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Arrest of editor condemned

BHUBANESWAR: Messages condemning the arrest of Lenin Kumar, editor of Oriya magazine Nishan, were pouring in from human rights activists who said police administration was trying to suppress the freedom of speech and expression.

The Bhubaneswar police arrested Mr. Kumar on the charge of producing provocative literature, ‘which could have disturbed communal peace’. He was produced before the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate of Khurda who rejected his bail plea and sent him in judicial custody.

The police had reportedly objections to a book ‘Dharma Naanre Kandhamalre Raktara Nadi’ published by Lenin Kumar. According to police, the book contained inflammatory material. Two employees of Sovan Press were also arrested for printing the book.

People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), a rights group, said the State was increasingly using police power to suppress any dissenting voice and curtailed freedom of expression.

“Mr. Kumar is charged under Section 153-A and 295-A of IPC, which relates to ‘publishing provocative literature, which can disturb communal peace and harmony’. The specific section of the book – pages 38 to 41 – (which has been cited by police) relates to a letter allegedly written by the RSS to its members for anti-dalit, anti-minority activities,” Pramodini Pradhan, Convenor of PUCL (Bhubaneswar Unit).

She said the same material had already been published in various journals and magazines in the past, both in Orissa and outside. Several poets and mass movement leaders had raised objection to the way Mr. Kumar was taken into custody.

Meanwhile, the editor has moved District Sessions Judge, Khurda seeking bail in the case. The SDJM court had rejected the bail plea before.

Biswapriya Kanungo, counsel for Mr. Kumar, said the police had implicated his client in a false case. “The book did not contain any incriminating material. The Government was trying to throttle the freedom of speech and express,” he said.

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