CPIML leader Kamlesh Rai along with nine members of a Citizens’ delegation which went to meet SDM to hand over a memorandum against the mining mafia in the district were arrested on 12 June at Lakhimpur Kheri. The allegation against them is that they violated Lockdown rules, but ironically the police violated all Lockdown rules during the arrest.
Three women in the delegation were detained and made to sit for hours without masks and without physical distancing. The CPIML demanded immediate release of Kamlesh Rai and other activists who are slapped with false cases and arrested baselessly.
The police at the behest of the SDM filed an FIR against nine activists under sections 7 Criminial Law Amendment Act, Sections 51 & 53 of Disaster Management Act and IPC sections 188, 269, 270, 353 and 147 for going to submit a memorandum to the SDM!
All arrested are in jail since 12 June. The CPIML held protest against these arrests in Lakhimpur Kheri on 14 June and a statewide protest call have also been given for 20 June demanding immediate release of all arrested persons.
Speaking on the arrest of CPIML leader Kamlesh Rai, his wife and AIPWA State Vice President Arati Rai said that she would not be sad even though the government is throwing into jail those who raise their voice for people’s rights. She said that voices for people’s rights will be raised from prisons also, and these voices will transcend prison walls and cage bars. Voices of protest will continue to be raised from inside as well as outside jails.
The Yogi government is protecting the mining mafia and harassing activists and women under the guise of Corona and Lockdown.
