At a joint press conference on January 4 in Lucknow, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) Liberation and Forward Bloc strongly condemned the arrest of CPI(ML) State Secretary Sudhakar Yadav, Jeera Bharti and other leaders in Mirzapur, calling it undemocratic and repressive.
Left leaders said Sudhakar Yadav’s name does not appear in FIR No. 04/2026 under which he was arrested, and that he was not present at the site. CPI(ML) leader Comrade Jeera Bharti was also arrested under the same case despite not being present.
The arrests are linked to the ongoing struggle led by Left parties to defend tribal rights under the Forest Rights Act and oppose bulldozer actions in Mirzapur. Despite assurances by the administration, forest officials destroyed standing crops in a tribal settlement and assaulted villagers, including women.
Terming the arrests as a reflection of the Yogi government’s authoritarian approach, the Left parties demanded action against erring police and forest officials and an immediate release of arrested and halt to bulldozer actions. They called upon democratic forces to join the statewide protest on January 6.
