The National Investigation Agency (NIA), on 14 October, has filed a supplementary chargesheet against jailed journalist Rupesh Kumar Singh in connection with an alleged case related to Naxal activities in Bihar under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in a Special Court.
38-year-old Rupesh Kumar Singh, an independent journalist hailing from Jharkhand, has a prolific track record of reporting extensively on matters concerning the Adivasis of Jharkhand. His news articles have been featured in both regional and national publications.
He was arrested on 17 July, 2022, and has been in jail since then with allegations of having links with CPI (Maoist) and booked under draconian UAPA and sections of IPC.
The ‘naxal activities’ case was initially filed by Rohtas Police in Bihar on April 12, 2022, but subsequently transferred to the NIA and officially re-registered 14 days thereafter.
What does the chargesheet state
As per the filed chargesheet, the case involves members and leaders of the banned organisation CPI (Maoist) engaging in activities like levying money, recruiting new members, and attempting to revive the CPI (Maoist) movement in the region.
“The supplementary chargesheet stems from the raids conducted by Rohtas Police at the residence of Umesh Chaudhary in Samhuta village of Bihar and the raids uncovered some disturbing information about the presence of the active members and leaders of CPI (Maoist) in the vicinity,” said a spokesperson of the agency as quoted by PTI.
The chargesheet also states, “these active members and leaders’ purpose was to collect funds, expand the Maoist network by recruiting new members and reviving the CPI (Maoist) movement.”
“A central committee member of CPI (Maoist), Vijay Kumar Arya and Umesh Chaudhary were arrested after the raids were conducted along with the pamphlets related to Naxalism, receipts of funds they received, and electronic devices with sensitive content.”
As per the agency spokesperson, the investigation revealed that journalist Singh was not only a member of CPI (Maoist) but held a position of special area committee member and also headed the magazine ‘Lal Chingari’, a mouthpiece of the organization, as its Chief Editor and circulated its soft copies to the members of the banned organization in the various states.
He has also been accused of waging a war against the government of India as ‘he motivated the cadres of CPI (Maoist).’
The official also maintained that investigations revealed that Singh attended meetings at the Chakarbandha CPI (Maoist) camp and during these gatherings he conspired with the senior cadres of the banned organisation with the aim of strengthening the banned group.
Maktoob reached out to Ipsa Shatakshi, an activist herself and wife of Rupesh Kumar Singh, to learn about the allegations against him.
Shatakshi told Maktoob, “There is nothing new in the chargesheet, these are just the accusations they have been repeating since day one of his arrest. Anyone who writes or talks about Adivasis is labelled as Maoist and anyone who advocates for the rights of Muslims is branded as a Terrorist, this is the new policy adopted by the state and ultimately these agencies work in the direction of the government, which is after everyone who is pro-people and works for people.”
Shatakshi said, “But what amazes me most is that the state finds Rupesh so multi-talented.”
She explained, “Rupesh is just an individual but according to the state he can be omnipotent. At one time, how he can be a journalist, a member of a banned organization, an editor of a magazine, raise funds, wage war against the government, expand the Maoist movement, recruit new members to the organization, speak at events, travel to other states? I never knew that I married such an extraordinary man.”
“Though he and his work are extraordinary, he has always fulfilled his duties as a son, husband, and father, he used to visit all the relatives and attend functions too, with us. He has fulfilled his pro-people professional duties as well. But I find this funny how the state thinks that he can be present at all the places and also do all the incredible journalistic work he has been doing,” said Shatakshi as she laughed over the phone.
She further raised questions on the investigation that formed the chargesheet and said that “It mentions Naxal activities by Rupesh in Rohtas and other places but in reality, he has never visited Rohtas in his 39 years of his life and this shows the non-seriousness of the country’s top investigation agency.”
“He went to Kaimur in Bihar, a neighboring district to Rohtas to cover a protest march against Tiger Reserve on March 27, 2022,” she added.
Rupesh wrote an email to some of his close friends on June 5, 2022, before his arrest, mentioning about covering this event, “a report of which is still available on a news web portal Janchaowk published on March 29, 2022.”
“In my 36 years of life, I have never been to Rohtas. Yes, I have been to Kaimur, a neighboring district to Rohtas to cover a 3-day protest rally (26-28 March) against Kaimur Tiger Reserve organized by Kaimur Mukti Morcha on March 27, as a journalist. A report of the same is published on news web portal Janchowk on March 29,” reads a part of an email Rupesh wrote, seen by Maktoob.
Shataskshi said that Rupesh neither knew nor met the people mentioned in the chargesheet. “Even though I am not familiar with them, Rupesh used to share about his personal and professional life with me.”
She also expressed her dismay with some independent media organizations, “who use the terminology used by the government against journalist Rupesh.”
She said, “I don’t have any hope with mainstream media, because I understand that they are sellouts to the government and speak the words and language fed by the regime but those which claim to be alternate media and pro-people media didn’t think of writing journalist Rupesh, they’ve used a word ‘man’ for him, who has been writing independently for the rights of Adivasis, at least since last 8 years. This kind of journalism is really problematic and disappointing.”
“We all see the state of press freedom in India. In these times, when you use such balanced terminology against a fellow journalist, it clearly shows which side you are and you are definitely not on the side of people. So, ideally either stop calling yourself a media organisation or do actual journalism for people and use correct terminology while doing so,” she added.
“Rupesh’s reporting has always been advocating the rights of people, especially Adivasis. His work exposes the collective loot by the government and corporates which becomes the hurdle in the scams they aim to carry out by grabbing people’s land and the resources under them. This is the reason why Rupesh is arrested by the government because he and his reporting is a hurdle to them,” Shatakshi told Maktoob.
“The fight against false and lies is always challenging, Rupesh loves challenges and always wins at the end, and we will win this time too as truth is very powerful and holds the power to triumph over everything.”
“We are not intimidated, these are just allegations which will prove wrong sooner or later and Rupesh will be among us very soon reporting for the people as he has done in the past,” Shatakshi concluded.
, on 14 October, has filed a supplementary chargesheet against jailed journalist Rupesh Kumar Singh in connection with an alleged case related to Naxal activities in Bihar under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in a Special Court.){kind=link}