BENGALURU: Over hundreds of protesters, including students from various colleges like Maharani College for Women, RC college, Government Arts and Science College took part in a rally on Wednesday, demanding action against the Amnesty International, which had organised a Kashmir-related event in the city last week and arrest of those who shouted anti-national slogans during the event.
The protesters started the rally from Maharanis’ College and gathered at Mysore Bank Circle, where they burnt an effigy. Around 12 pm, the ABVP members blocked the road near Mysore Bank circle. However senior police officials rushed to the spot and defused the situation.
The protesters wanted to submit a memorandum to police Commissioner N.S. Megharikh. Additional Commissioner of Police (West) Charan Reddy arrived at the spot and accepted the memorandum.
“The case is being investigated by a team led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP). We are recording the statement of several people who were present at the event and also from the organisers. A footage has been obtained and sent to the FSL to check its veracity,” police said.
Proving charge will be difficult: Experts
Two days after the J.C. Nagar police registered an FIR against Amnesty International (AI) India for sedition under Section 124A of the IPC along with other IPC sections — 142 (unlawful assembly), 143 (being a member of an unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting) and 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), official sources told this newspaper that proving the charge of sedition would be extremely difficult.
“The sedition charge will be difficult to prove. To prove sedition the police will have to gather prosecutable evidence against the accused for deliberately causing action that excited disaffection in the audience against the country,” said an officer on condition of anonymity. “Sedition is an extremely serious charge and not easy to prove. The allegation that the organisers had raised 'azadi' slogans during the event will not be evidence enough to prove sedition,” said lawyer B.N. Jagadeesh.
The police meanwhile have obtained the video recording of the event from the organisers and have recorded the statements of the eyewitnesses.
Sedition law challenged in Supreme Court
Expressing concern over cases of sedition being foisted by various states, a writ petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The petitioners – Common Cause, an NGO, and Mr S.P. Udayakumar (anti-nuclear activist against whom sedition charges have been made) – submitted that the charges are framed to instill fear and to scuttle dissent. In the petition, a prayer is being made for the issuance of an appropriate writ, order or direction.
