Natasha Narwal, a women’s right activist, a member of Pinjra Tod group, and a Phd scholar from JawaharLal Nehru University.
She was amongst many students who were protesting against the CAA-NRC law. However, the violence sprung amidst the protest and on 23-May 2020, she was arrested for her presence at the protest at Jafrabad in North East Delhi.
Like many other activists, her family was not given the reason for her arrest, which is a fundamental and legal right given to all the citizens of the country.
She was first accused of inciting violence, but was granted bail as the court observed “The accused were merely protesting against CAA and NRC and did not indulge in any violence. Soon after the bail order, Crime Branch moved a fresh application with grave charges such as attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, rioting and causing obstruction and sought her arrest and 14 day custody of Natasha Narwal. Later, police charged her with UAPA (Unlawful Activities (prevention)Act), which is applied to the terrorists.
Interesting thing to be noted is, UAPA was recently amended by the government before these riots, wherein this amendment was made that allowed individuals to be charged as terrorists. Before the amendment, this law applied on the terrorist organisations only
as UAPA includes very stringent punishments and methods suited for the terrorists.
She is still facing these charges.
Where is Natasha Today?
After spending almost an year in prison, Natasha has been granted interim bail on 10-May-2021, for 3-weeks because she lost her father due to Covid.
She could not even talk to her father one last time before he died and was only allowed bail when her father lost her life.
This is no justice, because the law failed to protect so many of her rights in this process and bail is allowed on personal grounds and she will have to return to jail.
These are some of the pictures of her father, that only tells us he must have been her strength in prison.
She is not yet free, but she is not the only one. Let’s not forget her story.
This is a tribute to Natasha Narwal & her father who is also an politician and an activist.
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