The 32 ABVP cadres have been released from prison on 22nd though the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Egmore granted them bail Monday evening. Completing legal formalities and securing bonds and securities to 32 Students took time.
A group of ABVP cadres, who protested in front of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s residence in Teynampet demanding justice for Lavanya suicide case, were remanded to 14 days of judicial custody by Saidapet Magistrate Court. A video that was circulated on social media platforms showed Nidhi, S Susheelaand a few others being dragged from the protest site by the local police. Literally the police physically carried the girls and boys. Out of the 36 activists who participated in the protest, three have been released on account of being minors, while 33 others, including ABVP’s National General Secretary NidhiTripathi,Susheela were sent to Puzhal Jail (women) and Chengalpattu Jail (men).
According to RC Paul Kangaraj, secretary of BJP Legal Cell, who appeared for them told your correspondent that the police initially registered a case under section143, 147, 153 ( promoting enmity between two groups) , 353 of IPC and 3 of the TNPPDL act against them. A fresh case of cheating for giving false information of their address , nick names to the court. The police asked for a one day remand. But the magistrate gave them 14days remand. He might by under pressure from powers that be”. He said after hearing the arrest of student, Union minister, top legal luminaries contacted us legally and in all possible ways.
On Monday when the bail came up for hearing, Kanagaraj said the protest was to get the attention of the CM towards the suicide of Ariyalur girl student and no public property damage was done during the protest. The court then issued bail to 32 students subject to conditions including surety and appearance before police as and when required.
In a meeting held at Chennai later in the evening, wherethe parents and all the released 32 students attended, speaker after speaker appreciated students role and allayed fears.“They did not do any wrong. Efforts are on to quash the FIR filed against them. ABVP cadres should not deter from by government vindictive and intimidatory attitude and they should participate more protests in future for right cause” they said.
NidhiTripathi, Muthuramalingam , Hari Krishna, Ashish Chouhan told your correspondent ” we have been falsely charged with Section 353 IPC – assault on a public servant, which is a non-bailable offense. our protest was totally peaceful and not even a scratch was made by any of us as evident in the videos. The DMK government is acting upon a vendetta and targeting students. They have filed false charges on usfor participating in the peaceful protest, sending student activists to jail who are raising their voice calls for action. We are prepared to fight the DMK government. Nowhere in the country were students remanded for 14 days for gathering in front of CM’s residence. Not only students and political cadres would be detained and freed in the evening provided no violence take place”.
The students said “ the police had behaved very badly with the girls. They used abusive and filthy, abusive language and they threatened that we would be taught fitting lessons which will feel us think twice before taking part in such protests”. ABVP national secretary PrenaPawar in a statement said the decision of the hon’ble court against this authoritarian attitude of the government is going to be far-reaching. ABVP is committed to taking Lavanya’s fight to justice”.
“It was due CM Stalin’s high ego, autocratic thinking, misuse of power andminority appeasement policy, students were remanded to jail illegally. It should be the first and last” said the students.