[HumJanenge] RTI / CIVIC ACTIVIST ARRESTED

Month after she protested illegal hawkers, Bandra civic activist held

Civic activist Aftab Siddique was arrested on Thursday, for participating in a protest against police inaction against hawkers, outside the office of the Additional Commissioner of Police, a month ago. She was called to the Bandra Police Station to record a statement for another case she had filed, and was arrested as she was about to leave. The residents of Bandra (W) were protesting police inaction against hawkers in the area on August 24. Siddique, who is the chairperson of 33rd Road Khar (W) ALM association, was called to the station to record a statement in a case involving the Jamat-e-Jamooriya land. Civic activists across the city, and Bandra residents, allege that the arrest was made to warn her against fighting cases that involve local politicians. After the statement was recorded Senior Inspector Samad Shaikh ordered female constables to arrest Siddique. She was made to wait at the police station and then sign bail papers. "I was shocked when the officer told me that I was being arrested for the protest organised by residents outside ACP's office last month," said Siddique. The citizen groups said that she was subjected to this because she had named a few politicians in the statement for the Jamat-e-Jamooriya case. "Some officers tried to convince me to delete the names from the statement and only deal with the issue. I refused to do so, and as I was about to leave the station I was arrested," she said. Bandra residents met on Friday evening to discuss the issue, and are determined to take the matter up with higher authorities.