{"id":156474,"date":"2021-04-22T00:46:11","date_gmt":"2021-04-21T19:16:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/?p=156474"},"modified":"2021-04-22T00:46:30","modified_gmt":"2021-04-21T19:16:30","slug":"in-bhima-koregaon-case-more-damning-signs-of-planted-evidence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/2021\/04\/22\/in-bhima-koregaon-case-more-damning-signs-of-planted-evidence\/","title":{"rendered":"In Bhima-Koregaon Case, More Damning Signs of Planted Evidence"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3 id=\"viewer-foo\" class=\"_3tkn1 _208Ie _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\" style=\"color: #ff9900;\">A new report by a leading US digital forensic company offers \u2018irrefutable\u2019 proof of arrested activist Rona Wilson\u2019s devices being hacked and explains how 22 files were planted. These files are key evidence in the Bhima-Koregaon case, where 16 academics, lawyers, artistes are imprisoned without bail or trial<\/span><\/h3>\n<div id=\"viewer-1nlam\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"viewer-738to\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<p id=\"viewer-5skkk\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\"><strong>SHREEGIREESH JALIHAL\/THE REPORTERS&#8217; COLLECTIVE<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div class=\"_2NwBk _1IVq6\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-hook=\"divider-single\">\n\r\n                <style type=\"text\/css\">\r\n                    \r\n                    #tdi_1  .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 {\r\n                        background: url(https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/1-80x60.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat;\r\n                    }\r\n                    #tdi_1  .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 {\r\n                        background: url(https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2Chargesheet-on-why-Rona-Wilson-and-Surendra-Gadling-were-raided.-80x60.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat;\r\n                    }\r\n                    #tdi_1  .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item3 {\r\n                        background: url(https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/3A-note-on-the-electronic-evidence.-80x60.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat;\r\n                    }\r\n                    #tdi_1  .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item4 {\r\n                        background: url(https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/4Rona-WilsonCOURTESY-FAMILY-80x60.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat;\r\n                    }\r\n                    #tdi_1  .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item5 {\r\n                        background: url(https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/5-80x60.jpg) 0 0 no-repeat;\r\n                    }\r\n                <\/style>\r\n\r\n                <div id=\"tdi_1\" class=\"td-gallery td-slide-on-2-columns\">\r\n                    <div class=\"post_td_gallery\">\r\n                        <div class=\"td-gallery-slide-top\">\r\n                           <div class=\"td-gallery-title\"><\/div>\r\n\r\n                            <div class=\"td-gallery-controls-wrapper\">\r\n                                <div class=\"td-gallery-slide-count\"><span class=\"td-gallery-slide-item-focus\">1<\/span> of 5<\/div>\r\n                                <div class=\"td-gallery-slide-prev-next-but\">\r\n                                    <i class = \"td-icon-left doubleSliderPrevButton\"><\/i>\r\n                                    <i class = \"td-icon-right doubleSliderNextButton\"><\/i>\r\n                                <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <div class = \"td-doubleSlider-1 \">\r\n                            <div class = \"td-slider\">\r\n                                \r\n                    <div class = \"td-slide-item td-item1\">\r\n                        <figure class=\"td-slide-galery-figure td-slide-popup-gallery\">\r\n                            <a class=\"slide-gallery-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/1.jpg\" title=\"1\"  data-caption=\"\"  data-description=\"\">\r\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/1.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/1.jpg 740w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/1-300x135.jpg 300w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/1-696x314.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px\" alt=\"\">\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                            \r\n                        <\/figure>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-slide-item td-item2\">\r\n                        <figure class=\"td-slide-galery-figure td-slide-popup-gallery\">\r\n                            <a class=\"slide-gallery-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2Chargesheet-on-why-Rona-Wilson-and-Surendra-Gadling-were-raided..jpg\" title=\"2Chargesheet-on-why-Rona-Wilson-and-Surendra-Gadling-were-raided.\"  data-caption=\"Chargesheet on why Rona Wilson and Surendra Gadling were raided.\"  data-description=\"\">\r\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2Chargesheet-on-why-Rona-Wilson-and-Surendra-Gadling-were-raided..jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2Chargesheet-on-why-Rona-Wilson-and-Surendra-Gadling-were-raided..jpg 740w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2Chargesheet-on-why-Rona-Wilson-and-Surendra-Gadling-were-raided.-300x51.jpg 300w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2Chargesheet-on-why-Rona-Wilson-and-Surendra-Gadling-were-raided.-696x118.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px\" alt=\"\">\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                            <figcaption class = \"td-slide-caption td-gallery-slide-content\"><div class = \"td-gallery-slide-copywrite\">Chargesheet on why Rona Wilson and Surendra Gadling were raided.<\/div><\/figcaption>\r\n                        <\/figure>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-slide-item td-item3\">\r\n                        <figure class=\"td-slide-galery-figure td-slide-popup-gallery\">\r\n                            <a class=\"slide-gallery-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/3A-note-on-the-electronic-evidence..jpg\" title=\"3A-note-on-the-electronic-evidence.\"  data-caption=\"A note on the electronic evidence.\"  data-description=\"\">\r\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/3A-note-on-the-electronic-evidence.-343x420.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/3A-note-on-the-electronic-evidence.-343x420.jpg 343w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/3A-note-on-the-electronic-evidence.-245x300.jpg 245w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/3A-note-on-the-electronic-evidence.-696x852.jpg 696w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/3A-note-on-the-electronic-evidence..jpg 740w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 343px) 100vw, 343px\" alt=\"\">\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                            <figcaption class = \"td-slide-caption td-gallery-slide-content\"><div class = \"td-gallery-slide-copywrite\">A note on the electronic evidence.<\/div><\/figcaption>\r\n                        <\/figure>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-slide-item td-item4\">\r\n                        <figure class=\"td-slide-galery-figure td-slide-popup-gallery\">\r\n                            <a class=\"slide-gallery-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/4Rona-WilsonCOURTESY-FAMILY.jpg\" title=\"4Rona-WilsonCOURTESY-FAMILY\"  data-caption=\"Rona Wilson\/COURTESY FAMILY\"  data-description=\"\">\r\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/4Rona-WilsonCOURTESY-FAMILY-630x420.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/4Rona-WilsonCOURTESY-FAMILY-630x420.jpg 630w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/4Rona-WilsonCOURTESY-FAMILY-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/4Rona-WilsonCOURTESY-FAMILY-696x464.jpg 696w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/4Rona-WilsonCOURTESY-FAMILY.jpg 740w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\" alt=\"\">\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                            <figcaption class = \"td-slide-caption td-gallery-slide-content\"><div class = \"td-gallery-slide-copywrite\">Rona Wilson\/COURTESY FAMILY<\/div><\/figcaption>\r\n                        <\/figure>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-slide-item td-item5\">\r\n                        <figure class=\"td-slide-galery-figure td-slide-popup-gallery\">\r\n                            <a class=\"slide-gallery-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/5.jpg\" title=\"5\"  data-caption=\"\"  data-description=\"\">\r\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/5-543x420.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/5-543x420.jpg 543w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/5-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/5-696x538.jpg 696w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/5.jpg 740w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 543px) 100vw, 543px\" alt=\"\">\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                            \r\n                        <\/figure>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <div class = \"td-doubleSlider-2\">\r\n                            <div class = \"td-slider\">\r\n                                \r\n                    <div class = \"td-button td-item1\">\r\n                        <div class = \"td-border\"><\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-button td-item2\">\r\n                        <div class = \"td-border\"><\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-button td-item3\">\r\n                        <div class = \"td-border\"><\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-button td-item4\">\r\n                        <div class = \"td-border\"><\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-button td-item5\">\r\n                        <div class = \"td-border\"><\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                \n<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-hook=\"divider-single\"><\/div>\n<div data-hook=\"divider-single\">\n<p id=\"viewer-eb7p9\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\"><strong>New Delhi:<\/strong> A new report from a <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arsenalexperts.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">US-based digital forensics company<\/a> has said a hacker planted 22 \u201cincriminating\u201d files in activist Rona Wilson\u2019s computer, days after <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ndtv.com\/india-news\/bhima-koregaon-cases-to-be-reviewed-by-maharashtra-home-minister-anil-deshmukh-on-thursday-2168187\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">violence<\/a> in the Maharashtra town of Bhima-Koregaon in January 2018. <\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"viewer-aidvp\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">These files have, since 15 November 2018, been <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thequint.com\/news\/india\/elgar-parishad-pune-police-file-chargesheet-against-5-accused\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cited<\/a>, initially by the Pune Police and then by the <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nia.gov.in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Investigation Agency<\/a>(NIA), as key evidence. This evidence led to Wilson and 15 others\u2014including lawyers, academics and artistes\u2014being arrested and jailed without bail (except the poet Varavara Rao who is now on bail) or trial for more than two years on charges of <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nia.gov.in\/case-detail.htm?307\/Bima+Koregaon+Case\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">conspiring against the Indian state<\/a>.<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"viewer-1dukc\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<p id=\"viewer-d3dh4\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">The files were never created, opened or used by anyone who directly handled Wilson\u2019s computer, but the hacker used a software to plant them, said the new report from <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arsenalexperts.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Arsenal Consulting<\/a>. They analysed an electronic copy of Wilson\u2019s computer on a request from his lawyers, who got it from the police in November 2019 after <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/elgar-parishad-case-pune-police-file-draft-charges-against-19-6174081\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">court orders<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-frjia\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">The new report is a follow-up of <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/world\/asia_pacific\/india-bhima-koregaon-activists-jailed\/2021\/02\/10\/8087f172-61e0-11eb-a177-7765f29a9524_story.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Arsenal\u2019s first report in February 2021<\/a>. That report concluded the computer was hacked using malicious software to plant 10 files, mostly \u201cincriminating\u201d letters, and it faced sustained electronic spying.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"viewer-df1ui\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<h3><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">The second report, yet to be made public, but reviewed by <strong>Article 14<\/strong>, states: \u201cThere is no evidence of legitimate interaction with the additional files of interest on Mr. Wilson\u2019s computer, and that 22 of the 24 files are directly connected to the attacker identified in Report I\u201d.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"viewer-1q7lr\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<p id=\"viewer-bi9gb\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">The additional 24 files largely contain purported correspondence between members of the banned <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nia.gov.in\/banned-terrorist-organisations.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Communist Party of India (Maoist)<\/a>, discussions on fund transfers, how to improve women&#8217;s representation in organisations, difficulties party members face in communicating with each other, concerns over state crackdown and some photographs of Maoist guerillas.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"viewer-feot4\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\"><strong>Article 14<\/strong> emailed detailed queries to Jaya Roy, NIA spokesperson and Superintendent of Police. The queries included specific questions related to Arsenal\u2019s findings and reports submitted by government\u2019s forensic labs. <\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"viewer-3i33d\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<p id=\"viewer-8hevp\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">Roy did not reply to the email. She told <strong>Article 14<\/strong> on the phone that, \u201cWe do not take cognisance of reports from private labs. There are notified labs for our forensic examination like RFSL (Regional Forensic Science Laboratory) and CFSL (Central Forensic Science Laboratory).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-1131k\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">While the case against the 16 is likely to drag for years, their lawyers\u2019 focus is on getting the activists released on bail. Wilson\u2019s lawyers are likely to use the second Arsenal report to buttress their contention that primary electronic evidence was fabricated and that the tampering of his computer makes all electronic evidence produced from it unusable. <\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"viewer-10shn\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<p id=\"viewer-bukel\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\"><strong>The Electronic Evidence Linking The 16 Accused<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-9v8ta\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">The case against the 16 activists centres around Elgaar Parishad, an event held on 31 December 2017 in Bhima-Koregaon, a town of roughly 9,000 inhabitants, 28 km northeast of Pune, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the victory of a largely Dalit-staffed British army over the upper-caste Peshwa army. <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.epw.in\/journal\/2018\/13\/commentary\/investigating-violence-koregaon-bhima.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Violence<\/a> and arson followed the event, as Dalits clashed with Hindu right-wingers irked by the celebration of a valorous Dalit past. <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote id=\"viewer-f0lpd\" class=\"_3jY04 _1J-OE wdKVd _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\">\n<h3><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">Soon, a Pune police investigation into the violence <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thequint.com\/news\/india\/bhima-koregaon-activists-arrest-uapa-act\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">changed tack<\/a> to a Maoist conspiracy and focussed on \u201curban naxals\u201d, a term popularised around the same time by right-wing supporters and leaders to deride urban intellectuals and activists.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p id=\"viewer-6dman\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">Police raided activists and organisers of the event and seized laptops, hard disks and other devices. According to the charge sheet, the police raided the premises of Rona Wilson and advocate Surendra Gadling because of their alleged communication with Sudhir Dhawale, one of the main organisers of Bhima Koregaon event.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_156475\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-156475\" style=\"width: 740px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2Chargesheet-on-why-Rona-Wilson-and-Surendra-Gadling-were-raided..jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-156475\" src=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2Chargesheet-on-why-Rona-Wilson-and-Surendra-Gadling-were-raided..jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"740\" height=\"125\" data-wp-editing=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2Chargesheet-on-why-Rona-Wilson-and-Surendra-Gadling-were-raided..jpg 740w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2Chargesheet-on-why-Rona-Wilson-and-Surendra-Gadling-were-raided.-300x51.jpg 300w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2Chargesheet-on-why-Rona-Wilson-and-Surendra-Gadling-were-raided.-696x118.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-156475\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chargesheet on why Rona Wilson and Surendra Gadling were raided.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"viewer-28ckr\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">The files found on Wilson\u2019s computer were among the evidence submitted against him, lawyer-activist Sudha Bharadwaj, poet Rao and others.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"viewer-8rke8\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_156476\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-156476\" style=\"width: 740px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/3A-note-on-the-electronic-evidence..jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-156476\" src=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/3A-note-on-the-electronic-evidence..jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"740\" height=\"906\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/3A-note-on-the-electronic-evidence..jpg 740w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/3A-note-on-the-electronic-evidence.-245x300.jpg 245w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/3A-note-on-the-electronic-evidence.-696x852.jpg 696w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/3A-note-on-the-electronic-evidence.-343x420.jpg 343w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-156476\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A note on the electronic evidence.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"viewer-dcdlm\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">After the NIA took over the probe from the state police, soon after the state saw a change in administration from a BJP-led government to the Maha Vikas Aghadi currently in power, they filed an <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/elgar-parishad-case-nia-chargesheet-eight-accused-6717420\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">additional charge sheet<\/a>, naming Jesuit priest Stan Swany, Hanybabu Tarayil, a professor of linguistics at the Department of English at Delhi University, Anand Teltumbde, a professor of the Goa Institute of Management and journalist Gautam Navlakha. <\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"viewer-agp2i\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<p id=\"viewer-avc0j\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">They were accused of conspiring with a banned Maoist group against the Indian government and face charges under the <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mha.gov.in\/sites\/default\/files\/A1967-37.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act<\/a> (UAPA), 1967, an anti-terrorism law that overwhelmingly puts the <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.article-14.com\/post\/how-the-uapa-repackages-ideas-as-crimes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">onus of proving innocence on the accused<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"viewer-3qklo\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<p id=\"viewer-5cbj3\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\"><strong>Unravelling The Hacker\u2019s Handiwork<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-bm6ni\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">Arsenal found instances where the hacker renamed files and, in one case, even made a mistake that was later corrected.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-eu6pv\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">Arsenal\u2019s president Mark Spencer explained to <strong>Article 14<\/strong> the significance of the new report: \u201cThe process tree involving \u201cmohila meeting jan.pdf\u201d is the most compelling finding in Report II. While there are many \u201csmoking guns\u201d related to the attacker\u2019s activity in Reports I and II, this process tree is one of the most significant\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-eok4n\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">The mohila meeting file that Spencer referred to contains the minutes of a purported <em>mohila<\/em> (women) meeting on 2 January 2018. It lists other co-accused activists\u2014Bharadwaj, Shoma Sen\u2014and others as members of MOs or mass organisations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-apm7u\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">The process tree that Spencer referred to tracks how and when the attacker hacked and planted files on a victim\u2019s computer. The report said these 22 files were planted using NetWire, malicious software that opens the door to the device for hackers. <\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_156477\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-156477\" style=\"width: 740px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/4Rona-WilsonCOURTESY-FAMILY.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-156477\" src=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/4Rona-WilsonCOURTESY-FAMILY.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"740\" height=\"493\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/4Rona-WilsonCOURTESY-FAMILY.jpg 740w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/4Rona-WilsonCOURTESY-FAMILY-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/4Rona-WilsonCOURTESY-FAMILY-696x464.jpg 696w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/4Rona-WilsonCOURTESY-FAMILY-630x420.jpg 630w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-156477\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rona Wilson\/COURTESY FAMILY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"viewer-sg6u\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">The hacker then remotely changed, added or deleted contents and viewed computer activity. The second report detailed how this remote-access electronic Trojan horse was used to deliver multiple files to Wilson\u2019s laptop, in addition to those mentioned in the first report, later used by investigators to incriminate him and others.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"viewer-2dth7\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<p id=\"viewer-2u6dg\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\"><strong>Inside The Trojan Horse<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-5pfks\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">The process tree for the \u2018mohila meeting document\u2019 showed NetWire being launched automatically on 11 January 2018, 11 days after the Bhima-Koregaon violence, at 5:04 pm after a login. <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-4b82g\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">The attacker opened a command prompt and unpacked three files between 5:10 and 5:12 pm \u2014 one of which contained \u201cmohila meeting jan.pdf\u201d. These files were then unpacked into a hidden folder using a temporarily deployed UnRAR, a file archiver like WinZip, renamed to \u201cAdobe.exe\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-8en7c\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">The report explained how the attacker erred while writing the command to plant a file, and subsequently corrected it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-ajq67\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u201cIt is rare to see an attacker make mistakes, so any mistake is very interesting to us,\u201d said Spencer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-cknvh\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">Arsenal offered many bits of what it claimed to be \u201cirrefutable evidence of NetWire running on Rona Wilson&#8217;s computer\u201d, including the screen grab below:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/5.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-156478\" src=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"740\" height=\"572\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/5.jpg 740w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/5-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/5-696x538.jpg 696w, https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/5-543x420.jpg 543w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px\" \/><\/a><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u201cIt shows NetWire\u2019s communication with the attacker&#8217;s command-and-control server that we recovered from the active Windows hibernation on Rona Wilson&#8217;s computer,\u201d said Spencer. \u201cThe hibernation occurred on 14 January 2018. The IP address is associated with one of the hostnames that we already released in Report I, but now people can see an example of how we know so many details\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-d6mlh\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">Besides laptop, files in hard disks and pen drives too, were helpful in tightening the screws on Wilson and others. The attacker ensured that files were automatically transferred from Wilson\u2019s computer to the external hard drive when hooked up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-atcfm\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u201cPlease keep in mind that ultimately you do not need to take our word for anything we have shared in Reports I or II, as our findings can be replicated by competent digital forensics practitioners with access to the same electronic evidence,\u201d said Spencer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-eiee\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u201cThe process tree has effectively caught the attacker red-handed,\u201d said Spencer. \u201cIt very clearly demonstrates how the attacker delivered incriminating files to Rona Wilson\u2019s computer.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-9klgr\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u201cIt&#8217;s the kind of finding that should make technical people lean back in their chairs and say, whoa,\u201d said Spencer, who has examined computers related to the 2013 <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/event\/Boston-Marathon-bombing-of-2013\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bombing of the Boston Marathon<\/a> and a Turkish journalist <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/arsenal-consulting-to-discuss-shocking-results-of-computer-forensics-in-high-profile-turkish-cases-260275881.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">falsely framed<\/a> for terrorism in 2014.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"viewer-ccj0m\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<p id=\"viewer-2n76o\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\"><strong>Have More Than Electronic Evidence: NIA<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-27spk\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">The NIA, in a special court, in response to a bail plea moved by Anand Teltumbde\u2019s lawyers based on the first report by Arsenal said that the findings cannot be relied upon since it\u2019s <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/cities\/mumbai\/nia-to-court-report-of-digital-consultant-submitted-by-teltumbde-not-authenticated-7265401\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u2018not authenticated\u2019<\/a>. Multiple charge sheets filed by the state police and NIA running into hundreds of pages hinge on the evidence recovered from the electronic devices of Wilson and others, the credibility of which has now been debunked by the independent forensic expert.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-e8sa8\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">In a statement on 10 February, the NIA had indirectly discredited Arsenal\u2019s first report. <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-e9j2g\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u201cThe forensics reports that are cited in the charge sheet filed in the court are from an accredited lab, accepted by the Indian courts. In this case, it was done by the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory in Pune. According to their report no such malware was found,\u201d NIA spokesperson Roy <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/theprint.in\/india\/bhima-koregaon-suspects-laptop-was-hacked-to-plant-evidence-us-firm-claims-nia-rejects-it\/602847\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a>. \u201cRest all (sic) is distortion of facts.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-es4q2\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">We reviewed the documents submitted by the prosecution in the court. They show the investigating officer in the case did ask the government forensic lab on 13 October 2018 to state that the electronic devices of the accused were not tampered with. The government lab made no comment. The prosecution then stated that more forensic reports were awaited, noting in a NIA report, part of the chargesheet, \u201cCertain FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) reports are yet to be received.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-bh1sn\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">Asked for comment by <strong>Article 14<\/strong>, NIA spokesperson Roy said: \u201cNIA has already filed chargesheet in the case and the case is currently sub judice. I would not be commenting on any of the court matters.\u201d Article 14 had raised a specific query about the fact that RFSL did not respond to questions of evidence tampering on record.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-fnecs\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">The Police initially and the NIA later, in their submissions, contended they have more than electronic evidence against the accused. Human rights activists and lawyers <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-asia-india-45294286\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">alleged<\/a> the government has concocted evidence to target activists it perceives to be against its ideology.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-9or0c\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u201cThe modus operandi appears to have been set in motion post 2014, to target and trap human rights defenders in such a way that they would remain incarcerated for a long time,\u201d said senior advocate Mihir Desai, Wilson\u2019s lawyer. <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-2v70f\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u201cOne of the electronic documents that the authorities presented as evidence is called \u2018Strategy and Tactics of Indian Revolution\u2019. It is not a secret document. It&#8217;s available in the public domain,\u201d he said. A <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.satp.org\/satporgtp\/countries\/india\/maoist\/documents\/papers\/strategy.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google search<\/a> indeed threw up the document.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-g62o\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\"><strong>\u2018Irritant\u2019 Songs, \u2018Misleading History\u2019: Other Evidence<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-2ufkq\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">To bolster its case against the 16, besides electronic records, eye-witness accounts, the Pune Police also cited the performance of \u201cirritant\u201d songs at the Elgar Parishad, the dissemination of \u201cmisleading history\u201d and an attempt to \u201cspread Maoist ideology\u201d among \u201cbackward community\u201d. These purported pieces of \u2018evidence\u2019 in the chargesheet continue to be used by the NIA against the 16 accused in the court. <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-7r6v2\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">All these activities are equated with sedition and an attempt to destabilise India. <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-2jt6g\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u201cIrritant to whom?\u201d asked Desai, responding to the reference of songs of protests that were sung at the event and cited in the chargesheet as evidence of a conspiracy. <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-agn0b\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u201cProtest and anti-caste songs are a tradition in Maharashtra. Annabhau Sathe, Shahir Amar Shaikh, D N Gavankar and balladeers like Vilas Ghogre and Sambhaji Bhagat are a part of cultural milieu of the state,\u201d he said, referring to a pantheon of social reformers and revolutionary poets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-cn27l\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">The case files against the 16 accused listed performances of <a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/kabirkalamanch.wordpress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kabir Kala Manch<\/a>\u2014one of the cultural outfits that was part of the Elgar Parishad\u2014as attempts to \u201ccreate hatred against the government\u201d in the minds of people. <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-7f30d\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">The chargesheet lists the lyrics of a song the group allegedly performed as an example: <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-c6pui\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">\u201c<em>Jab zulm ho to baghawat honi chahiye shahar men, agar baghawat na ho to, behtar ho ke, yeh raat dhalne se pahle shahar jal kar raakh ho jaye&#8221;.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-18rna\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\"> (When there is oppression, rebellion should break out in city; <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-el5h2\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">if there is none, it\u2019s better the city burn to ashes before dawn)<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-85pun\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">The charge sheet says documents show the 16 accused people, including Wilson, had concluded that dalits had turned against BJP and RSS because they perceived the two to be Brahmin-centric. The charge-sheet extrapolated this to conclude that the accused were going to use this Dalit assertion against BJP and RSS to create \u2018chaos\u2019. The authorities took a further leap of faith based on this supposed evidence to claim that the 16 activists, poets and academicians were therefore working against the integrity and sovereignty of the country.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-bvepa\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\">The specific paragraph from the police charge sheet noted: \u201cFrom the seized correspondence it is found mentioned that the backward class thinking has now gone against the Brahmin-centred agenda of BJP and RSS. It is their attempt that this type of unrest in their minds is to be used as capital they should be organised at large scale and taking its advantage chaotic situation is created at large scale.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"viewer-bort6\" class=\"XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr\"><strong><em>(Shreegireesh Jalihal is a member of <\/em><\/strong><a class=\"_2qJYG _2E8wo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reporters-collective.in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>The Reporters\u2019 Collective<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>, a journalism collaborative that publishes in multiple languages and media.)<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>[This report was first published in Article 14 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.article-14.com\/\">www.article-14.com<\/a>)]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new report by a leading US digital forensic company offers \u2018irrefutable\u2019 proof of arrested activist Rona Wilson\u2019s devices being hacked and explains how 22 files were planted. These files are key evidence in the Bhima-Koregaon case, where 16 academics, lawyers, artistes are imprisoned without bail or trial \u00a0 \u00a0 SHREEGIREESH JALIHAL\/THE REPORTERS&#8217; COLLECTIVE New [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-156474","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-national","7":"category-state-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=156474"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156474\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=156474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=156474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arunachaltimes.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=156474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}