Rupesh Singh

Extra Bio Info:

Rupesh Singh is detained in relation to his reporting on religious and marginalized communities.

On July 17, 2022, police in the Ramgarh district of eastern Jharkhand state arrested Singh, a freelance journalist known for reporting on Adivasi issues, including state-violence against and state complicity in the mistreatment of Adivasis.  Police accused Singh of being involved in Maoist activities. Singh is reportedly charged with “cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property” (Sec. 420 IPC), “forgery of valuable security, will, etc.” (Sec. 467 IPC), “forgery for purpose of cheating” (Sec. 468 IPC), “using as genuine a forged document or electronic record” (Sec. 471 IPC), “being a member of an unlawful association” (Sec. 10 UAPA), unlawful activities (Sec. 13 UAPA), and Section 17 of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act.

In August 2022, it was reported that Singh had been additionally charged in two other cases. In an FIR filed at the Jageshwar Police Station, Bokaro district, Jharkhand state, authorities accused Singh carrying out Maoist operations against the state. He was charged with rioting (Sec. 147 IPC), rioting with a deadly weapon (Sec. 148 IPC), unlawful assembly (Sec. 149 IPC), attempted murder (Sec. 307 IPC), "assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty" (Sec. 353 IPC), "attempting to cause explosion, or for making or keeping explosive with intent to endanger life or property" (Sec. 4 Explosive Substances Act, 1908), "making or possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances" (Sec. 5 Explosive Substances Act, 1908), using arms (Sec. 27 Arms Act), “being a member of an unlawful association” (Sec. 10 UAPA), unlawful activities (Sec. 13 UAPA), and Section 17 of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act. 

In the second case reported in August 2022, the Rohtas Police of Bihar filed an FIR, accusing Singh of recruiting people to join the banned Maoist party. However, according to Singh's wife, he was not present in Rohtas at the time of the incident because he was reporting on an event in Nagpur. Singh was charged with “conspiracy to commit offences” waging war against the state (Sec. 121A IPC), "collecting arms" to wage war against the state (Sec. 122A IPC), sedition (Sec. 124A IPC), conspiracy (Sec. 120B IPC), and various sections of the UAPA. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is in charge of the investigation.

Singh has reportedly been mistreated while imprisoned. Authorities reportedly deprived Singh of sleep for two night straight with interrogations and housed him briefly in a cell with other prisoners suffering from infectious diseases. 

Singh reportedly suffers from pain and strain in the veins of his legs that become more severe when he experiences mental stress. 

Singh previously spent six months in jail in 2019 for his work reporting on Adivasi issues.