Ashwani Kumar: Lakhimpur Kheri Tells Us It's Time to Rescue a Democracy in Retreat / Bharat Bhushan – Lakhimpur: A threat to both BJP and farmers' leaders

This is a moment of reckoning for a nation scarred. The unspeakable tragedy in Lakhimpur Kheri has wounded the nation’s sensitivity to its core. The 30-second video vividly depicting the gruesome murder of innocent citizens by a bunch of goons sheltered by ‘netas‘ drunk on power has once again exposed the fault-lines of our politics and a… Read More Ashwani Kumar: Lakhimpur Kheri Tells Us It's Time to Rescue a Democracy in Retreat / Bharat Bhushan – Lakhimpur: A threat to both BJP and farmers' leaders

Sanjiv Krishan Sood: It Is the Need of the Hour To Understand Police Brutality in India and Take Action

The police all over the country is increasingly brutal in their approach towards common people. Flouting law rather than protecting the rule of law is becoming the norm. When the chief minister of a state says “thok diya jayega” (will be shot), it is an open call to the police to ignore rule of law in dealing… Read More Sanjiv Krishan Sood: It Is the Need of the Hour To Understand Police Brutality in India and Take Action

Revolution turns sour: Nicaragua continues its brazen crackdown. By Tom Phillips

It has been a fortnight since Georgiana Aguirre-Sacasa last heard from her elderly father: a terse WhatsApp message in which Nicaragua’s former foreign minister said border guards had stopped him leaving the country and seized his passport, and that he was on his way home. “What??” she replied from her home in Denver, Colorado. “Why???”… Read More Revolution turns sour: Nicaragua continues its brazen crackdown. By Tom Phillips

Siddhartha Deb: The unravelling of a conspiracy: were the 16 charged with plotting to kill India’s prime minister framed? / Sudhir Chandra: More than a Judicial Murder

In April 2018, a large group of policemen arrived at the Delhi flat of Rona Wilson, a 47-year-old human rights activist. They had travelled from Pune in the western state of Maharashtra, and appeared, accompanied by Delhi police officials, at Wilson’s single-room flat at 6am. For the next eight hours, they scoured the modest premises, searching the… Read More Siddhartha Deb: The unravelling of a conspiracy: were the 16 charged with plotting to kill India’s prime minister framed? / Sudhir Chandra: More than a Judicial Murder

Alia Waheed: Pakistan reckons with its ‘gender terrorism epidemic’ after murder of Noor Mukadam

The family of a 27-year-old woman who was allegedly tortured and beheaded by the son of a business tycoon have spoken of their devastation in a case that has pushed Pakistan to examine what has been called a “gender terrorism epidemic”. Zahir Zakir Jaffer was arrested on suspicion of the pre-meditated murder of Noor Mukadam, the youngest… Read More Alia Waheed: Pakistan reckons with its ‘gender terrorism epidemic’ after murder of Noor Mukadam

The appointment of Rakesh Asthana as new Delhi Police chief is brazen overreach by Centre / Modi and Shah are out to destroy our institutions

NB: My only caveat to these two excellent comments is that the Modi government is an RSS government, and executive actions such as this exemplify the programmatic intentions of a cabal conspiring in broad daylight. DS Meeran Chadha Borwankar: Why appointment of Rakesh Asthana as new Delhi Police chief is brazen overreach by Centre   During… Read More The appointment of Rakesh Asthana as new Delhi Police chief is brazen overreach by Centre / Modi and Shah are out to destroy our institutions

JYOTI PUNWANI: How 5 Reliance Workers Fighting For A Better Deal Found Themselves In Jail On Terrorism Charges

Saidulu Singapanga’s most vivid memory of  the 1185 days he spent in custody,  since he was  arrested in February 2018 under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 1967, was when his wife and three children came to visit him in a police lock-up a few days after his arrest. It was the birthday of his daughters, aged… Read More JYOTI PUNWANI: How 5 Reliance Workers Fighting For A Better Deal Found Themselves In Jail On Terrorism Charges

Delhi violence: Court pulls up police for “callous and farcical” investigation, imposes Rs 25,000 as fine

A sessions court in Delhi on Tuesday imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on the police in a case related to the violence in the national Capital in February 2020, Bar and Bench reported. Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Yadav of the Karkardooma Court said that the investigation carried out in the matter was “callous and farcical”. The court was… Read More Delhi violence: Court pulls up police for “callous and farcical” investigation, imposes Rs 25,000 as fine

Farah Naqvi: Father Stan, UAPA and the Performative Solidarity of Politicians

“Stan Smith (84) passes away. The system sucks. UAPA. No bail. Little hope of early trial. Others too languish in jail. Lawyers , Academics , Social Activists ….raise their voices for the voiceless. They too are now “voiceless”. The State calls them “ terrorists,” Kapil Sibal, Congress MP, tweeted on July 5, 2021. Sibal got the name wrong.… Read More Farah Naqvi: Father Stan, UAPA and the Performative Solidarity of Politicians

"I will probably die" – Express Editorial on Stan Swamy // A Requiem for Father Stan Swamy: Justice of the Supreme Court (Retd) Madan Lokur

“If justice perishes, human life on earth has lost its meaning” – Immanuel Kant “Once crime was as solitary as a cry of protest; now it is as universal as science. Yesterday it was put on trial; today it determines the law” – Albert Camus The death of 84-year-old Father Stan Swamy in judicial custody Monday brings… Read More "I will probably die" – Express Editorial on Stan Swamy // A Requiem for Father Stan Swamy: Justice of the Supreme Court (Retd) Madan Lokur