Dr Partho Sarothi Ray, a well-known scientist and civil liberties activist, has been summoned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case. He was asked to be present before the investigators in Mumbai on September 10. The notice was served to Dr Partho Sarothi Ray, Associate Professor of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata on September 5.
More than 200 eminent academicians, writers, intellectuals, activists, filmmakers, singers, playwrights, organizations and members of political parties have issued a statement condemning the ‘harassment of Dr Ray by the NIA’. The Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) has called a meeting on September 10 in central Kolkata to protest. APDR will place its protest and demands before the Union Home Minister through West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Although this is the first time Dr Partho Sarothi Ray has been summoned by the NIA, he was, last year, a target of a malware attack. In November last year, Dr. Ray had received a suspicious email which later, in a detailed joint investigation conducted by Amnesty International’s digital team based in Berlin and The Citizen Lab, a research organization which works out of the University of Toronto, was found to be a part of a larger surveillance conspiracy “specially crafted to bait journalists or activists”. Yahoo Mail had also sent a warning to Dr. Partho Sarothi Ray stating that his email account “may have been the target of government-backed actors” which tried to gain access to his information.
42-year-old Dr Ray has been an activist for the past two decades and is the convener of rights’ group Persecuted Prisoners’ Solidarity Committee. He has been demanding the release of political prisoners and working towards the same for long. He is one of the founding members of a left-leaning magazine Sanhati. In 2012, he was arrested by the West Bengal police for his participation in the movement against the uprooting of a large number of slum-dwellers in Nonadanga of Salt Lake.
In recent times, Ray was among the community of scientists who engaged with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to study the COVID-19 virus and also has been actively involved in setting up a COVID-19 facility at Nadia district in West Bengal. Dr. Ray says he will be leaving crucial work behind to attend to the NIA’s summons.
In response to the NIA notice, Dr. Ray said, “This is nothing but a tactic to harass and intimidate me, as is being done with academics and intellectuals all over India. I am a biomedical scientist who has been involved in the battle against COVID-19. I have also stood consistently on the side of the persecuted and disadvantaged. It is very unfortunate that I’m being harassed in this manner at this critical time.”
While the notice only classifies Dr. Ray as a witness, it is worrisome after what happened with Delhi University Associate Professor of English, Hany Babu M.T. The NIA had summoned Babu as a witness in the case and he was later arrested on July 28.
Here is the full text of the solidarity message by more than 200 eminent academicians, writers, intellectuals, activists, filmmakers, singers, playwrights, organizations, and members of political parties:
STATEMENT IN SOLIDARITY WITH DR. PARTHO SAROTHI RAY
We have come to know that our dear friend and comrade Dr Partho Sarothi Ray, Associate Professor, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), has been summoned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case. He has been asked to present himself before the investigators in Mumbai on 10 September at 11 am.
Partho has been pro-actively involved with peaceful, democratic people’s movements, especially the struggles for the rights of poor and marginalized Dalits and Adivasis. He is an active member of the Persecuted Prisoners’ Solidarity Committee as well as the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice. His tireless work in defence of civil liberties and for the release of political prisoners is exemplary. Partho has been ever-present in marches, rallies, and other street programs with his stirring but lucid speeches and an endearing smile.
At IISER, Partho has been carrying out extensive and useful research on molecular biology. His pioneering work on viruses has taken him to the lecture-halls in universities and scientific gatherings across the globe. He is a front-runner in the present battle against COVID-19 and his idea of community participation has been successfully implemented in Nadia district, inviting widespread interest. He was among the scientists consulted by the World Health Organization (WHO) to understand the character of the Coronavirus and formulate a policy to tackle the pandemic.
The harassment of Dr Ray by the NIA is yet another sinister attempt in the fascist regime’s witch-hunt at silencing the voices of dissent and protest. We, the undersigned, strongly condemn this brazen assault on democratic activities and demand immediate withdrawal of NIA’s menacing, threatening interrogation notice. We stand hand-in-hand with Dr Partho Sarothi Ray.
Signed
1. Aamra ek Sachetan Prayas
2. Aamra Monbhashi
3. Aashita Dawer, Professor, OP Jindal Global University
4. Abhijit Roy, Professor, Jadavpur University
5. Achin Chakraborty, Professor, Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata
6. Achin Vanaik, Professor (Retd), University of Delhi
7. Adibashi Gaonta
8. Adibashi Juan Mahal
9. Adibashi Samanyaya Mancha
10. Aditi Chowdhury, Citizen
11. Aditi Roy Ghatak, Journalist
12. Aditya Nigam, Professor, CSDS, Delhi
13. AJC Bose, Professor, SRCC, University of Delhi
14. Alik Chakraborty, CPI (M-L) Red Star
15. All India Central Council of Trade Union (AICCTU)
16. All India Federation of Trade Unions (AIFTU – new)
17. All India Kshet Mazdoor Kisan Sabha (AIKMKS)
18. All India People’s Forum (AIPF)
19. All India Peoples’ Science Network
20. All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA)
21. All India Revolutionary Students’ Organisation (AIRSO)
22. All India Revolutionary Women’s Organisation (AIRWO)
23. All India Sanjukta Kisan Sabha
24. All West Bengal Sales Representatives’ Union (AWBSRU)
25. Aloke Mukherjee, CPI (M-L)
26. Amal Sanyal
27. Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle, IIT Madras
28. Ambedkar-Periyar-Phule Study Circle, IIT Bombay
29. Ambikesh Mahapatra, Educationist
30. Amit Bhaduri, Professor (Retd), JNU
31. Amitabha Chakraborty, Activist
32. Aneek Patrika (Bengali Monthly)
33. Anik Dutta, Filmmaker
34. Aniket Chattopadhyay, Filmmaker
35. Anindita Sarbadhikari, Filmmaker
36. Anindya, Blogger
37. Anindya Sengupta, Professor, Jadavpur University
38. Anish Vanaik, Professor, OP Jindal Global University
39. Anomita Sen, Citizen
40. Anup Gampa, Asst Professor, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California
41. Anuroop Mallik, Folk Singer
42. Anwesha Sengupta, Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata
43. Arijit Mitra Smarak Committee
44. Arundhati Dhuru, National Alliance of People’s Movements
45. Arundhati Roy, Writer
46. Arup Dasgupta
47. Ashani Natyam
48. Ashok Choudhary, All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP)
49. Asit Basu
50. Avishek Konar, Professor, OP Jindal Global University
51. Avishek Mukherjee
52. Ayodhya Buru Bachao Andolan
53. Azad Gano Morcha
54. Badshah Moitra, Actor
55. Baidyanath Sengupta, Editor, Samaj Bignan o Prakriti Parichay Patrika
56. Bandi Mukti Committee
57. Bharatiya Adibashi Ekata Mancha
58. Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, MP & Former Mayor, Kolkata Municipal Corporation
59. Bimal Chakraborty
60. Dr Binayak Sen
61. Bodhisatya Ray, Radical Socialist
62. Central Convening Committee (CCC), No NRC Movement
63. Chanchal Chakraborty
64. Chandan Sen, Playwright
65. Charoibeti
66. Chittaroopa Palit, Narmada Bachao Andolan
67. Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP), West Bengal
68. Confluence, IISER, Mohali
69. CP Geevan, Former Senior Environmental Scientist, Independent Researcher
70. Das Theke Das Hazaar
71. Debdoot Ghosh
72. Debdutta Paul
73. Delhi Science Forum, Delhi
74. Dhritisree, Theatre Activist
75. Doyeeta Majumder, Professor, Jadavpur University
76. Ebong Bisongbad
77. Prof. Felix Padel
78. Feminists in Resistance
79. Forum Against Monopolistic Aggression (FAMA)
80. Freny Manecksha
81. Dr Fuad Halim, People’s Health Activist
82. Ganatantrik Sangrami Udyog
83. Gautam Chakraborty
84. Gorky Chakraborty, Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata
85. Goutam Seal
86. Hosiery Workers’ Unity Centre
87. Indian Federation of Trade Union (IFTU)
88. Indira Ghose, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
89. Indu Chandrasekhar, Publisher
90. J Devika, Feminist Historian
91. Jadavpur Commune
92. Jai Bhim India Network
93. Jayati Ghosh, Professor, JNU
94. Joint Action Committee for Social Justice
95. Joint Platform of Academicians
96. Jomi Jibika Bastutantro o Poribesh Raksha Committee
97. Joyraj Bhattacharya, Theatre & Social Activist
98. Kaushik Sen, Playwright & Actor
99. KP Fabian, Ambassador (Retd)
100. Kranti Shilpi Sangha
101. Krishna Bandyopadhyay, Activist in Women’s Movements
102. Kumar Rana, Social Activist
103. Kunal Chattopadhyay, Professor, Jadavpur University
104. Kuntal Rudra
105. Little Magazine Samannaya Mancha
106. Manoj Bhattacharya, RSP
107. Masood Akhtar
108. Mazdoor Kranti Parishad
109. Megha Unwer, Professor, Purdue University, Italy
110. Mitra Sengupta
111. Moinak Biswas, Professor, Jadavpur University
112. Nagarik Udyog
113. National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), West Bengal
114. New Democratic Students’ Front
115. New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI)
116. Nikhil Banga Mahila Sangha
117. Nilanjan Dutta, Writer, Filmmaker, Human Rights Activist
118. Nisha Biswas, Activist
119. Nitish Roy, Singer
120. Nivedita Menon, Professor, JNU
121. Nupur Basu, Bachik Shilpi
122. Pamela Philipose, Journalist
123. Partha Chatterjee, Professor, Columbia University
124. Partha S Banerjee, Writer & Retired Journalist
125. Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity
126. Paschim Banga Ganasanskriti Parishad
127. People’s Film Collective
128. People’s Study Circle
129. Persecuted Prisoners’ Solidarity Committee
130. Prabhat Patnaik, Professor Emeritus, JNU
131. Pradip Chatterjee, Activist
132. Prakriti Sebasram Sangha
133. Pramod Gupta, Social Activist
134. Pranab Kanti Basu, Professor (Retd), Vishva-Bharati
135. Prantajan
136. Pratip Nag, Activist
137. Progressive Democratic Students’ Federation (PDSF)
138. Progressive Plantation Workers’ Union
139. Progressive Students’ Union (PSU)
140. Progressive Youth League (PYL)
141. Purbasha Auddy, Jadavpur University
142. Purulia Bauri Samaj Kalyan Samiti
143. Rajashri Dasgupta, Social Activist
144. Ranjana Padhi, WSS
145. Ranjit Sur, Human Rights Activist
146. Ratan Khasnabis, Former Professor, Calcutta University
147. Ravi Pallur, Political Activist
148. Revolutionary Cultural Forum
149. Revolutionary Youth and Students’ Federation
150. Revolutionary Youth Federation of India (RYFI)
151. Revolutionary Youth Front (RYF)
152. Right to Food & Work Campaign, West Bengal
153. Rimi B Chatterjee, Professor, Jadavpur University
154. Ritam Bhaumik, INRIA, Paris
155. Ritam Palit, Student Activist
156. Romar Correa, Professor, University of Mumbai
157. Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Actor
158. Sabyasachi Chatterjee
159. Sabyasachi Deb, Poet
160. Sachetana
161. Sahaman
162. Sailendra Nath Bhattacharya, ECL Colliery Sramik Union
163. Sajni Mukherjee, Professor, Jadavpur University
164. Samantak Das, Professor, Jadavpur University
165. Samar Bagchi, Science, Education, Environment & Social Activist
166. Sampradayikota o Fascibad Birodhi Ganatantrik Mancha
167. Sandeep Pandey, Socialist Party (India)
168. Sanjay Kak, Filmmaker
169. Sanjeeb Mukherjee, Calcutta University
170. Saswata Ghosh, Professor, Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata
171. Satya Sagar, Journalist
172. Dr SC Byne, Gana Adhikar Mancha, Durgapur
173. Shakti Pada Badyakar, SC-ST-OBC & Minority Employees’ Federation, Durgapur
174. Dr Sharmistha Dutta Gupta, Independent Researcher
175. Shramajibi Swasthya Udyog
176. Shamim Ahmed, Writer
177. Shuddhabrata Sengupta, Delhi
178. Shukla Bhowmick
179. Sipra Mukherjee, Professor, Jadavpur University
180. Sitansusekhar, Na Hanya Te
181. Soma Marik, Associate Professor, RKSM Vivekananda Vidya Bhavan
182. Dr Soumya Sahin, Asst Professor, National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS)
183. Souvik Mukhopadhyay
184. Sramajibi Mahila Samiti
185. Srikanta Mohanty, CPI (M-L), Odisha
186. Students for Change
187. Subhasis Bandyopadhyay, Associate Professor, IIEST, Shibpur
188. Sugata Ray
189. Sukanta Chaudhuri, Professor Emeritus, Jadavpur University
190. Sukumar Muralidharan, Journalist and Journalism Instructor
191. Sumit Sarkar, Historian
192. Sumit, Filmmaker, Writer
193. Sunandan Chakraborty
194. Supriya Chaudhuri, Professor Emeritus, Jadavpur University
195. Sushanta Mukherjee, Activist
196. Sushil Khanna, Professor (Retd), Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC)
197. Sushovan Dhar, Trade Union Activist
198. Susmit Bose, Singer-Composer, Activist
199. Suvrat Raju, International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Bengaluru
200. Swastha Siksha Nirman
201. Tanika Sarkar, Historian, Professor (Retd), JNU
202. Tarun Bhartiya, Imagemaker & Union Activist, Shillong
203. Tobu Banglar Mukh
204. Trade Union Centre of India (TUCI)
205. Tuhin Maparu
206. Umar Awais, United Forum for National Integrity (Rajabazar Shireen Bagh)
207. UTUC
208. Vandana Misra, Civil Liberties Activist
209. Vanessa Chisti, OP Jindal Global University
210. Women Against Sexual Violence & State Repression (WSS)
