[Reader-list] Abdul Shakeel's appeal from Surat Jail

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Abdul Shakeel Basha's appeal from District Jail, Surat (GUjarat) - June 25, 2010

Friends,

This is Anju, wife of Mr Abdul Shakeel Basha, and I'm writing from
Surat city in Gujarat state on behalf of my husband. As most of you
know, Shakeel was arrested on June 17 from Delhi by Special Cell,
Delhi Police on Gujarat Police's requisition, on charges of
affiliation with maoists and naxal movement in India, under FIR no
I-37/2010 Dated Feb 25, 2010 under sections 120 (B), 121 (A), 124 (A),
153 A (B) of Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Sections 38, 39, and 40 of
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 1967. He was first
produced in Tees Hazari Court in Delhi on June 18 where he was handed
over to Gujarat Police and taken to Surat. He was produced before a
magistrate in Kathor sessions court (near Kamrej) on June 19 and had
been in police custody of Special Operation Group (SOG), Gujarat
Police, Kamrej Police Station, Surat, Gujarat till June 25, 2010. He
was then sent to Sub Jail in Surat city in judicial custody and is
lodged there at present.

Untill now 13 other activists/social workers/rights workers from
various parts of the country have been arrested under the same omnibus
FIR, most of whom had renounced their respective associations with CPI
(ML) Janshakti or banned CPI (ML) People's War Group (PWG) at
different points in time in the past. 10 out of 13 have charges og
having alleged connection with Janshakti while 3 with PWG. 8-10 more
arrests will take place in near future, the list of which is avaialble
with police. We are also trying to collect the details about the
intermittant period when PWG was not banned like early 2004 when it
was one of the organisers of Mumbai Resistance 2004 which happened
simultaneously with World Social Forum 2004 in Mumbai. The UAPA
Amendment of Dec 2004 came with a list of about 38 'terorist
organisations' which also included PWG and MCC. While CPI (Maoist) was
banned through a notification in June 2009 only.

He has asked me to share with all of you that he has not been
connected with any naxal/maoist activity from 2004 onwards, when he
left the ideology, and the PWG, now known as Communist Part of India
(Maoist)/CPI (Maoist), married me, shifted to Delhi and started a new
life with Aman Biradari, an NGO, working for people affected in and
after 2002 carnage in Gujarat, and in Delhi with homeless street
children and adults untill 2008 end.

Later in 2009 he formed an organisation 'Haq' for working on the
issues of poorest and homeless of the Delhi city untill he was
arrested.

And even before 2004, he was involved in peaceful and non-violent
activities of trade unions with textile mill workers, and there is no
criminal record or any other complaint against him of that period too.
Assuringly, the Inspector General (IG) of police, Surat range, the
Investigating Officer (IO) of the case, and the main complainant, a
Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), have also told me quite categorically that
Shakeel is absolutely clean after 2004, has been a good citizen, and
they have nothing against him post 2004.

He wants to communicate that he is fine, relaxed, and need faith of
all his friends, colleagues, relative and acquaintances, in him. He
said that its surely going to be a long legal battle before he walks
free which would require support and help from all of you. He will
remain in surat jail for minimum 3 months when his chargesheet is
filed by the police, and then the application for his bail will be
moved, as has been advised by senior lawyers Mr Colin Gonsalves
(Delhi) and Mr Kirit C Panwala (Surat). A young lawyer from Surat, Mr
Bilal Kagzi, is following up Shakeel's case as of now and will remian
in touch with him on a weekly basis. He has also procured certified
copies of FIR, and Remand Application filed by the SOG, Gujarat Police
in Kathor sessions court. Mr Panwala is following up cases of first 10
accused who had alleged links with Janshakti. He may very soon take up
cases of other accused with alleged PWG connections.

Shakeel has expressed his deepest gratitude to all people who have
stood with him and his case in various ways.

Pl write back with your comments and feedback which will give strength
to Shakeel, to a small group of close friends and organisations who
are working closely , and to me too.

Regards
Anju Shakeel Basha
anjuabdul at gmail.com, shakeel.peace at gmail.com
June 25/Surat