Two Bengaluru activists helping migrants booked for provocation

Two Bengaluru activists, members of the organization ‘Swaraj Abhiyan’ who have actively been working towards providing relief rations to migrants who live in the labour colonies in the city during the lockdown, were booked on May 7, allegedly on a complaint by a builder, The Indian Express reported.

Activists, R Kaleemullah and Zia Nomani were charged under Sections 153 (provocation with an intent to cause riots) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Nomani said, “We had been going to the labour colonies to distribute food packets and ration supplies for many days. We knew they were getting restless. They were not being paid their wages, they were not getting proper food. When the government decided to start trains, we helped many of them register on the Seva Sindhu portal because they had no information otherwise.”

Kaleemullah said that he and Nomani were focused on pacifying workers and stopping them from taking to the streets during this trying time. “When the government decided to stop trains and we heard they were beginning to walk, we rushed to the labour colony in Veeranpalya to calm them down. We also said no one can force them to work. So, this FIR is simply harassment,” he said.

On the afternoon of May 7, officials of the Sampigehalli Police Station arrived at the labour camp of the BL Kashyap construction firm to arrest Nomani and Kaleemullah. However, the workers refused to allow the police to take them away.

“We had been distributing relief for many days there. So, the workers and nearby daily wagers, gathered there and protested. When they saw the resistance, the police backed off and asked us to come to the police station instead,” said Nomani.

The activists alleged that they were being harassed because of the pressure coming in from the builders’ lobby. Though they were charged under bailable sections, they hadn’t been granted station bail.

Police asks builders to file complaint

Bheemashankar Guled, DCP Northeast, said that the complaint had been filed by the BL Kashyap firm. On May 7, the Migrant Workers Solidarity group posted a tweet which posted a video of migrant workers behind a gate who were asking to be sent home. The tweet read – “Bangalore Manyata Park construction workers caged in after @BSYBJP cancels trains under #BuilderLobby pressure.”

“It was fake news. It was not a cage, but simply the gate. When we reached out to the builder and asked why the workers had been caged, they said it was a misrepresentation. So, we then asked them to file a complaint,” said Guled.

He added, “Also, when Section 144 was in force, when there is a curfew in the city, there are videos of Somany and Kaleemullah addressing a big gathering of workers and canvassing. That is also a violation of the law.”

Nomani said that neither he nor any member of his organisation had anything to do with the Twitter handle, or had retweeted or liked that post.

Activist in Tamil Nadu arrested

In Tamil Nadu, a social worker who was collecting the identity documents of workers to help them get government aid, was arrested under the Epidemic Diseases Act for defying lockdown rules, reported The New Indian Express. D Manica Selvakumar (46) was collecting the photocopies of the Aadhaar card, ration card and other relevant documents from workers in Valukamparai on May 5, to help them get the welfare board membership.

While Selvakumar was doing so, a few persons from a nearby area came and questioned him as to why he was collecting the documents, thereby resulting in a quarrel. During this time, two policemen from Suchindran arrived at the spot and questioned Selvakumar. During the inquiry, one of the policemen reportedly assaulted him. Selvakumar too lodged a complaint against the policeman who attacked him.

Selvakumar is a former English teacher from Osaravilai and served as Kulasekarapuram village panchayat vice president. Locals said he was being much helpful to them and provided food. They blamed the group from the nearby area for Selvakumar’s arrest.

Police officials said that Selvakumar was collecting the documents without permission. Selvakumar was then booked under Sections 143 (punishment for unlawful assembly), 188 (punishment for disobedience of order duly promulgated by a public servant) and 269 (punishment for negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of IPC and Section 3 of The Epidemic Diseases Act. Post this, the documents were seized from him.

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