We are facing an unprecedented clampdown on dissent in India. State repression has been ongoing against grassroots human rights activists & lawyers using anti-terror laws, who are being framed by the state to build false narratives. We demand #FreeBhimaKoregaon12! 1/n

1. On 6th June 2018, rights lawyer, Adv. Surendra Gadling was arrested. Gadling is known for his work on issues of illegal detention (incl in terror cases), atrocities against Dalits and Adivasis, and cases of political prisoners. #FreeBhimaKoregaon12 2/n

2. On 6th June 2018, Sudhir Dhawale was arrested. Dhawale is the publisher of a Marathi magazine, an ardent campaigner for the rights of Dalits and Adivasis, he has founded two organisations for the elimination of the caste system. 3/n

3. On 6th June 2018, Shoma Sen was arrested. Professor Sen headed the English literature department at Nagpur University & has a long history of being a prominent activist for women's rights, working on issues of violence, dowry and women political prisoners. 4/n

4. On 6th June 2018, Rona Wilson was arrested. He is a research scholar and was the public relations secretary of an organization working for the release of political prisoners, struggling against draconian laws and the clampdown on dissent. 5/n

5. On 6th June 2018, Mahesh Raut was arrested. He was one of the conveners of a national level organization working against displacement and active in anti-caste, anti-mining, Adivasi rights struggles. 6/n

6. On 28th August 2018, Varavara Rao was arrested. He is a poet and teacher, one of the foremost Telugu writers, and has faced arrests repeatedly since the Emergency for voicing his dissent and for his political views. 7/n

7. On 28th August, 2018, Sudha Bharadwaj was arrested. She is a lawyer who has been active in representing workers and unions, often against large corporations and their interests. 8/n

8. On 28th August, 2018, Arun Ferreira was arrested. He is a cartoonist, a criminal lawyer, and a social activist who has written and spoken out against his experience of custodial torture and conditions in prison when he was arrested in 2007. 9/n

9. On 28th August, 2018, Vernon Gonsalves was arrested. He is a former professor, a trade unionist, and an activist. He was previously arrested in 2007. He has written extensively on the rights of Dalits and Adivasis. 10/n

10. On 28th August, 2018, Gautam Navlakha was arrested. He is a journalist, writer and a prominent activist for civil liberties and human rights. He has worked on issues in Kashmir and Chattisgarh. 11/n

11. On 28th August, 2018, Anand Teltumbde was arrested. He is a public intellectual who has written extensively on issues of caste and class and has long been associated with people's movements. 12/n

12. On 28th July, 2020, Hany Babu was arrested. He is a professor of English at Delhi University who has been vocally pro-reservation policies and anti-caste. 13/n

These 12 activists are all being framed under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, a law that has been used to circumvent procedural safeguards and silence activists and scholars under the vague term of "unlawful activity": https://twitter.com/detsolnet/status/1281064837406011392 14/n

The #BhimaKoregaon12 have faced raids, targeted by arrests, detained in terrible conditions, their deteriorating health and needs regularly disregarded, and their suppression ongoing even during COVID even though they evidently pose no threat #FreeBhimaKoregaon12 15/n

The efforts to clampdown the Ambedkarite movement, to silence anti-caste voices, to target prominent intellectuals, to repress those expressing dissent are not limited to #BK12 but these processes, esp #UAPA, is being used to continue similar repression #FreeBhimaKoregaon12 16/n

But the resolve to fight for constitutional freedoms, to speak out against the violence of caste, class, religion & gender, to write & protest & dissent cannot ever be suppressed! Kis Kis Ko Qaid Karoge? Who All Will You Imprison? #FreeBhimaKoregaon12 #RepealUAPA 17/n

The profiles above of the brilliant and fearless activists do not do justice to their contributions to these struggles. Sharing a few resources to read more about #BK12:
Here's an excellent resource by @Maraa_Blr & @project_polis: 18/n https://thepolisproject.com/category/profiles-of-dissent/

Here's another by the Free Them All collective #FreeBhimaKoregaon12 #FreeThemAll: https://free-them-all.net/category/persecuted/profiles/individuals/ 19/n

Even during COVID, bail continues to be rejected, conditions remain deplorable, the health needs of #BK12, many senior & at risk arre ignored & new raids of scholars & activists in India are ongoing. Please join in the demand to #FreeBhimaKoregaon12 & #RepealUAPA. 20/20