On February 11, 2020, Nodeep Kaur not only completed 24 years of age, but also a month behind the bars for raising her voice against the injustices towards the farmers, labourers, and workers.
The young activist was allegedly tortured, beaten up, sexually-assaulted, and even denied bail by the court “in view of the gravity of offence”. But all this has failed to dampen her spirits.
Inside jail since January 12 when she was arrested by Haryana Police on the charges of attempt to murder, extortion, rioting with deadly weapons, criminal intimidation, causing hurt to a public servant, unlawful assembly and trespassing, Nodeep alias Navdeep Kaur is now raising her voice against the jail administration on non-implementation of jail guidelines.
That was not all! She also declared to continue her struggle for the workers’ rights.
“I just spoke to Nodeep, she is very happy to know that people around the world stands in solidarity with her struggle. She has thanked people for the wishes on her birthday. The prison too cannot control her from her basic principle of ‘serving the people’. She said that women in the prison are denied the basic amenities necessary for daily needs. She said that she needs 20 lower and t-shirts and 20 cups for the prisoners,” said Nodeep’s sister Rajvir Kaur, who is spearheading #ReleaseNodeepKaur campaign in the social media.
“She has raised questions on the jail administration on non-implementation of jail guidelines.
She has been talking to the women prisoners on the need to unite against the patriarchal policies of jail administration,” she added.
Rajveer also released a small audio clip of her conversation with Nodeep, in which she can be heard thanking the people for all the support and reiterating her commitment towards the farmers’ and workers’ fight.
Earlier in the day, Rajveer took to Twitter to urged Nodeep’s all supporters to wish her “happy birthday” by sending a birthday card in the Karnal jail as a part of the “jail visit and postcard campaign” by the Bhagat Singh Chatra Ekta Manch (bsCEM) — an organization functioning in Delhi University “struggling for truly democratic society”.
Support continued to pour in for #ReleaseNoadeepKaur campaign from across the globe.
Only a day before, British Labour Party MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi had expressed his concern over her arrest over the farmers’ agitation saying that the abuse of peaceful protest activists, especially women, is an affront to democracy and civilized society.
“Alarmed to learn of sexual assault and torture allegations in police custody of Punjabi trade unionist Nodeep Kaur, who after four weeks hasn’t even been granted bail,” Dhesi had tweeted.
Meanwhile, the Khalra Mission Organisation had also issued a statement against the arrest and alleged custodial torture on Nodeep Kaur, lashing out at the Government for chanting slogans such as ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padao’ on one hand while brutalizing a 23-year-old labour activist on the other.
The organization demanded that Nodeep Kaur be released immediately and all three FIRs registered against her be cancelled.
Nodeep’s case gets global attention after US Vice-President Kamala Harris’ niece Meena Harris tweeted about the alleged sexual assault that a 23-year-old had faced in the police custody.
PUNJAB MINISTER URGES NATIONAL WOMEN PANEL FOR IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION
A month after a Punjab-based 23-year-old activist was arrested by Haryana Police and allegedly sexually assaulted, Punjab Government on Thursday finally woke up from a deep slumber and announced it would provide legal assistance to Nodeep Kaur.
At the same time, the state Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Aruna Chaudhary urged the National Women Commission (NCW) to immediately intervene for releasing Nodeep Kaur, a member of the Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan from Sri Muktsar Sahib, whose medical examination conducted after her arrest revealed injuries on her body and private parts.
Notably, Nodeep was arrested on January 12 after she had participated in the peaceful farmer’s protests at Kundli in Haryana.
Chaudhary said that Manohar Lal Khattar led BJP Government in Haryana has been trying to annihilate farmers’ agitation from day one. Under its threatening theatrics and at the behest of the Union Government, the Haryana Government forcibly picked up Nodeep Kaur and other labourers, who were peacefully protesting during the farmers’ agitation.
Kaur has been charged under Section 307 (attempt to murder) and extortion, which is not acceptable at all.
The Cabinet Minister said that the Punjab Government will provide legal assistance to Nodeep Kaur for speedy respite to her.
She appealed to the NCW that the Punjab Government, through Punjab State Women’s Commission, will lend legal assistance to Nodeep Kaur, thus the Haryana Government should be directed to arrange a meeting of delegation of the Punjab State Women’s Commission with labour rights activist Nodeep Kaur.
“The allegations of outraging the modesty of Punjabi trade unionist Nodeep Kaur in police custody as per her family members and not even granting bail after four weeks, is a horrifying moment for the entire womanhood,” said the Minister.
Abuse of peaceful protesting woman is a mockery of democracy and civilized society, she said, adding that the Union Government is constantly violating the democratic rights of the people enshrined in the Constitution and throwing peaceful protesters in jails terming them as anti-nationals, which will not be tolerated at any cost.
The Minister said that a medical examination, which was conducted after Nodeep Kaur was arrested, revealed injuries on her body and private parts, which endorsed the fact that she was sexually assaulted in police custody.
Notably, the Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes has already asked the state Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to ensure relief for Nodeep Kaur. The Commission has also sought a report by February 23 after taking suo motu notice of the issue since the woman is a resident of the state’s Sri Muktsar Sahib district.
PUNJAB WOMEN PANEL SUMMONS STATUS REPORT FROM SONIPAT SSP WITHIN FIVE DAYS
Punjab State Women Commission on Thursday took a “stern notice” of the Nodeep Kaur’s case after she spent a month behind bars, seeking a status report from Sonipat Senior Superintendent of Police by February 15.
“Nodeep Kaur of Giadarh village of Sri Muktsar Sahib district was arrested from Kundli border.
Through a written communiqué, the SSP Sonipat has been directed to get the case of Nodeep Kaur investigated by a senior officer,” said Punjab State Women Commission chairperson Manisha Gulati.
She said that the SSP has been asked to submit a detailed investigation report within five days, that is by February 15, 2021.
Gulati said that after receiving the police report, the Commission would immediately take further action in the matter.