NAPM (National Alliance of Peoples’s Movements) condemns the illegal and deceitful arrest of Lingraj Azad today by Odisha police. He is the leader of Niyamgiri Suraksha Parishad, who successfully fought the valiant struggle against Vedanta corporation along with Dongria Kondh. Initially it was reported that he has been arrested in an old case but just now we have learnt that sedition charges has also been slapped against him. (More details are awaited)
Lingraj Bhai is a fierce fighter for the rights of the adivasis and one of the tallest leaders of Odisha and national VP of Samajwadi Jan Parishad and National Convener of NAPM.
Arrests and attacks are not new to him in nearly three decades of his activism. He has faced physical attacks and harassment from the State for his struggle against the systemic oppression and corporate loot of the natural resources.
We condemn this brazen attack and arrest by Odisha government just before elections and planned morcha in Bhubaneswar on March 11th and on the continued violations of rights in Niyamgiri hills.
We demand immediate release of Lingraj Azad and restoration of his rights and an end to corporate and State terror in Niyamgiri hills.
