[Reader-list] Womens Studies Conference, The Latest Victim of India’s War on Terror

[Harsh Kapoor]

sacw.net - 25 January 2011

Womens Studies Conference, The Latest Victim of India’s War on Terror

Anti terror police file charges against Illina Sen the conference host

The 13th IAWS National Conference on Women’s Studies underway in
Wardha, Maharashtra has come under attack from over zealous anti
terror security police in India. Professor Illina Sen, who is the
conference convener and also head of the Department of the Women’s
Studies at the Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University (MGAHV),
Wardha has seen a police case registered against her concerning
bureaucratic rules and procedures about police reporting of foreigners
participation in Conferences in India. The foreigners participating at
the conference have valid tourist visas. The Anti Terrorism Squad
(ATS) have slapped charges of violations of Foreigners Act, 1946 and
have arrested the owners, managers of two hotels where foreign
participants to the conference were staying. The events in Wardha do
not protend a healthy future for participation by foreigners attending
conferences in India.

Space for academic and cultural freedoms seem to be definitely
shrinking in India. Sometimes its the Hindutva thugs or their mirror
opposite from the Islamists circuit who strike fear and intimidate by
issuing fatwas and sometimes the official powers that be find ways to
curb and intimidate. Intimidation of conference organisers on gounds
of National security is utterly shocking. There is an urgent need to
register widespread protest against the heavy handed ways of the
security agencies. Posted below are news reports giving details so far
reported in the media. People should write letters of solidarity to
Indian Association of Women’s Studies at:
iaws.secretariat[at]gmail.com

= = =

Indian Express

ATS slaps case against Sen’s wife for foreigners’ presence at meet

by Vivek Deshpande

Posted: Tue Jan 25 2011, 00:04 hrs Nagpur:

The Nagpur Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Monday registered a case
against Ilina Sen, wife of Binayak Sen, for not informing the local
police about foreigners participating in a women’s convention convened
by her at Wardha’s Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University,
where she is a teacher.

A few foreigners participating in the global convention had lodged
themselves in a local hotel. The ATS had, on Sunday, arrested the
owner, manager and an employee of Hotel Harisons for not informing the
police about their arrival.

On Monday, they also arrested manager of Sant Kanwarram dormitory,
where a few other foreigners had lodged themselves, for a similar
offence.

A senior ATS officer said, “The organisers of any such meets or
conclaves have to inform the police about the foreigners participating
in the meeting or the convention under Section 7 of the Foreigners
Act. Not doing so attracts provision of Section 14, under which we
have registered the offence. Ilina Sen was convenor of the meet.”

The foreigners who had lodged themselves at these places, however, had
given their visa and passport to the hotel management. “So, the fault
lies with the management,” the officer said.

He, however, said, “Some foreigners were part of the protests on the
premises of the Hindi University where participants led by Sen raised
slogans demanding scrapping of some Acts like Unlawful Activities
Prevention Act and for release of Binayak Sen and the recently
arrested Dalit activist Sudhir Dhawle. All this has been video
recorded. Foreigners can’t do this, that too on the premises of Indian
government’s institution.”

Asked if action is also contemplated against the foreigners, the
officer said, “The local police should be doing it.”

Asked how then foreign observers could be allowed to witness Binayak
Sen’s trial, the officer said, “It’s got official sanction of the
government and they are not here to raise slogans or protest.”

Inspector General (Nagpur range) Prabhat Ranjan said, “Wardha police
have arrested some hotel personnel, but we will have to check whether
foreigners participated in protests and if yes, how we can move
against them if at all we can.”

o o o

Binayak Sen’s wife booked by ATS (Hindustan Times, 25 January 2011)

o o o

The Times of India

Hotelier held for not reporting foreigners

Soumittra S Bose, TNN, Jan 24, 2011, 12.44am IST

NAGPUR: Local unit of State Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) slapped charges
of violations of Foreigners Act, 1946, against a hotel in Wardha city.
Offences against owner of a hotel and two others were registered at
Wardha City police station on Sunday.

Several foreign nationals are under scanner for their participation in
a socio-political conference despite entering India on tourist visa.
The foreigners had come to Wardha allegedly to participate in ongoing
13th Indian Association of Women Studies meet at Mahatma Gandhi
International Hindi University. Ilina Sen, wife of Chhattisgarh
physician Dr Binayak Sen, convicted by a Raipur court for sedition,
has been a moving force behind the conference.

Sources said Elina too is under watch now for vigorously spearheading
the campaign to free Dr Sen and others like Sudhir Dhawale, recently
arrested for alleged Naxal link, using the podium of the conference to
organize support against the so-called Naxal sympathizers.

ATS sleuths indicated that the University authorities may also be
liable for action given the strong rhetoric against government voiced
during the conference. The delegates, who had come for the conference,
also organized protests against the recent arrests of some alleged
Naxal sympathizers. Intelligence agencies had been keeping a close
watch on the developments.

ATS sleuths, who were also present undercover, rounded up the key
personnel of a prominent Wardha hotel. Offences were registered
against owner Murliharan Kruplani, manager Moreshwar Puri and
receptionist Purushottam Bhoyar. Police have arrested Puri and Bhoyar.

ATS sources said that the hotel should have informed the local police
or Foreigner Registration Officer at special branch after the arrival
of the foreign tourists. Two United Kingdom (UK) nationals were
staying at the hotel where ATS swooped down.

It is learnt that the local police had been informed about the arrival
of foreigners by the security agencies but no action was initiated
against them. Apart from two UK nationals, there are other foreigners
present at different venues. ATS is gearing up for more action on last
day of the conference on Monday.

FULL TEXT AT:
http://www.sacw.net/article1894.html