Mumbai Police searched activist’s home for Palestine kite event, alleges group

The Mumbai Police on Friday allegedly did not allow five activists to leave the home of one of them while it was searched allegedly for flying kites to express solidarity with Palestinian children.

The activists are associated with citizens’ group Indian People in Solidarity with Palestine and had participated in the global Gaza kite event held on September 15.

A sixth activist was interrogated at the Bandra police station on Friday before being released in the evening.

The group alleged that persons in plainclothes claiming to be police officers arrived at the home of a volunteer and student, Harshada. She told Scroll on Saturday that at some point there were as many as 15 police officers.

Starting 5.30 pm, uniformed police personnel carried out searches “without any warrant and without furnishing any written notice or document”, the group alleged.

Police officers left the woman’s residence at 2.30 am on Saturday, Pooja, a member of Indian People in Solidarity with Palestine told Scroll.

“More than nine hours – and counting – for ‘searching’ a person’s place of residence without a warrant merely for flying kites in solidarity with Palestinian children!” the group had posted on Saturday.

Harshada alleged that the police made a list of some of her books, among other things, and took photos and videos during the...

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