As the farmers' agitation surge forward relentlessly around New Delhi, reports surface of a Dalit activist named Nodeep Kaur being arrested from the protest site and allegedly assaulted in police custody. 23-year-old Kaur, a Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan (MAS) trade union activist was participating actively in the farm law protests.
The Punjab state commission for Scheduled Caste has asked the Additional Chief Secretary to intervene and the matter and asking for relief to Nodeep Kaur at the earliest. They have also asked for a report of the case by February 23.
Kaur was arrested on January 12 at Singhu Border, as per reports. Sources in a report by The Wire say she was picked up by Haryana Police from her union tent and "dragged away in cuffs." With two bail hearings rejected already, Kaur's next hearing is scheduled for February 8.
FIRs against the activist have reportedly been lodged on several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including but not limited to armed rioting, unlawful assembly and attempt to murder.
Family, Lawyer Say Activist Was Assaulted
Nodeep Kaur's family has alleged assault against her in police custody. Her older sister Rajvir was quoted saying, "When I went to meet her at Karnal jail a day after she was arrested, she had told me that she was beaten up brutally by male police officers and had injury marks on her private parts."
Kaur's lawyer too claimed a medical examination indicated injuries that pointed to "sexual assault."
In a video circulating of Kaur, filmed prior to her arrest, she can be seen elaborating on the protests and rights of oppressed communities. "Farmers and workers are tied together by virtue of them being producers... Privatisation of companies and farms must be rolled back," she says.
Prominent Women Demand Justice For Nodeep Kaur
Poet Rupi Kaur, who has been vocal in her support for the ongoing farm law agitations, shared the said clip of the Dalit activist. Adding to the video, Rupi Kaur on january 12—haryana police abducted nodeep kaur from her tent at singhu protest. since then she has been beaten & sexually assaulted while under police custody.
nodeep is 23 yold punjabi dalit woman & trade union activist who has been bravely speaking up about the protests. pic.twitter.com/XvN6TJwKj8
— rupi kaur (@rupikaur_) January 31, 2021 "she has been beaten & sexually assaulted while under police custody."
Meena Harris, author and niece of US Vice President Kamala Harris, too amplified Nodeep Kaur's arrest and alleged sexual assault in police custody. She wrote, "She's been detained without bail for over 20 days." Harris, active on social media, had earlier this week sparked furore when she joined the likes of Rihanna, Greta Thunberg, and Mia Khalifa in raising the issue of the farmers' protest.
AISA student leader Kawalpreet Kaur shared a post saying, "The attack on Nodeep Kaur is an attack on all!" demanding that the jailed activist be released.
The Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) organisation, stating that Kaur was rallying for "the issues of worker harassment by management, unpaid dues of workers, pending wages and rampant exploitation of women workers," demanded her release.
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