Press Statement
We condemn 'illegal' arrest of Feroze
We, the undersigned, note with a sense of shock and horror that last evening, at around 9 00 PM, prominent human rights and social activist from Mumbai, Mr Feroze Mithiborwala, was picked up by three police people from his residence at Marol and taken to the MIDC, Andheri(E) police station. He has been kept under detention overnight. No reason whatever has been indicated for this official "kidnap".
It appears that he is picked up to prevent him from holding any protest demonstration against the visiting US Secretary of State, Ms. Hillary Clinton.
One does not have to agree with Mr. Mithiborwala on his political position to denounce this grossly undemocratic act on the part of the Mumbai Police. The right to dissent, and dissent in public, is what sets a a "democracy" apart from an authoritarian regime.
And we never tire of claiming, and not too unjustifiably, that India is the "largest democracy" in the world.
It is precisely in that context, the action of the Mumbai Police is extremely unfortunate and utterly condemnable.
We demand that the state Home Minister immediately take note and act against the erring officials.
He should also issue a note of apology as the buck presumably stops at his door.
Feroze and Kishore Jagtap were released today around 5.45 pm without any charge.
Mihir Desai Lawyer
Yusuf Muchala Lawyer
Sukla Sen Ekta
Jatin Desai Peoples' Media Initiative
Yogesh Kamdar Peoples' Union for Civil Liberties
Seema Mustafa Journalist
Dolphy Dsouza Bombay Catholic Sabha
Nandita Shah Akshara
Sanober Keshwaar Human Rights activist
Lena Ganesh Social Activist
Jaya Velankar Writer
Daniel Mazgaonkar Sarvodaya Activist
Kamayani Mahabal Shetty Social Activist
K L Bajaj CPM
Soheb Lokhandwala MPJ
Bhagwan Keshbhat YUVA
Sushovan Dhar Social Activist
Suvrat Raju
Received from Jatin Desai
desaijatin@yahoo.co.uk
Jul 18, 2009
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