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dam-l Bhopal - Police Arrest Three Fasters
Update on Bhopal 29.4.99 6.30 PM
Police Arrest Three More Fasters Even As Dialogue Was On : Fast Continues
Today, as the fast entered the 18th day, the police swooped down upon the
fast in Bhopal in the afternoon, and tried to arrest the people on fast.
Amidst spirited resistence by the people, the police could arrest only
three of the fasters - Gitaben, Paravatiben and Kadvijiji.
The police action was apparently carried out to arrest and hospitalise two
of the fasters Chittaroopa Palit and Raisingh Barela, after doctors
declared that their health had deteriorated badly. However, in spite of
several hundred police stormning the dharna site, they could not arrest
these two. Two more of the fasters - Kamla Patidar and Shantilal Patidar
too could not be arrested by the police. Subsequently, Chittapoora Palit
and Raisingh Barela have moved underground temporarily to prevent arrest,
and their fast continues.
The shocking part of the whole episode is that the police action took place
at the very moment when the discussions were going on at the dharna with
the representative of the State Government, former Chief Secretary Shri
S.C. Behar. Shri Behar, who had come to the dharna site and was discussing
demands of the Andolan, pleaded total ignorance about the police action and
said he was not aware of any such plan, and regretted that administration
has resorted to such an action during the discussions.
This action just exposes the two faced policy of the Digvijay Singh
Government in its second term, which on one hand is talking about District
Government and "LokNiti" (people's politics), while on the other hand,
carries out such a police action even while supposedly carrying on a
dialogue. This action, and its timing has certainly vitiated the atmosphere.
The people are determined to continue their strggule. Meanwhile, senior
activist of the NBA, Alok Agarwaal said that if anything happens to the
people on fast who are underground, the full responsibility will be that of
the State Governement.
Shripad, NBA (Currently in Delhi)
With News From Bhopal