Nityanand Jayaraman

Vanni Arasu, I understand, has obtained bail.

No fresh developments on the other 178 detained.

Fresh sections and a new case 70/2012 slapped against Satish. This is the same case
under which Mugilan was caught, so the sections are the same, namely:
121 — waging war against the state
143 — Punishment for being armed with deadly weapons at an unlawful assembly
153(a) — Promoting enmity on the basis of religion etc
188 — Disobedience to order promulgated by public servant
341 — Wrongful restraint
342 — Wrongful confinement
500 — defamation
506(c) — I couldn’t find a subsection (c), but 506 is criminal intimidation.

Simultaneously, the Government is conducting a witch-hunt and trying to paint random people as naxalites. This is extremely worrisome, and needs to be forcefully countered. Far from using the media to convey our messages, we are in a position where the media’s own propaganda and shoddy reporting needs to be countered.

The State Government doesn’t seem to be in the mood to make peace. It is important that eminent people continue to call on the TN Government to convince them to adopt a conciliatory approach in dealing with the people wrongfully arrested for the sole action of voicing their dissent.

It would be great if retired judges, public officials including former IAS persons (such as EAS Sarma, MG Devasahayam, Alphonse, Harsh Mander, Aruna Roy), Members of Parliaments from various states, could call, send faxes, emails and/or telegrams to one or more of the following people:

a) Shri Debendranath Sarangi, IAS, Chief Secretary: 044 25671555. Fax: 25672304. Email: cs@tn.gov.in
b) Dr. Sheela Priya, IAS, Addl Chief Secy to CM. 044 25675163. Fax: 25675163. Email: cmcell@tn.gov.in