Mumbai Police detain 3 pro-Palestine activists over Gaza kite campaign: Report

Mumbai Police allegedly detained three pro-Palestine activists and searched the home of a woman volunteer without a warrant over their participation in a kite-flying campaign in solidarity with children in Gaza, Maktoob Media reported on Saturday. 

Citing a statement from Indian People in Solidarity with Palestine (IPSP), the report said the activists had recently taken part in the Global Gaza Kite Weekend, an international solidarity campaign centred on Palestinian children.

IPSP alleged that plainclothes personnel identifying themselves as police entered the home of a volunteer named Harshada, intimidated her and forcibly detained her.

Uniformed police later returned and searched the residence without producing a warrant, written notice or other document authorising the search, according to the group.

Some of her belongings were also confiscated, it alleged. 

Two other IPSP volunteers involved in the kite campaign were detained and questioned by Mumbai Police, the report said.

Maktoob did not disclose the detainees’ names or provide any information about their religious identities.

In an update issued at 2:15 am, IPSP said police personnel had remained at Harshada’s residence for more than nine hours after the search began.

The group described the action as an attack on democratic rights, civil liberties and the volunteer’s right to privacy.

IPSP also accused India’s BJP-led Union government of adopting contradictory positions on Palestine — expressing support for Palestinian rights internationally while, it alleged, targeting pro-Palestine activists at home.

The group demanded action over what it described as illegal conduct by Mumbai Police and urged journalists and citizens to press authorities to end the alleged targeting of people expressing solidarity with Palestinians. 

Maktoob Media’s report cited IPSP’s account of the incident. No response from Mumbai Police to the allegations was included in the report.

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