| http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Tribal-leaders-activists-arrested-for-opposing-land-acquisition-Kanhar-dam/articleshow/47882498.cms
LUCKNOW: Police on Tuesday arrested Roma, General Secretary of All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP), tribal leader Sokalo and Avijit, along with five other activists from their office at Robertsganj, Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh, on charges of vitiating peace and provoking people to break law and order during agitation against Kanhar dam.
These leaders were leading agitation against the alleged state repression in Kanhar valley and were demanding action against those responsible for the police firing on villagers protesting peacefully in Sonbadhra on April 14 and 18, 2015, against illegal land acquisition in the Kanhar valley for construction of a dam.
"Tribal and activists in Sonbhadhra have been openly challenging the illegal nexus of corporate, feudal elements and the forest department. This is not the first time that these activists and tribal leaders have been arrested. In the past, several criminal cases which included serious offences like rioting were slapped against innocent tribal for demanding land rights for forest dwellers under the Forest Rights Act and agitating against corporate mafia," said activist Vijay Vineet.
The AIUFWP had on June 12 organized a rally in Lucknow demanding the NDA government to scrap the the pro-corporate land acquisition ordinance, implement land rights in the state for peasants, agricultural workers and landless. The rally was attended by thousands of forest workers, landless labourers and tribal from across the UP.
Soon after arrests, activists associated with the movement issued a statement that they strongly feel that Roma and other activists are being targeted by the administration for defending the natural resources being looted in the name of the greater common good. An appeal was also issued requesting people to send faxes and emails to the chief minister Akhilesh Yadav urging him to immediately release the activists and stop harassment.
