Thirumurugan Gandhi

Thirumurugan Gandhi
Alma mater Madurai Kamaraj University
Occupation Political activist
Organization May 17 Movement
Movement May 17 Movement

Thirumurugan Gandhi is a Tamil human rights activist, noted for founding the May 17 Movement.[1] The movement initially campaigned for the rights and justice for the killings of Eelam Tamil for their separate Tamil Eelam, primarily those affected by the last stages of the Sri Lankan Civil War.

On 29 May 2017, Gandhi along with four others were arrested under Goondas act by Tamil Nadu police when they attempted to light candles in remembrance of Tamils who were killed in the conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.[2] Director Ameer Sultan, who also participated in this event, said that the arrest of Thirumurugan Gandhi was politically motivated. Director Vetrimaaran described it as an attack on freedom of expression.[3][4] This particular arrest even they were asked to be released in United Nations Human Rights Commission.[5][6] He was released on 20 September 2017 by Indian government. After his release, he strongly criticized the Indian government and accused it of suppressing the rights of Tamils. Thirumurugan Gandhi said, he is not afraid of oppression and will continue to fight for the rights of Tamils and Tamil Nadu. He considers the whole as a fight between Indian nationalism and Tamil nationalism.[7]

In July 2018, Gandhi spoke at the 38th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council meeting about the May 2018 Thoothukudi Massacre in Tamil Nadu.[8] On 9 August 2018, Gandhi was detained by immigration authorities at Bangalore Airport on his return to India. He was handed over to Chennai Police by the airport police. Gandhi was charged under Section 124 A (sedition), 153 A (1) and 153 (b) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race etc) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).[1][9] He was produced in court the next day, where the police argued that a video of his speech uploaded by the UNHRC instigated hatred among people. Magistrate S Prakash refused to detain him and asked for him to be set free after interrogation. A few minutes after the police released him, he was again arrested, without warrant.[10] A video of the police kidnapping Thirumurugan Gandhi went viral on social media.[11] Then TamilNadu police took him to puzhal central prison and then he was shifted to Vellore Central Prison in 11:08:2018.[12]

On 24 August, Gandhi was produced in court in a sedition case filed for his criticism of corporate influence in a Facebook video. At the court, Gandhi said the he had been kept in solitary confinement in the Vellore prison, prevented from meeting his family, and prevented from answering calls of nature.[13] On 26 August, Gandhi was booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) by the Nungambakkam police.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 R.sivaraman (9 August 2018). "May 17 Movement leader Thirumurugan Gandhi held in Bengaluru on charges of sedition" – via www.thehindu.com.
  2. ↑ "Thirumurugan Gandhi detained". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 2017-05-30. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  3. ↑ "Thirumurugan Gandhi detained for criticising Centre". The Hindu. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  4. ↑ "Tamil youth in UK protest against BJP-triggered detention of Thirumurugan Gandhi". Tamilnet. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "திருமுருகன் காந்தி மீதான 'குண்டாஸ்': ஐ.நா.,வில் எழுப்பப்பட்ட கேள்விகள்!!". Vikatan. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "திருமுருகன் காந்தி மீது குண்டர் சட்டம்.. ஐ.நா.வில் ஒலித்த எதிர்ப்புக் குரல்கள் !". Oneindia. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  7. ↑ "திருமுருகன் காந்திக்கு தமிழ் உணர்வாளர்கள் வரவேற்பு : 4 மாதங்களுக்கு பிறகு புழல் சிறையில் இருந்து விடுதலை". indianexpress. 20 September 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  8. ↑ "Court refuses to detain activist Thirumurugan Gandhi". The News Minute. 2018-08-10. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  9. ↑ "Thirumurugan Gandhi held in Bengaluru for UN speech on police firing in Thoothukudi". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  10. ↑ "WATCH | Chennai cops detain activist Thirumurugan Gandhi minutes after court sets him free". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  11. ↑ "மீண்டும் கைது செய்யப்பட்ட போது போலீசாருடன் வாக்குவாதம் செய்த திருமுருகன் காந்தி!– News18 Tamil". News18 Tamil.
  12. ↑ "Thirumurugan Gandhi remanded, shifted to Vellore prison". 12 August 2018.
  13. ↑ "Chennai police slaps another sedition case on activist Thirumurugan Gandhi". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  14. ↑ "Activist Gandhi booked again under Unlawful Activities Act - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  • Thirumurugan Gandhi Twitter profile


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