Background

Surju Tekam is the leader of the Bastar Jan Sangharsh Samanvay Samiti and the Vice President of the Sarva Adivasi Samaj, a collective of Adivasi organizations in Chhattisgarh. He led Indigenous protests against corporatization and militarization and has been outspoken on human rights violations by security forces (ie. arrests of community leaders).

Early in the morning, Tekam’s home was raided and he was forcibly taken. According to witnesses, the police found nothing during the first round of investigations in his home, according to reporting by Countercurrents. The police then re-entered his home and placed literature associated with the now-banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) along with explosives to create a fictional case that Tekam is a “Maoist sympathizer” and an “arms supplier.” Tekam was then beaten by the police and taken from his home.

Charges and Allegations

Tekam was charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act.

Current Status

Still in prison

Last Update

Still in prison