Social organizations write to President, seek release of activists arrested in UP

Following the arrest of six activists, including rights campaigner and former IPS officer S.R. Darapuri, on rioting charges in connection with a pro-Dalit demonstration by Uttar Pradesh police, a number of social organizations wrote to the President pleading for their release.

According to the police, Darapuri, 82, and the other individuals were apprehended in Gorakhpur on October 11 in relation to an allegedly violent demonstration that took place at the divisional commissioner's office. According to officers, they were looking into potential foreign funding for the demonstrators.

A French scholar who was traveling with the campaigners was also taken into custody on suspicion of violating the Foreigners Act.

The All India People's Front (AIPF) national president, Darapuri, was previously detained during the anti-CAA demonstrations on suspicion of upsetting law and order and imprisoned for a month.

Ajay Rai, a member of the AIPF, told reporters in Sonbhadra on Sunday, "The AIPF, Mazdoor Kisan Manch, and several tribal organizations of the state have written a joint letter to President Droupadi Murmu to release Darapuri and his friends and punish those police officers who have given wrong feedback that these people were involved in illegal and criminal activities."

The Dalapuri is a former inspector general from the Uttar Pradesh cadre and a Dalit, according to Ganga Chero, a tribal leader from Sonbhadra. He is a well-respected individual. He battles for the underprivileged and oppressed.

"He was in Gorakhpur to attend a dharna on the commissioner's compound," Chero continued. The demonstrators wanted Dalits who were landless to get government land. There is no crime here. However, he was arrested for violating law and order and causing damage to public property.

Based on verified reports that they had disrupted peace and order in the city with funding from a foreign organization, the police reported that they had detained seven of the 28 individuals they had booked.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the mahant of the Gorakhnath Temple, was born and raised in Gorakhpur.

Superintendent of Police for Gorakhpur City Krishna Kumar Bishnoi stated: "On Tuesday and Wednesday, a group of individuals assembled at the commissioner's office and staged a dharna without authorization. When requested to take down the megaphone, they attacked staff members since they had attached it to the electric pole.