Navdeep Kaur, is a 23 – year – old Dalit activist. Kaur was arrested on January 12th, after a demonstration in front of metal-cutting firm Sharan Elecmech in Haryana’s Kundli Industrial Area.
She has been booked under various charges such as an attempt to murder, extortion and other offences and has twice been refused bail.
US Vice President Kamala Harris’ niece Meena Harris tweeted about her, there have been widespread attention drawn, both internationally and domestically, over the arrest and alleged sexual assault of a young Indian activist and trade unionist who was protesting the unstable wage payment in an industrial cluster near Delhi.
Weird to see a photo of yourself burned by an extremist mob but imagine what they would do if we lived in India. I'll tell you—23 yo labor rights activist Nodeep Kaur was arrested, tortured & sexually assaulted in police custody. She's been detained without bail for over 20 days. pic.twitter.com/Ypt2h1hWJz
— Meena Harris (@meenaharris) February 5, 2021
According to reports in media, Navdeepp Kaur was protesting close to the Singhu border, where thousands of farmers’ have been protesting Centre’s contentious farm laws. She had also given speeches at the Singhu border.
As per Meena Harris’s tweet, Kaur is being “tortured and sexually assaulted” in police custody. Harris also highlighted that Kaur has been in custody for the last 20 days.
Being denied bail on February 2, Navdeep’s next hearing is on February 8, 2021.
Navdeep’s sister Rajveer Kaur visited her in Karnal jail and said that the 23-year-old has been brutally assaulted in custody by male police officers and has injuries on her private parts.
Their lawyer said that the medical reports have confirmed the same, Outlook reported.
A member of Mazdoor Adhikar Sanghatan (MAS), Navdeep cleared class 12th a few years ago and started working at a bulb-making factory in Kundli, Noida.
According to her sister, she was saving up to pursue higher studies. As a member of MAS, Navdeep has been working to build farmers and laborer solidarity.
Khalsa Aid, the foundation involved in humanitarian works, also raised the issue of Navdeep’s arrest. the foundation said:
“We are extremely concerned for safety and well being of young female activist #NodeepKaur who was arrested by @DelhiPolice last week. She has suffered abuse in custody We appeal to the global human rights groups to seek her immediate release.”
In November of 2020, 26 – year – old Navdeep Singh, was arrested for climbing on top of water cannon to turn it off during farmers protest in Ambala district. Navdeep Singh has been charged with attempt to murder, rioting, and violation of COVID-19 rules in Haryana.
Farmer Protest "Hero" Who Shut Water Cannon Charged With Attempt To Murder https://t.co/vpwW5gU4xf pic.twitter.com/uZy8vUDiM7
— NDTV (@ndtv) November 27, 2020
He has been booked in the same FIR in which Bhartiya Kisan Union Haryana president, Gurnam Singh Charuni has been booked.
In this FIR, Navdeep’s father, Jai Singh Jalbera, is also an accused. The police have accused Navdeep and his father of attempting to run over policemen with a speeding tractor-trolley by breaking the police barricading.
The case was registered at Parao police station in Haryana.
No update on the FIR and the case has been made since.