Thread by @AIIndia

1: The Bombay High Court’s decision to deny bail to Sudha Bharadwaj, Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalvez is a cruel affront to justice.

#FreeBK9

2: The police claim the nine were allegedly involved in the violence that erupted between Dalits and Hindu nationalists in January 2018 in Bhima Koregaon, Maharashtra. Far from being anti-national, the ‘Bhima Koregaon 9’ are for many, national heroes.

#FreeBK9

3: The government claims they are ‘anti-nationals’ working against the country. However, the opinion of communities, where the activists work, is entirely different. In these communities, they are hailed as brave activists, committed to the cause of Dalits and Adivasis.

#FreeBK9

4: We are concerned that the arrests of such eminent activists and human rights defenders are an attempt to derail the human rights movement in India. Moreover, indefinitely jailing such prominent figures undermines the broader struggles for justice and equality.

5. The Law Commission of India acknowledging the misuse of anti-terror laws in its 2017 report, had rightly said: "Denial of bail should not be used as a potential tool of manipulation to legitimizing actions of the State."

We demand the release of the #BK9!