Bengaluru: ABVP continues protests against Amnesty International
- On August 13, Amnesty International held an event where the families of three Kashmiri victims shared their stories
- An FIR was filed on Monday after ABVP alleged that anti-India slogans were raised at the event
FollowProtesting over the alleged anti-India slogans being raised at an Amnesty event in Bengaluru, the Akhila Bharathiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) shut down traffic at KG Road near Mysuru road, in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
The ABVP, which is the student wing of Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), are demanding a ban on Amnesty International and the immediate arrest of its officials.
The police later took several ABVP members into custody after they refused to allow traffic to pass. The members told Deputy Commissioner of Police Central Range, Sandeep Patil, that they will vacate the road only if city Commissioner NS Meghrik came to spot and gave them assurances.
Charan Reddy, Additional Commissioner of Police later addressed the media, stating that the matter had been referred to the police through the state chief secretary and all the documents - including the footage of the Amnesty event - was also being looked into.
"The investigation will take about ten days time," he said.
"One cannot be arrested immediately after a FIR is filed. If a there is enough evidence, we will arrest. We understand your sentiments as well, but allow us to do our job," he told the agitators.
JC Nagar Sub Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police Manjunath is heading the investigation in this connection. The police on Wednesday also questioned members of Amnesty International with regards to the allegations against them.
On August 13, Amnesty International held an event as part of a campaign based on the report "Denied: Failures in accountability for human rights violations by security force personnel in Jammu and Kashmir", published in July 2015. The families of three Kashmiri victims that were interviewed for the report were invited to share their stories at the event.
A FIR was filed on Monday after ABVP alleged that anti-India slogans were raised at the event, following which Bengaluru Police booked Amnesty International on charges of sedition and for spreading enmity among people. However, Amnesty International has refuted all charges.
