Nine protestors who were arrested on 9th October from the Tridhara Sammilani Puja at Deshapriya Park in South Kolkata and were given seven day police custody by Alipore District & Session Court have moved a writ of habeas corpus before the Calcutta High Court bench of Justice Sampa Sarkar for an urgent hearing today. By this writ, the court can direct to produce the person detained to be brought before it in order to ascertain whether the detention is legal or illegal.
As many as 29 protestors were detained from the Tridhara Sammilani Puja at Deshapriya Park located in South Kolkata on October 9 while allegedly distributing pamphlets regarding their protests.
Junior doctors and several other citizens have been protesting against the rape and murder of the female medic at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Additionally, seven have been on an indefinite hunger strike since October 5.
While 20 protestors were released, nine were still under arrest and were produced before the court today, October 10.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections they have been charged with are:
189 - Unlawful assembly
195 - Assaulting or obstructing public servants when suppressing riots
126 - Wrongful restraint
61 - Criminal conspiracy
353(3) - False news circulation (public mischief)
It may be noted that Section 353 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is non-bailable as per law. Along with the arrests, the civic volunteers engaged by the Kolkata Police manhandled female protestors.
