Activists urge police to stop harassing Palestine supporters

Alleging harassment of organisers of events in solidarity with Palestine at the hands of city police, members of Bengaluru for Justice and Peace met the Commissioner of Police at his office on Thursday afternoon. They informed him that even the venue owners are being called up and threatened to cancel events related to Palestine.

They submitted a letter addressed to the Commissioner and the Karnataka Home Minister with 194 signatures of people, most of whom are from the city and other districts of Karnataka. The letter enlists 12 incidents in the last one year in which police officials have harassed and intimidated activists, students, artists and citizens.

The latest such instance took place as recently as Wednesday, when Collective Bangalore, a students’ organisation, uploaded a poster on social media about a film screening and discussion on Palestine. In the poster they had not even mentioned the venue, and yet the police called the students up, and harassed them, demanding them to share addresses or come to the police station.

The letter also stated that even when all protocols to organise a protest were complied with on October 5, Bengaluru for Justice and Peace were told by the Deputy Commissioner of Police and other officials that anyone who shows the Palestinian flag will be arrested. The letter highlights the fact that there are many such unwritten rules being cited by police officials, especially when there is any activity pertaining to Palestine, whether indoor or in public spaces, whether advertised on social media or not. “Another ‘rule’ that the police have begun to impose, is that we must take permission before organising events even indoors.

Throughout the last one year of bombarding and destruction in Gaza led by the Israeli government, concerned citizens across the world have raised their voices in solidarity with Palestinians. In accordance with the official Indian position on Palestine, declared in the Lok Sabha as recently as February 2024, we too have tried to undertake initiatives to educate and spread awareness about the historical, social and political context of the violence. However, Bangalore police have repeatedly suppressed such efforts,” the group said in a statement.

The Commissioner said he would examine the incidents detailed in the lette, to verify them. When asked whether there are any instructions to specifically restrict events related to Palestine, he said he is not aware of any. But, police inspectors who have called up venues said that they have been issued strict instructions from higher authorities that such events can only take place with permission.