NIA files charge sheet against 22 in Elgar Parishad case; says JNU, TISS students recruited for terror activities
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New Delhi, Aug 24: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has claimed students of reputed institutes like Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) were recruited to carry out terrorist activities in the country.
In its draft charge sheet submitted before a special court in Mumbai earlier this month in the Elgar Parishad case related to Bhima Koregaon violence, the NIA said the accused wanted to establish their own government and "wage a war against the nation". It further said that the students of various universities including Delhi's JNU as well as Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) were recruited to carry out terror activities.
In its draft charge sheet filed 17 charges against 22 accused including Varavara Rao, Sudha Bhardwaj, Anand Teltumbade, Vernon Gonzalves, Gautam Nablakha, etc in the Elgar Parishad case. It said that they also conspired to demand and organize Rs 8 crores for the "annual supply of M4 (sophisticated weapon) with 400,000 rounds and other arms" from Nepal and Manipur.
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"That the criminal conspiracy was an intention to bring about the secession of a part of the territory of India and incite individuals to bring about such a secession," it said. It further alleged that the accused had an intent to strike terror in the minds of people by using explosive substances.
In the draft charge sheet, The main accusations against the accused are under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 121 ( Waging war against the country ), 121-A ( Punishment for conspiracy of waging war ), 124 (Sedition) and 153-A (uprooting hate and enmity between communities), 120B ( Conspiracy ) 505(1)(B) (Acts Prejudicial to harmony).
All are also alleged to have committed offences under UAPA Sections 10,13, 16, 18, 18B, 20, 38, 39, and 40 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The NIA on August 4 opposed the bail plea of the Elgar Parishad case accused Sudha Bharadwaj, a rights activist, who moved the Bombay High Court for default bail.