DYFI activists in Navi Mumbai detained, later released

They were staging anti-CAA, NCR protest for third day

Police arresting DYFI protesters marching towards Mumbai outside BTR Library in Navi Mumbai.

Around 400 activists from Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), were arrested and then released on personal bonds at various places by Navi Mumbai police on Tuesday. On the third day of their protest, they were initially detained inside a library in Belapur.

Tuesday was the third day of the DYFI protest over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), the National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) along with issues of unemployment and privatisation of PSUs and education.

The activists, who had received shelter at the BTR Memorial Library in Agroli village in Belapur, on Monday night, woke up to barricades and police presence.

“From the day we started the protest on Sunday, we have been facing police repression. On Sunday, it was at Uran, Monday at Wahal and now here. At the end we successfully finish our day’s march, this too we shall overcome,” said Preethy Sekhar, DYFI State secretary and all-India joint secretary.

Ms. Sekhar said that the ruling combine of the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress were solely responsible for this ‘repression’. “Walking to Chaitya Bhoomi holding our national flag is not a crime. They say we do not have permission, we ask then why are they not giving the same as they are the authorities responsible to give it,” she said.

“We had been telling them for three days that they are free to protest anywhere. But we can’t allow them to march on road and create traffic issues. They said they want to reach Dadar, we asked them to take a bus or a car to the place and continue with the protest. We have put them into around 10 police stations in Navi Mumbai,” Navi Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Kumar said. “They were arrested under section 135 of Bombay police Act for defying the orders. The section is bailable and they will be released on personal bond,” he said.

By night, activists were being released on personal bonds and released at different locations. “Around 44 of us were arrested at Taloja police station and after signing the personal bond, we were taken to Thane Railway Station and released. Some from other police stations were released at Panvel railway station. All have been released at various places but most of us are have our belongings at the library in Belapur so we will have to go back. The march is not called off yet,” Dynaneshwar Mote, DYFI State Secretariat said.