Following is the letter submitted in Feb 2010, when Seema  was arrested alongwith her husband

Letter to the National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi

We want to acknowledge you that Seema Azad, journalist, human rights worker and executive member of People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), her husband former student leader Vishwavijay, and friend Asha, were detained by the police on Allahabad Railway Junction without any proper reason on Saturday(6th Feb 2010).  Both of them were returning from World Book Fair, New Delhi by the Reewanchal Express.  According to police they all are Naxalite.

Sir, the organization wants to highlight the background of detention.  PUCL has continuously raised the voice against the atrocity done by the police-Bahubalies nexus in kachhari region of Allahabad and Kausambi district on the sand mining labours.  Due to the pressure of politician and Bahubalies, DIG of Allahabad has framed many fraud cases against the labour movement leader.  DIG had banned the ‘Lal Salam‘ cited it as against the nationality.  PUCL had condemned the ban saying that it was natural address of Communist party.  According to PUCL ‘Lal Salam’ is a common address of labourer across the world.

Raising the cause of fighting labour against the illegal collection and illegal mining of sand in Nanda ka Pura village of Kausambi, the minister Seema Azad and advocate K. K. Roy of PUCL has issued a report on human rights violations.  In past one month the police and PAC jawans has unleashed the Lathicharge couple of times in Nanda ka Pura village.  Police had torched the local office of CPI (ML) New Damocracy in Nanda village.  And their leader were detained in the jail for several days in fraud cases.  The voice against them, doesn’t suit the mood of DIG of Allahabad and police.  Police doesn’t want that the voice should be raised by any organization against their working style.

The arrest of Seema Azad, her husband Vishwavijay and friend Aasha is done by the police in revenge.  Seema Azad has no connection with the Naxalites and she is working in the field of human rights for past several years.  She is also editor of a monthly magazine ‘Dastak’.  She has made reports on serious issues like human right situation in eastern Utter Pradesh, labour movement, SEZ, situation of Mushar cast and Encephalitis disease.  Vishwavijay, husband of Seema Azad, and his friend Aasha were active student leader of Central university of Allahabad for a long time.  They have strongly raised the concerned problem of students under the banner of ‘INQUALABI CHHATRA MORCHA’.  The persons which are naxalite, according to the police, are working in between students and labour for a long time.

Sir, in past also UP Police has threatened the leader of PUCL working for the human right concern.  PUCL has raised the questions against the encounter of Kamlesh Chaudhoury in Chandauly dated 9th November.  After that , in a press conference dated 11th November 2009, DGP Brijlal has articulated that “the action would be taken against the PUCL leader”(see Dainik Hindustan of November 12, 2009).  The Allahabad arrest of Seema Azad is a chain of the same retaliation.

Hence, we appeal for the prompt action in the matter and also we appeal that police atrocity and human right violation should be stopped.  We also demand that Seema Azad and her friend should be released as soon as possible.

– Sincerely

Vandana Mishra, General Secretary, PUCL, U.P.
Chitranjan Singh, National Secretary, PUCL
K.K. Roy, Advocate, state executive member, PUCL
Ravikiran Jain, state executive member, PUCL
Satendra Singh, Convener, People’s Union for Human Rights (PUHR)
Sandeep Pandey, winner of Magsaysay award and state executive member, PUCL
S. R. Darapuri, former police director, state executive member, PUCL
Anshu Malviya, Shehri Garib Sangharsh Morcha
Shahnawaz Alam, Organization Secretary, PUCL
Rajeev Yadav, Organization Secretary, PUCL
Vijay Pratap, freelance journalist and human rights worker