October 5, 2025
Press Release
Today, October 5, 2025, three active members of Abhaya Manch—Swapan Mondal, Sutapa Bhattacharya, and Debjyoti Dasgupta—arrived near the gate of the Press Club with the intent to stage a silent protest before the Durga Idol Immersion Carnival organized by the Government of West Bengal. Sutapa’s elderly mother was also with them. As a mark of protest, Sutapa wore an Abhaya Manch badge on her dress, while Debjyoti wore a T-shirt with the words “Human Spine Not for Sale.”
While they were simply standing there having tea and biscuits, several police personnel were present in the area. Suddenly, a woman in plain clothes approached Sutapa, saying she wanted to talk, and forcibly pulled her into a police van. Debjyoti was also taken away along with her. Both were transported to Maidan Police Station.
Upon hearing the news, fellow members of Abhaya Manch rushed to the spot and were informed that the two had been arrested under Section 170 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS). This section grants police the authority to arrest, without warrant, anyone they believe is about to commit a “heinous offense.” In this case, the police apparently decided that three individuals—accompanied by an octogenarian mother—were preparing to commit some terrifying crime!
Our two comrades were kept in the station for an unnecessarily long time and subjected to outright harassment. When asked what crime they had committed, or whether they had done anything unlawful at all, the police could not provide any satisfactory answer. In truth, the so-called interrogation was nothing but a deceitful ploy: a woman in plain clothes luring protesters under the pretense of conversation, only to subject them to intimidation and harassment.
We strongly condemn this disgraceful misuse of law and authority. What the uniformed forces did today was nothing short of a demonic abuse of power. Turning servants of the people into tools against the people themselves is unacceptable.
In protest against this authoritarian misuse of power, Abhaya Manch reaffirms its determination to intensify the struggle. No matter how much the despotic rulers try, protesters have not been afraid—and will not be.
