Background
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Hindu nationalist party led by current Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been strategically targeting Indian journalists, specifically those critical of the Indian government, since it took power in 2014. In 2022, at least 194 journalists were targeted across the country and by state agencies, non-state political actors, and armed opposition groups.
Activists and human rights advocates have expressed grave concerns over the immense crackdown on free speech in India, according to Wired. Singh’s arrest was covered by the Committee to Protect Journalists, which called on the authorities to immediately drop all charges and any investigation against him.
Life and Activism
Freelance journalist Rupesh Kumar Singh was arrested by Jharkahand police and charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), according to The Wire. Singh has been a journalist since 2012, and reports on Adivasi issues. His family members stated that Singh’s home was raided for nine hours prior to his arrest. Singh’s wife, Ipsa Shatakshi told The Wire, “Police searched for nine hours but didn’t disclose that they had an arrest warrant, too. Only five minutes before the arrest, the police showed us the warrant.”
Singh was arrested in connection to a 2021 case in which CPI leader Prashant Bose is accused; the police claim that Singh arranged funds for Maoists and has various links to CPI/Maoist leaders, according to The Indian Express. The Express also reported that Singh’s name has been flagged in the list of journalists who were surveilled using the Pegasus software.
According to the United States Commision on International Religious Freedom, Singh has allegedly been abused while imprisoned. Specifically, authorities have deprived him of sleep for two nights due to interrogations and kept him in a cell with other prisoners who were enduring infectious illnesses.
Charges and Allegations
According to The Wire, Singh was charged under IPC Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471; Sections 10 and 13 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act; and Section 17 of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act.
Current Status
Still in jail, according to The Caravan.