On 19 August 2010, a bail hearing took place in the case of five detained human rights defenders - Mr Gnana Diraviam, Mr Anandan, Ms Bharathi Pillai, Ms Niharga Priya and Ms Sudha.

Further Information

During the hearing, held in Cheranmahdevi Judicial Magistrate's Court, the Judicial Magistrate ordered the release of the five human rights defenders upon production of a bond for 25,000 rupees (approximately €420) and sureties signed by the tahsildar, a district official in charge of revenues and taxation. In addition the five human rights defenders will have to report twice daily to Veeravanallur police station. It is planned that the sureties and bonds will be submitted on 20 August, at which point the defenders will be released.

Front Line welcomes the impending release, but expresses its concern regarding the conditions attached to the the bail order, which stipulates that the human rights defenders must report to the same police station where they were originally arbitrarily arrested. In addition, concern is expressed that during the bail hearing, several senior police officials were seen entering the office of the Judicial Magistrate while he was deliberating on the evidence and it is believed that the magistrate may have been pressured in relation to the case.

Gnana Diraviam, Anandan, Bharathi Pillai, Niharga Priya and Sudha were initially arrested on 15 August after going to Veeravanallur police station to investigate the alleged torture of a Dalit youth by police officers.

Please see the original Front Line Urgent Appeal of 17 August 2010 on the case.