Surathkal tollgate protesters summoned to court following police charge sheet
Surathkal: Protesters who took part in the 2022 agitation demanding the closure of the Surathkal tollgate on National Highway 66 have been served court summonses on Monday. The move comes after the Surathkal Police filed a charge sheet against more than 100 individuals, including Toll Gate Protest Committee convener Muneer Katipalla and Karnataka Congress General Secretary Mithun Rai.
The organization advocating for the removal of the toll gate had orchestrated a direct action in 2022, resulting in hundreds of protesters besieging the Surathkal toll gate, surpassing police surveillance. Over 250 protesters were arrested, and cases were filed against 101 individuals under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Surathkal Police submitted the charge sheet in October 2023, citing the names of 101 protesters based on video footage of the protest. Katipalla expressed concern, stating that their organization had been categorized as anonymous protesters in the police case. He emphasized that the protest was non-violent and without fatalities, questioning the necessity of filing a charge sheet against 101 participants.
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Katipalla accused the police of acting under pressure from district MPs and legislators, anticipating the opening of nearly 10 toll gates in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. He alleged that the police's actions were an attempt to thwart objections and protests against the toll gates.
Joint-convener of the protest committee, BK Imthiaz, echoed Katipalla's sentiments, accusing the police of working as puppets in the hands of BJP legislators. Despite Congress being in power, Imthiaz questioned the police's alignment with the BJP agenda.
The protesters summoned to court vowed to resist what they perceive as anti-citizen moves by those in power and expressed their commitment to continuing their cause.
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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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