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Protest held at Jantar Mantar against arrest of 5 Dalit activists

The police claimed that they found a money trail between the arrested and Naxals. Those arrested have been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

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One of the arrested activists, Rona Wilson, was from Delhi
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Various activists held a demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Thursday against the arrest of five Dalit activists, including activist Rona Wilson from Delhi and lawyer Surendra Gadling from Nagpur.

Apart from Wilson and Gadling, activists Sudhir Dhawale, Mahesh Raut and Professor Shoma Sen, were also arrested. The arrested people were allegedly involved in the Koregaon-Bhima clashed that took place on January 1, which broke out after the commemoration of the Battle of Koregaon.

The police claimed that they found a money trail between the arrested and Naxals. Those arrested have been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The demonstration called for "immediate and unconditional"release of the arrested people. Sudha Bhardwaj, general secretary, People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), said, "These arrests are criminalising democratic movements and freedom of expression in the country."

Rakesh Ranjan, a university professor, called it "arrest on civil liberties" and said that an event like this is unprecedented. Criticising the authorities, he said, "The UAPA Act is used to oppress growing and mobilised aspirations, in which there is little to no regard for the judicial and parliamentary procedures. This act is not used to safeguard the public but to oppress dissenting voices."

The demonstrators also criticised the differential treatment meted to two different set of people, citing the case of Sambhaji Bhide, member of the right-wing group Shiv Pratisthan Hindustan, who they claim incited violence in Koregaon-Bhima clash, but "walks free and gloats about his action".

Commenting on the arrests, Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani took to Twitter, saying "Attack on Ambedkarite movement: Maharashtra police has arrested Ambedkarite activist & editor Sudhir Dhawale in Mumbai, advocate Surendra Gadling in Nagpur and Rona Wilson in Delhi. All 3 booked under draconian UAPA while Bhima Koregaon culprit Manohar Bhide roams scot-free."

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