RDF leaders’ arrests sparks protest in Kerala

Kozhikode: Protests are brewing against the continuing arrest of human rights activists in Kerala on the charge of suspected Maoist links. Notable activists in the state urged the state government to take stringent action to release the activists of Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF) – T Sugathan, Ajayan Mannoor and Karivelloor Ramakrishnan – who were arrested last week. “This is a case of sheer violation of human rights. The police have imposed on the trio UAPA without adequate evidences.
This action testifies how the government is scared of the mass movements against its policies,” the statement signed by prominent activists BRP Bhaskar, TT Sreekumar, Sachidanandan, J Devika, Advocate P A Pouran and Najmal N Babu said. Chemmangad police here arrested T Sugathan, RDF state president, on charges of having links with Maoist group. According to police, the arrest was made based on the case related to appearance of posters, which said ‘Maoism Bheekaravadam Alla, Vimochanathinte Vazhikatti’ (Maoism is not extremism, but the road to liberty), registered by the Iritty police.
Ajayan Mannoor and Karivelloor Ramakrishnan, both functionaries of the RDF, were picked up by the police in the case recently. Earlier, two activists of the RDF had been taken into custody on the charges of organising a campaign at Parappa in Kasargod. They had been released after interrogation. Later, Ajayan and Ramakrishnan were arrested and slapped with charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Sugathan, hailing from Chombal in Vadakara of Kozhikode district, came to the city to attend the press meet and he was picked up by the police from Muthalakkulam as he was leaving the Press Club around 1 pm.
Earlier, two human rights activists Jaison C Cooper and Thushar Nirmal Sarathy were arrested alleging to have Maoist links and were imposed UAPA. The duo was later released after strong agitation was staged by various groups in the state.
http://twocircles.net/2015apr28/1430244263.html#.VUDUtZJTW1E

RDF has Close Links With CPI (Maoist): NIA
KOCHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which probed the case related to the secret meeting organised by the Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF) at a lodge in Mavelikkara has found that the RDF has close links with the CPI (Maoist). The NIA has filed the final report in the case before the NIA Special Court, Kochi. As per the NIA report, the link between the RDF and the CPI(Maoist) was revealed by a protected witness of the NIA. “The protected witness revealed that the affairs of the Revolutionary Democratic Front had been managed by the central committee of the CPI(Maoist),” the NIA report stated.
The statement of the protected witness was submitted before the NIA Court judge in a sealed cover. The persons accused in the case have filed a petition requesting the court to issue an order to the National Investigation Agency to reveal the identity of the protected witness. As per the chargesheet, Manoor Ajayan, the fifth accused in the case, had attended the first national conference of the RDF held in Hyderabad in April 2012. This was revealed during the examination of the digital evidence seized from the residence of G N Saibaba, the deputy general secretary of the RDF and professor in the Delhi University who was arrested by the Maharashtra Police in May 2014. ‘Janakeeyapatha’, which is suspected to have been published by the RDF, was initially published by CPI(M) activists Roopesh and Shyna from Kalamassery. They were assisted by Ajayan and Kunjumon.
Following the arrest of CPI (M) central committee member Malla Raja Reddy of Angamaly, Rupeesh and Shyna went underground. Since then, the publication has been managed by Ajayan. There are five different cases registered against Rupeesh. The secret meeting held at Cherumadom lodge in Mavelikkara was convened to constitute the students’ organisation of the RDF. Rajesh Madhavan, the first accused in the case, allegedly brought two juveniles to the meeting even without the consent of their guardians.
The National Investigation Agency recovered a draft manifesto of the RDF during a search conducted at the residence of Manoor Ajayan. The accused in the case are Rajesh of Mavelikkara; Bahuleyan of Njarayilkonam; Devarajan of Kollam; Gopal of Rajilpakkom, Tamil Nadu, who is a scientist at the Indira Gandhi Centre of Atomic Research, Kalpakkam; and Muvattupuzha-native Mannur Ajayan – all RDF activists.
■ As per the NIA report, the link between the RDF and the CPI(Maoist) was revealed by a protected witness of the NIA.
■ The statement of the protected witness was submitted before the NIA Court judge in a sealed cover.
■ The report states that the protected witness revealed that the affairs of the RDF had been managed by the central committee of the CPI(Maoist)
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/RDF-has-Close-Links-With-CPI-Maoist-NIA/2015/04/29/article2788193.ece1