PUCL condemns the assault on ‘Pro-BDS movement’ demonstrators protesting against the violence in Palestine
May 11, 2025By PUCL, Pune
On Saturday, 10th May 2025 late noon an incident of assault on the students activists peacefully demonstrating in support of Palestine by some right wing hooligans and activists, claiming to be Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activists, occurred in Karve Nagar area in Pune.
A pro-Palestine movement, called ‘BDS Movement’ (‘Boycott, Divestment and Sanction’ Movement) has been launched worldwide to protest against various sections and companies supporting Israel directly or indirectly. They have given a call to boycott companies and brands that have presence in the occupied Palestine for profiteering, Domino’s Pizzas being one of them.
The youths and activists belonging to the local unit named ‘BDS, India’ and ‘Indian People in Solidarity with Palestine’ (IPSP) had organised a demonstration in front of “Domino’s Pizza’ outlet situated in Karve Nagar area. The activist had displayed informative posters and were distributing pamphlets to appeal to stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and oppose the genocidal war in Gaza. They were appealing to the people to boycott the brands and companies which are acting against the people in Palestine.
While the demonstration was being conducted by young female and male activists peacefully, a mob of hooligans and RSS activists came there and started threatening and assaulting them; alleging that they are supporting ‘Palestinee-Muslims’. The activists were urging them not to give communal colour and were trying to reason and convince them that they are against the inhuman, genocidal acts to which the people from Palestine / Gaza are being subjected to for the last many months. They were also trying to inform them about the BDS movement. However, they paid no heed and started assaulting the activists, tearing of the posters and threatening them. Some activists were injured in this assault.
After sometime the Police came there but instead of taking action against the hooligans, they took the activists to a nearby police chowky; they detained some of them. According to the activists, while they insisted on lodging a written complaint against those who assaulted, the police (Alankar P.S and Warje Malwadi P.S.) avoided to accept the complaint till late night on Saturday. Moreover, the injured were taken to Sassoon Hospital for medical checkup only after lot of persuasion. The complaint was accepted only on Sunday, 11th May noon after insistence by the students since morning. However, as acting on the complaint no action was taken by the police, the activists are approaching the Police Commisioner, Pune for appropriate action.
The PUCL, Pune strongly condemns the unacceptable assault by right wing hooligans and fascist vigilantes. Such blatant assaults and inaction of the police certainly amounts to curbing the rights and civil liberties guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. The PUCL, Pune condemns the police inaction and urges police authorities to take the required lawful action against the perpetrators involved in the assault.
G. D Parekh (Retd Judge), President, PUCL, Pune
Milind Champanerkar, Anagha Lele (office bearers, PUCL Pune)
(Issued on the 11th of May 2025)