The police on Tuesday raided the office of Keraleeyam , a magazine that focusses on human rights and environmental issues, and took three persons into custody.
A posse of 40 policemen raided the office, located near Thrissur Railway Station, and took into custody Ajlal, marketing manager, Viswanathan Alathu, environmentalist, and Santhosh, around 1 a.m. They were released around 8.30 a.m. after thorough interrogation.
The police seized copies of Keraleeyam , pamphlets of events conducted by the magazine, and other documents.
The police said the raid was a part of investigation into Maoist activities in the State.
C. Robin, convener of Keraleeyam , termed the raid an attack on democracy." Keraleeyam is a media organisation and a platform for human rights activists and environmentalists. We have no Maoist connection. Being an activist does not mean that one is a Maoist. Why should our office be raided?"
He stated that activists associated with Keraleeyam , which was established in November 1998, had played a major role in the campaigns related to the Western Ghats, Silent Valley, Plachimada, Athirappilly, Muthanga, Chengara, Kathikkudam, Lalur, Njeliyamparambu, Vilappilsala, use of endosulfan, genetic modification of crops and tribal issues. A group of activists took out a march to the Thekkinkad Maidan in the evening in protest against the raid.
A group of writers and activists issued a statement condemning the raid."The Kerala police, which had failed in finding the source of Maoist intervention in the State, are chasing those engaged in non-violent protests against socio-cultural problems. Such incidents show the failure of the intelligence wing of the police," they said. The signatories were Medha Patkar, Anand, Zachariah, B.R.P. Bhaskar, N.S. Madhavan and Sara Joseph.