction, urging the Telangana government to explain why the UAPA case had been filed against them merely based on names listed in a diary.
Highlighting his own extensive experience as a teacher and civil rights activist spanning over 55 years, Haragopal emphasized that those implicated in the case were individuals of integrity and moral standing. He called upon society to rally behind them, demanding the government withdraw the charges. Haragopal expressed confidence in their collective strength and determination, stating that they would come together to decide on their course of action.
The FIR has sent shockwaves through the community, as it implicates university professors, students, women, farmers, and civil rights activists, accusing them of attempting to overthrow the government through association with Maoists.