The South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), a regional network of human rights defenders, has condemned the recent raids by Pune police in that have lead to the arrests of five human rights activists.
"This unprecedented crackdown signifies a worrying retreat of democracy and freedom of speech in India, and has drawn fierce criticism from a broad coalition of progressives including NGOs, political parties and civil society. The state’s excuse of linking these figures to Maoist rebels is flimsy and a violation of the fundamental right to freedom of association," SAHR Chairperson Sultana Kamal and Co-chairperson Mohamed Latheef said in a press statement.
SAHR urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately cease and desist in its crackdown of human rights defenders.
"Instead of ruthlessly curbing dissent the government of India must meaningfully address the legitimate concern of human rights defenders who are responding to the state’s development policies that have deepened dispossession, inequality and impoverishment in India," it said.