[Reader-list] Noted social activist Sandeep Pandey arrested with hundreds of social workers

[Sachin Agarwal]

PRESS RELEASE

 

Noted social activist Sandeep Pandey arrested with hundreds of social workers

 

***

 

Mehendiganj (Varanasi, India) 24 Nov, 2004. Noted social activist and awardee of prestigious Roman Magsaysay award Dr. Sandeep Pandey was arrested by police here with hundreds of social workers. Pandey was leading a padyatra (foot march) from Sihanchawar in Balia district to Raja Talab in Varanasi district of eastern Uttar Pradesh in India. During his foot march during November 15 to November 24 Pandey was demanding closure of Coco Cola bottling plant at Raja Talab. His contention is that due to the uncontrolled extraction of under ground water by the plant the water level in the vicinity of the plant has gone down dramatically causing serious ecological threat and hardships to the local poor communities. According to the campaign literature issued by the activists the plant is drawing close to 25 lakh litre water everyday. The soft drinks company is also releasing toxic waste on the fields of farmers causing tremendous damage to their crops. He is demanding public accountability of
 actions of the cola multinationals as it is �not producing anything that is good for the society.� 

 

On the final day of his foot march Pandey along with around 400 social workers, women and villagers were arrested by the police when they were on their way to the gate of the Coca Cola company to stage a protest meeting and dharna (situp).  Those arrested include Nand Lal Master, the leader of the anti coke protest at Mehendiganj, Arvind Murti, the State Coordinator of National Alliance of People�s Movements (NAPM), Dwijemdra Vishwatma a member of state working committee of NAPM, Anoop Sanda and Sanjay Singh of Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, women activist Bindu Singh, Chanchal Mukherjee and hundreds of other people demanding the closure of coke plant. The police also resorted to lathi charge (beating by cane) on the peacefully assembling social workers, women, children and villagers. 

 

Pandey has alleged that this is a Coke sponsored arrest as they �were not even allowed to reach the site of the meeting and arrested before the proposed direct action against the plant could actually start.� He also claimed that �the coke company has given huge sums as bribe to the local state administration machinery and the local press as the press people were not there when the arrests was taking place.� Interestingly the media has not even properly reporting the foot march ever since its start. An inquiry against the General Manager of the coke plant and his immediate arrest is demanded by the people arrested by the police. 

 

It is also not out of place to mention that yesterday some coke sponsored rowdy youth issued life threats to Pandey and his supporters when he was attending a social meeting at Kashi Vidyapeeth University at Varanasi. The youth were intercepted and handed over to the police. Their connection with the Coke Company was established due to presence of its posters and pamphlets in the car they had used to come to the site of the meeting.  

 

The Right to Life Action Group and Society for People�s Action, Change and Enforcement (SPACE) have condemned the police action and arrest of all social activists. 

 

Signed 

SACHIN AGARWAL

 

Right to Life Action Group 

Society for People�s Action, Change and Enforcement (SPACE)

+91 94152 55042

 

o o o o o o o o o o o

 

For more information call:

 

Sandeep / Jim Carman: +91 94157 90126

Arundhuti Dhuru: +91 94150 22772

 

O o o o o o o o

 

 

 

All concerned citizens are requested to please express their protest in this regard to the various authorities of the state on their contact information provided below.

 

Chief Minister of UP: 

Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav

 

+91 522 222 5757

+91 522 223 9296

+91 522 223 9234 (Fax)

+91 522 223 6768 (Residence)

+91 522 223 6368 (Residence)

+91 522 223 0002 (Residence Fax)

 

 

Chief Secretary of UP:

Shri VK Mittal

 

+91 522 222 1599

+91 522 223 8212

+91 522 223 9283 (Fax)

email:  csup at up.nic.in 

 

 

Commissnor of Varanasi Division:

Shri Dubey Ji

 

+91 542 2502 158

+91 542 2508 203

+91 542 2382 333 (Residence)

+91 542 2382 345 (Fax)

 

 

District Magistrate of Varanasi:

 

+91 542 2502626

+91 542 2502727

+91 542 250 2754 (FAX)

+91 94151 45001 MOBILE

 

 

Regards,

 

Sachin Agarwal

 

Right to Life Action Group

Society for People's Action, Change and Enforcement (SPACE) 

+91 94152 55042


		
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