National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) condemns murder of its Karnataka state convenor
Day-long protest organised in front of Mahatma Gandhi Statue in Bangalore on Thursday (24th July) from 10.30 a.m. onwards
Dear Friends,
The gruesome murder of senior activist and campaigner for prohibition of liquor, Mr. A.T. Babu, one of the state convenors of NAPM in Karnataka, on Monday has shocked everyone. The National Alliance of People's Movements is organising a half day protest at Gandhi statute (M.G.Road) between 10.30 hrs and 15.00 hrs on Thursday (24th July). Senior NAPM activists from all over the country including Medha Patkar will be attending the protest. We invite you to attend the protest in great numbers to protest this brutal murder. Sr.Celia will be the lead organizer (9945716052) please encourage institutions, students and friends to participate in large numbers. Whoever can prepare banners, placards, please do. The focus should be on: demanding a CBI enquiry into the murder of A.T.Babu, a social activist. Secondly a condemnation of the dastardly actions of the liquor lobby.
Finally on the same day, after the protest, we will have a hall meeting during which time, Medha Pathkar, P.Chennaiah and other leaders of the NAPM and PUCL, Karnataka will address the participants and help plan a future course of action.
NAPM Karnataka
p.s.
NAPM contact Numbers in Karnataka: Sr. Celia, 09945716052; Balakrishnan: 080-23392354; David Selveraj, 09880290181
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The news item on murder
Was shocked after reading the news yesterday morning! What a scary thing for any potential activist. Day light murder (11:30 am) I was numb to read it. Here is the news article in question [(link) from yesterday's TOI epaper].
Eight hack activist to death en route to meet
Anti-Liquor NGO Says Booze Mafia Killed Him
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Bangalore: The liquor lobby did it, says the Alternative Law Forum, an organization working towards an liquor-free society. Its state convener A T Babu was hacked to death at about 11.30 am on Monday by eight persons, right in front of two nuns whom he was driving to an anti-arrack programme in Ramanagaram.
Babu was driving the car with the two nuns — Celia and Rukmini — in the back seat. When the car neared Ramanagaram, two persons on a motorcycle shouted at Babu for talking on the phone while driving. Babu stopped the car and an SUV following him also stopped. Eight persons from the SUV dragged Babu out of the car and hacked him to death.
Babu was to attend the anti-arrack rally near Ramanagar and proceed to Mandya for a meeting of the National Association for People’s Movement (NAPM). Clifton of Alternative Law Forum said that Babu from the Sarai Virodhi Andolana had been instrumental in the closure of many arrack shops.
“The liquor lobby tried financial inducement and when he did not budge, it also threatened him,’’ he added. According to an eyewitness, the assailants were between the age group of 20-25 years, wearing cargo capris and vests. Celia told the police that the assailants looked like supari killers and spoke in Kannada. A case has been registered in Ramanagar Rural police station.