Activist couple arrested in UP over alleged Maoist links, 5 years after questioning

The Uttar Pradesh police apprehended activist couple Kripa Shanker Singh and Binda Sona on charges related to alleged Naxal links, just a day after the Bombay High Court acquitted former Delhi University Professor G.N. Saibaba and others in a similar case involving connections to Maoists.

This marks the second instance in less than five months where the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the Uttar Pradesh police has detained an activist couple, solely based on the analysis of data extracted from electronic devices seized years ago.

Singh, a practising lawyer in the Allahabad High Court, and his wife, a former teacher turned private typist, were taken into custody based on findings from a 2019 investigation.

According to the ATS, an examination of forensic reports from the couple's electronic devices revealed substantial evidence implicating them as primary members of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).

Allegations suggest they were actively involved in conspiring to wage war against India, aiming to recruit individuals from various societal strata to support their cause, according to the police. However, the nature of the incriminating material extracted from their devices remains undisclosed by the authorities.

Singh, originally from Kushinagar in East Uttar Pradesh, had a history of involvement in activism against fascism. After his education in Deoria, he worked with an NGO in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, where he met his wife.

Following their marriage, the couple purportedly joined the CPI (Maoist) and later relocated to Delhi before settling back in Uttar Pradesh. The ATS alleges they engaged in propagating Maoist ideology among rural communities in Deoria and Kushinagar.

Furthermore, the ATS accuses the couple of providing shelter to a wanted Naxal leader in Maharajganj and aiding in his evasion of arrest. This specific allegation, reminiscent of a previous case involving activist Prabha and her husband Kushwaha, underscores the gravity of the charges levelled against Singh and Sona.

In December 2023, Prabha, who was four and a half months pregnant, suffered a miscarriage while in prison. The ATS arrested Kushwaha and Prabha on similar charges related to suspected Naxal links, citing evidence obtained from their electronic devices. Prabha's medical condition, characterized by hyperthyroidism, posed additional risks during her pregnancy, which ended tragically with a miscarriage.

Both couples now face a litany of charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The allegations stem from a broader crackdown initiated by the UP ATS, which has targeted several political and social activists in recent years.

The arrests and subsequent legal proceedings shed light on the contentious issue of alleged Naxalite activities in the region, prompting scrutiny and debate among civil rights advocates and legal experts.

The arrest of Singh and Sona, along with previous instances of activists being detained based on data extracted from electronic devices, raises questions about the legality and proportionality of law enforcement actions.