Disha Students’ Organization strongly condemns the violent assault on activists from Indian People in Solidarity with Palestine and BDS India, as well as the wrongful FIR filed against them.
On 10th May, students and activists associated with BDS India and Indian People in Solidarity with Palestine were brutally attacked by RSS-BJP goons during a peaceful protest outside a Domino’s outlet in Karve Nagar, Pune. The demonstrators were distributing pamphlets to raise awareness about the ongoing genocide in Gaza and urging a boycott of corporations like Domino’s, which profit from and support the Israeli occupation. Domino’s operates numerous outlets in Israel and has openly supported the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) by providing them with free food. This protest highlighted how Zionist Israel has massacred over 51,000 Palestinians in the last 18 months.
Despite repeatedly clarifying that their protest was peaceful and solely focused on opposing war crimes in Gaza, the activists were physically assaulted, their banners were snatched, and female activists were subjected to horrific rape threats. Shockingly, this attack occurred in full view of the Pune police, who neither intervened nor took action against the perpetrators afterward. Now, an FIR has been filed against the activists themselves, exposing the alarming collapse of democratic spaces and institutional accountability under this fascist regime.
To whitewash this violence and shield the perpetrators, BJP’s IT Cell has orchestrated a malicious propaganda campaign, falsely accusing the activists of shouting “pro-Pakistan slogans” and “supporting Hamas.” This deliberate smear campaign, filled with lies, seeks to criminalize dissent and vilify a peaceful movement. We urge all democratic-minded individuals to reject these fabrications, expose the lies, support the activists, and defend the fundamental right to protest.
Disha Students’ Organization stands firmly in solidarity with the Palestinian people’s struggle against racist Zionist imperialism. We condemn the police harassment of activists and demand that the Karve Nagar police provide an immediate explanation for their failure to take action against the attackers. The FIR filed in this case deliberately omits critical charges, exposing a clear attempt to shield BJP-RSS-affiliated perpetrators. Meanwhile, unjust and non-bailable charges have been wrongfully imposed on activists from BDS India and Indian People in Solidarity with Palestine activists.
We therefore demand:
An impartial investigation into the incident.
Stringent action against those responsible for violently suppressing dissent.
