On October 25, the Raichur police incarcerated journalist, writer general secretary of Swaraj India (SI), Doddipalya Narasimhamurthy, on charges of treason, criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder, and extortion.

Narsimhamurthy, who is the secretary of Gauri Media Trust, a trust established to honour assassinated journalist Gauri Lankesh and the general secretary of SI, Yogendra Yadav’s political outfit; had also faced charges for publishing Nyaya Patha, a relaunched version of the rejected project by the Registrar Of Newspapers For India – Gauri Lankesh Patrike.

“Narasimhamurthy is a Naxalite and a member of the prescribed outfit Communist Party of India (Maoist). He has been absconding since 1994. There is a police dossier on him in Raichur district. He was arrested in Raichur,” said a senior police officer to The New Indian Express.

The police arrested him at a seminar in Raichur, where he was invited as the main speaker on ‘Alternate Media’, on October 24, . The day after his arrest a statement was issued informing the media and people concerned about the same.

According to the report submitted by Raichur police, there were several cases against Narasimhamurthy. In 1994, a case was registered against him in Yapaldinni in Raichur rural district under The Arms Act and Sections 120 (B), 307, 385 and 386 of the Indian Penal Code for criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder and extortion. In 2001, a case was registered against him in Netaji Nagar police station for the attempt to murder and wrongful confinement of a person.

In 2016, a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was registered against Narasimhamurthy in Bengaluru.

Police also claimed that they couldn’t arrest him before, as he absconded and managed to stay away from the piled up charges against him.

Now, Narsimhamurthy has been produced in court and will be judicial custody till November 6.

Swaraj India condemned his arrest and slammed police for “foisting trumped-up charges, which claim that Narasimhamurthy was absconding for the last 20 years.”

SI national president, Yogendra Yadav, told The New Indian Express that he was shocked to hear about his colleague’s arrest. 

“The allegations are there since 1994. If they had evidence against him they could have arrested him earlier. So, they should investigate first and then process. This sudden move only appears to be another attempt to silence dissenting voices,” Yadav said.

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