Extra Bio Info:

Devangana Kalita was detained for protesting religious freedom conditions.

On May 23, 2020, authorities arrested Kalita, a Hindu student activist, after accusing her of inciting communal violence during the 2020 Delhi riots. Kalita, however, was targeted for leading peaceful protests opposing the religiously discriminatory Citizen Amendment Act (CAA).

On May 24, 2020, Kalita was released on bail; however, police immediately arrested her again under different charges.

On May 29, 2020, Kalita was charged with new offenses under first information report (FIR) 59/2020 with new offenses under the IPC, 1967 Arms Act, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Charges include but are not limited to rioting (Sec. 147 IPC), rioting with a deadly weapon (Sec. 148 IPC), murder (Sec. 302 IPC), attempted murder (Sec. 307 IPC), sedition (Sec. 124A IPC), "promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony" (Sec. 153A IPC), unlawful activities (Sec. 13 UAPA), terrorist acts (Sec. 16 UAPA), raising funds for terrorist acts (Sec. 17 UAPA), and conspiracy (Sec. 18 UAPA).

On June 26, 2020, several UN experts called for the release of Kalita and other protestors, saying that their arrests seem "clearly designed to send a chilling message...that criticism of government policies will not be tolerated."

On June 15, 2021, a Delhi High Court granted Kalita bail.

On June 17, 2021, Kalita was released from prison.

Related Cases: Umar Khalid, Shifa ur-Rehman, Sharjeel Imam, Natasha Narwal, Meeran Haider, Khalid Saifi, Ishrat Jehan, Gulfisha Fatima, Safoora Zargar, Asif Iqbal Tanha

Extra Bio Info:

Natasha Narwal was detained for protesting religious freedom conditions.

On May 23, 2020, authorities arrested Narwal, a Hindu student activist, after accusing her of inciting communal violence during the 2020 Delhi riots.  Narwal, however, was targeted for leading peaceful protests opposing the religiously discriminatory Citizen Amendment Act (CAA).

On May 24, 2020, Narwal was released on bail; however, police immediately arrested her again under different charges.

On May 29, 2020, Narwal was charged with new offenses under first information report (FIR) 59/2020 with new offenses under the IPC, 1967 Arms Act, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Charges include but are not limited to rioting (Sec. 147 IPC), rioting with a deadly weapon (Sec. 148 IPC), murder (Sec. 302 IPC), attempted murder (Sec. 307 IPC), sedition (Sec. 124A IPC), "promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony" (Sec. 153A IPC), unlawful activities (Sec. 13 UAPA), terrorist acts (Sec. 16 UAPA), raising funds for terrorist acts (Sec. 17 UAPA), and conspiracy (Sec. 18 UAPA).

On June 26, 2020, several UN experts called for the release of Narwal and other protestors, saying that their arrests seem "clearly designed to send a chilling message...that criticism of government policies will not be tolerated."

On May 11, 2021, Narwal was granted interim bail to make funeral arrangements after her father died of COVID-19 complications the day before. 

On May 30, 2021, Narwal returned to prison.

On June 15, 2021, a Delhi High Court granted Narwal bail.

On June 17, 2021, Narwal was released from prison.

Related Cases: Umar Khalid, Shifa ur-Rehman, Sharjeel Imam, Meeran Haider, Khalid Saifi, Ishrat Jehan, Gulfisha Fatima, Devangana Kalita, Safoora Zargar, Asif Iqbal Tanha

Extra Bio Info:

Gulfisha Fatima was detained for her religious freedom advocacy.

On April 9, 2020, authorities arrested Fatima, a Muslim student activist, under first information report (FIR) 48/2020 for her involvement in the Jaffrabad protest. She was charged under multiple sections of the Penal Code, including rioting and assaulting a public servant. Fatima, however, was targeted for leading peaceful protests opposing the religiously discriminatory Citizen Amendment Act (CAA).

Later in April 2020, authorities charged Fatima under FIR 59/2020 with new offenses under the IPC, 1967 Arms Act, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after authorities accused her of inciting communal violence during the 2020 Delhi riots. Charges include but are not limited to rioting (Sec. 147 IPC), rioting with a deadly weapon (Sec. 148 IPC), murder (Sec. 302 IPC), attempted murder (Sec. 307 IPC), sedition (Sec. 124A IPC), "promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony" (Sec. 153A IPC), unlawful activities (Sec. 13 UAPA), terrorist acts (Sec. 16 UAPA), raising funds for terrorist acts (Sec. 17 UAPA), and conspiracy (Sec. 18 UAPA).

In May 2020, Fatima was granted bail in the Jaffrabad protest case (FIR 48/2020). However, she was forced to remain in prison under FIR 59/2020.

On June 26, 2020, several UN experts called for the release of Fatima and other protestors, saying that their arrests seem "clearly designed to send a chilling message...that criticism of government policies will not be tolerated."

In July 2020, Fatima was reportedly charged in two new cases (FIR 83/2020 and FIR 50/2020). That same month, she was reportedly granted bail for FIR 83/2020 but was forced to remain in prison under FIR 59/2020.

In November 2020, a Delhi court granted Fatima bail again. However, she was forced to remain in prison under FIR 59/2020.

In January 2026, Gulfisha Fatima was released on bail under strict conditions.

Related Cases: Umar Khalid, Shifa ur-Rehman, Sharjeel Imam, Natasha Narwal, Meeran Haider, Khalid Saifi, Ishrat Jehan, Devangana Kalita, Safoora Zargar, Asif Iqbal Tanha