Arrested Bengaluru activist edited 'toolkit' document; sent to police custody
Climate activist Disha Ravi has been sent to five-day police custody by a Delhi court on Sunday a day after her arrest in connection with the "toolkit" case. The case pertains to a "toolkit" document shared by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg earlier this month. The document had detailed the plan for the farmers' protest on Republic Day, which had infamously turned violent.
Ravi broke down in court: Report
Ravi (21) was picked up from her Bengaluru home on Saturday evening. On Sunday, she was produced in a Delhi court and remanded in police custody for five days. According to the news agency ANI, the activist broke down inside the courtroom and told the judge that she had only edited two lines in the "toolkit" document and wanted to support the farmers' cause.
Charges of sedition, criminal conspiracy, promotion of enmity invoked
The Delhi Police has booked Ravi on the charges of sedition, hatching a criminal conspiracy, and promotion of enmity among groups. The police had sought seven-day custody, arguing that Ravi is a key lead in a larger conspiracy against the Indian government. It is also probing the alleged role of Khalistani elements. The policy said Ravi had edited the "toolkit" on February 3.
Delhi Police filed 'toolkit' case on February 4
The Delhi Police had filed a case in connection with a "toolkit" document shared by Thunberg on Twitter on February 4. The document was created by Poetic Justice Foundation, which the police identified as a Khalistani group. The police said the "toolkit" indicated a "copycat execution of a conspiracy" behind the violence on Republic Day (January 26) in Delhi.
Farmers' R-Day tractor rally had turned violent
Months after camping at Delhi's borders, farmers protesting against the central government's agricultural laws had staged a tractor rally on Republic Day. Despite agreeing to a plan for the rally, the protesters broke police barricades and launched the rally early. The police resorted to teargas shelling and baton charging the protesters. Some protesters breached the Red Fort and hoisted a Sikh flag.
