The Crossbill News Desk
Mumbai witnessed a wave of arrests and detentions on Wednesday, June 18, as Mumbai Police cracked down on a protest planned by Left parties in solidarity with Palestine. Responding to a national call to condemn Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), along with other Left and secular organisations, had organised a peaceful demonstration at Azad Maidan.
However, the police pre-emptively moved to prevent the protest, detaining several leaders and activists early in the day.
The CPI(M) Mumbai office in Bhandup was reportedly under police siege from the early hours of the morning. CPI(M) Mumbai District Committee members Hari Ghadge and Shailendra Chauhan, along with Tabrez Ali, a well-known activist from the Aarey forest movement, were detained and held at Powai police station.
Other senior leaders including Prakash Reddy and Charul Joshi of the CPI, and Raju Korde, State Office Secretary of the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP), were also taken into custody.
Among those detained were activists from multiple parties and movements: Meraj Siddiqui (Samajwadi Party), Shyam Gohil (CPI-ML), and Firoz Mithiborwala (Indian People's Solidarity Forum), along with several anti-Adani protesters from Dharavi.
In a statement, the CPI(M) condemned the police action, alleging that the crackdown was orchestrated at the behest of the BJP-led state government, which it accused of supporting the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
“The Maharashtra State Committee of the CPI(M) vehemently condemns this anti-democratic, authoritarian and anti- constitutional repressive action by the police. Beyond doubt, it has resorted to this step at the behest of the ruling BJP-led government which is actively supporting Israel’s genocide,” the statement read.
The party also criticised the Mumbai Police for violating the Bombay High Court’s directive that designates Azad Maidan as a legitimate site for public demonstrations.
“Azad Maidan is assigned as a place for democratic protests by the Mumbai High Court. The Mumbai Police have blatantly committed contempt of the court by prohibiting today’s protest action,” the CPI(M) said, holding Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also oversees the Home Ministry, directly responsible.
Despite heavy police deployment and the sweeping arrests, around 100 activists managed to gather and hold a peaceful protest at the ENSA compound outside the Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh and Press Club at Azad Maidan.
The demonstration was held under the banner of the All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO), defying the police ban.
Participants included members of CPI(M), CPI, Samajwadi Party, CITU, AIDWA and other Left and secular groups. Leading the protest were CPI(M) and AIPSO leaders such as Dr. Vivek Monteiro, Shailendra Kamble, Dr. S.K. Rege, Adv. Armaity Irani, Chandrakant Bhojgar, Sugandhi Francis, Rekha Deshpande, and Sangita Kamble.
At around 3:30 p.m., demonstrators raised slogans such as “Palestine-Bharat Maitri Zindabad,” “Stop the Genocide in Gaza,” “Israel ka Narsanhar Band Karo,” and “Netanyahu ki Hitlershahi Nahin Chalegi.”
The protest lasted about 30 minutes before police intervened and arrested all participants, who were then taken to the Yellow Gate Police Station.
The CPI(M) condemned the arrests and warned the BJP-led ‘Mahayuti’ government that attempts to suppress democratic voices would be met with resistance.
The party accused the state government of pushing through repressive policies, including the controversial Maharashtra Public Security Bill, and vowed to continue defending citizens’ constitutional rights.
However, the police pre-emptively moved to prevent the protest, detaining several leaders and activists early in the day.
The CPI(M) Mumbai office in Bhandup was reportedly under police siege from the early hours of the morning. CPI(M) Mumbai District Committee members Hari Ghadge and Shailendra Chauhan, along with Tabrez Ali, a well-known activist from the Aarey forest movement, were detained and held at Powai police station.
Other senior leaders including Prakash Reddy and Charul Joshi of the CPI, and Raju Korde, State Office Secretary of the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP), were also taken into custody.
Among those detained were activists from multiple parties and movements: Meraj Siddiqui (Samajwadi Party), Shyam Gohil (CPI-ML), and Firoz Mithiborwala (Indian People's Solidarity Forum), along with several anti-Adani protesters from Dharavi.
In a statement, the CPI(M) condemned the police action, alleging that the crackdown was orchestrated at the behest of the BJP-led state government, which it accused of supporting the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
“The Maharashtra State Committee of the CPI(M) vehemently condemns this anti-democratic, authoritarian and anti- constitutional repressive action by the police. Beyond doubt, it has resorted to this step at the behest of the ruling BJP-led government which is actively supporting Israel’s genocide,” the statement read.
The party also criticised the Mumbai Police for violating the Bombay High Court’s directive that designates Azad Maidan as a legitimate site for public demonstrations.
“Azad Maidan is assigned as a place for democratic protests by the Mumbai High Court. The Mumbai Police have blatantly committed contempt of the court by prohibiting today’s protest action,” the CPI(M) said, holding Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also oversees the Home Ministry, directly responsible.
Despite heavy police deployment and the sweeping arrests, around 100 activists managed to gather and hold a peaceful protest at the ENSA compound outside the Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh and Press Club at Azad Maidan.
The demonstration was held under the banner of the All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO), defying the police ban.
Participants included members of CPI(M), CPI, Samajwadi Party, CITU, AIDWA and other Left and secular groups. Leading the protest were CPI(M) and AIPSO leaders such as Dr. Vivek Monteiro, Shailendra Kamble, Dr. S.K. Rege, Adv. Armaity Irani, Chandrakant Bhojgar, Sugandhi Francis, Rekha Deshpande, and Sangita Kamble.
At around 3:30 p.m., demonstrators raised slogans such as “Palestine-Bharat Maitri Zindabad,” “Stop the Genocide in Gaza,” “Israel ka Narsanhar Band Karo,” and “Netanyahu ki Hitlershahi Nahin Chalegi.”
The protest lasted about 30 minutes before police intervened and arrested all participants, who were then taken to the Yellow Gate Police Station.
The CPI(M) condemned the arrests and warned the BJP-led ‘Mahayuti’ government that attempts to suppress democratic voices would be met with resistance.
The party accused the state government of pushing through repressive policies, including the controversial Maharashtra Public Security Bill, and vowed to continue defending citizens’ constitutional rights.
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