Artistes released from jail after being held for research on Soni Sori

RAIPUR: Two Mumbai-based theatre artistes, who went to Jagdalpur jail for research on a play on tribal rights campaigner Soni Sori, were ‘detained’, and then released,

Published on: Oct 15, 2016, 06:59:02 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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RAIPUR: Two Mumbai-based theatre artistes, who went to Jagdalpur jail for research on a play on tribal rights campaigner Soni Sori, were ‘detained’, and then released, by police after questioning for more than five hours on Friday.

The incident occurred when Shivam Sharma, a theatre actor, and Ramneek Singh, an actor and director, went to interview alleged Maoist Nirmala Akka in Jagdalpur jail with the permission of officials concerned.

“We were interviewing Maoist Nirmala Akka inside the jail in front of police officers at around 12 noon for our play. Suddenly, some of the officers picked us up and brought us to Jagdalpur police station. They started questioning us and alleged that we were pro-Maoists. They interrogated us but I managed to use my phone and sent a text on WhatsApp. When the cops started getting calls from everywhere, they released us at 5.30pm,” said one of the detained artistes.

However, defending the police action, Jagdalpur SP RN Dash said, “Routine checking is carried out by every police station of Jagdalpur every day in which anyone coming from outside is scanned and their criminal records or any other information is gathered.”

During the detention, a post on a messaging app read: “Me and @ramneek Singh have been detained at jagdalpur police station (next to jagdalpur jail) in chattisgarh because we interviewed an alleged Maoist named nirmala akka in jail. This was a lawful interview taken at the jail so nothing unlawful. We applied and got permission from the jail itself. We are here to research for a play and Soni Sori is our contact here. We have been traveling with her getting to know stories. We have been detained for a chat here. No alarms yet. Just that my preservation instincts told me I should let public know while I still have my phone. I will post here by the end of the day if all ends well. I am just a bit paranoid so putting up this status. Y’all can always Google jagdalpur police station and call to ask for our well-being.” (sic)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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