Protest Against Corporatocracy, Medha Patkar on indefinite fast in Jail

 
Delhi Solidarity Group along with several organizations held a protest demonstration at Madhya Pradesh Bhawan on November 6, 2012 seeking withdrawal of cases, against Dr. Sunilam, Sheshrao and Prahald, leaders of Kisan Sangharshn Samiti, leading to their life sentence, demanding action against police officers who are behind the Farmers’ massacre in Multai on January 12, 1998, stoppage of ongoing forced land acquisitions in Chhindwara district for the Pench Water Diversion Project
and release of Advocate Aradhana Bhargava, Medha Patkar, Mukesh Bhagoriya and 21 other activists of KSS and other movements. Speaking at the venue,  Justice Rajinder Sachar condemned the State Government's highhandedness at the behest of companies. Anna Hazare said that he will fight for Medha's release, go to Chindwada if she is not unconditionally released.

Background    

 As scheduled on 4th November 2012 Medha Patkar arrived at Chhindwara Railway station by Indore Chhindwara Penchvelli Express. On her arrival she was prevented to proceed by 30 police officials and other authorities and she was orally informed that the prohibitory order under section 144 of Cr.P.C. has been enforced prohibiting entry of anyone who is not a bona fide local resident of Tehsil Chhindwara, Amarwada and Chaurai in these Tahsil areas. No written notice so promulgated was served on her. She visited the house of local advocate Aaradhana Bhargav to pay her condolence as Bhargav’s mother had recently died.

After paying her condolence she wrote a letter to District Collector Chhindwara requesting that she may be allowed, with minimum number of people so permitted, to participate in her scheduled peaceful agitation at Vamanwada village near Machagora village.

In order to facilitate construction of an illegal dam named as Pench Diversion project likely to profit the Power project by Adani Group of companies, the District Magistrate, Chhindwara has promulgated unduly coercive and unconstitutional restrictive orders under Section 144 of Cr. P. C.

For the entire day of 4th November, Medha Patkar was virtually house arrested without being so informed by the district authorities or police at the house of Advocate Aradhana Bhargav at Chhapakhana Chhindwara. The visitors were either shunted away or were restricted in visit and were directed to move away soon.

At around 10.30 P.M. in the night Medha Patkar was forcefully picked up with her colleague Mukesh from inside the house of Advocate Aradhana Bhargav by Chhindwara Police. 18 other local farmers who were either cooking outside the house or talking to her inside the house were also forcefully picked up by police.

Medha Patkar along with her colleague Mukesh, were lodged at Chhindwara Jail. Before her colleague’s cellphone was switched off, she informed the petitioner over his cellphone about the incident and also informed that neither she has been informed of the charges and reasons for which she has been arrested nor was she produced before any magistrate. On the basis of hearsay information provided by local media-persons one local Advocate D. K. Prajapati got to know that she was arrested under Sections 151, 107 and 116 (3) of the Cr. P. C. That Mr. D. K. Prajapati, Advocate moved a bail application for release of all persons including Medha Patkar on 5th November, 2012, under section 436 of Cr. P. C. before Sub Divisional Magistrate of Chhindwara also referred as a City Magistrate. But it is learnt from the Advocate D. K. Prajapati that the Sub Divisional Magistrate of Chhindwara not only refused to take his bail application on record but dramatically left his office in a jiffy saying that he would not put himself in peril.

A habeaus corpus writ petition has been filed at Jablpur High Court by Anurag Modi through advocate Raghvendra Kumar, the petition is listed to be heard on November 7, 2012.The petition has prayed that Medha Patkar and 19 other persons who have been illegally detained in the Chhindwara District Jail since 10.30 P.M. in the Night on November 4, 2012 be directed to be produced before the High Court and sought a direction seeking compensation to all   the 20 persons including Medha Patkar for violation of their    Fundamental rights from the respondents, State of Madhya Pradesh, Principal Secretary, Department of Home, District Magistrate, Chhindwara, Superintendent of Police, Chhindwara and Sub Divisional Magistrate-cum-Executive Magistrate, Chhindwara City.