GAURI PARIHAR at 03:37, 7 May 2026

2026-05-07T03:37:41Z

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{{AI-generated|date=September 2025}}
{{Short description|Indian human rights organisation based in West Bengal}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox organisation
| name = Association for Protection of Democratic Rights
| abbreviation = APDR
| logo = APDR logo.jpg
| formation = 1972
| founders = Civil rights activists in West Bengal
| type = Non-governmental organisation
| status = Active
| purpose = Human rights advocacy, civil liberties protection
| headquarters = 18, Madan Baral Lane, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| region_served = India
| website = [https://www.apdrwb.in www.apdrwb.in]
}}

The '''Association for Protection of Democratic Rights''' ('''APDR''') is one of India's oldest human rights organisations. It was founded in 1972 in [[West Bengal]]. The organisation focuses on civil liberties, democratic rights, political prisoners, and state accountability, especially in contexts of custodial deaths, police brutality, and repression under anti-terror laws.

== History ==
APDR was founded in the political context of the early 1970s, marked by the [[Naxalite movement]] and state repression in West Bengal. The organisation's first public declaration was released on 9 September 1972.<ref name="wire1">{{Cite web |last=Majumder |first=Sukla |title=Fifty Years of APDR: How the Civil Liberties Movement Took Shape in India |url=https://thewire.in/rights/fifty-years-of-apdr-how-the-civil-liberties-movement-took-shape-in-india |access-date=8 July 2025 |website=The Wire |date=13 September 2022}}</ref>

During the [[Indian Emergency]] (1975–77), APDR was banned and its literature destroyed. Several activists were arrested.<ref name="gx1">{{Cite web |title=APDR@50 – An Epic Journey (Part 3) |url=https://www.groundxero.in/2021/10/22/apdr50-an-epic-journey-part-3/ |access-date=8 July 2025 |website=Groundxero}}</ref>

== Objectives and activities ==
APDR documents cases of:
* illegal arrests and detentions,
* custodial torture and deaths,
* extra-judicial killings,
* denial of rights to political prisoners,
* misuse of laws like [[UAPA]], [[National Security Act (India)|NSA]], [[AFSPA]], and [[Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act|TADA]].<ref name="wire1"/>

It conducted public fact-finding reports and protests, including:
* the Archana Guha torture case (1977),<ref>{{Cite news |title=Archana Guha's story still haunts civil society |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/archana-guhas-story-still-haunts-civil-society/articleshow/67116777.cms |access-date=8 July 2025 |work=The Times of India |date=16 December 2018}}</ref>
* the Rizwanur Rahman custodial death case (2007),<ref>{{Cite news |title=Activists demand CBI probe in Rizwanur case |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/activists-demand-cbi-probe-in-rizwanur-case/505568 |access-date=8 July 2025 |work=Outlook India |date=28 September 2007}}</ref>
* and the Bhikhari Paswan incident (1993).<ref>{{Cite web |title=People's Movement in India - Bhikhari Paswan case |url=https://www.sacw.net/2003/BhikhariPaswan.html |access-date=8 July 2025}}</ref>

== Legal action ==
APDR filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the 1990s against the felling of 4,000 trees on Jessore Road, which led to a landmark judgment on environmental protection.<ref>{{Cite web |title=APDR v State of West Bengal |url=https://www.r2heinfo.com/summaries/association-for-protection-of-democratic-rights-v-the-state-of-west-bengal-and-others/ |access-date=8 July 2025}}</ref>

== Campaigns ==
In later years, APDR opposed:
* National Register of Citizens (NRC) and [[Citizenship Amendment Act]] (CAA),<ref>{{Cite news |title=Massive anti-CAA rally in Kolkata |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/massive-anti-caa-rally-in-kolkata/cid/1732254 |access-date=8 July 2025 |work=The Telegraph}}</ref>
* arrest of activists under UAPA,<ref>{{Cite web |title=APDR demands withdrawal of UAPA cases against Arundhati Roy |url=https://www.apdrwb.in/apdr/singlepost/press-statement-1762024-arundhati-roy |access-date=8 July 2025 |website=APDR Official}}</ref>
* treatment of tribal villagers in Bastar and Jangalmahal.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Fact-finding team slams Bastar crackdown |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/fact-finding-team-slams-bastar-crackdown/story-GnLR4I1zCPiyS90YaLXYDJ.html |access-date=8 July 2025 |work=Hindustan Times |date=20 August 2015}}</ref>

== Controversies ==
In 2003, police alleged that APDR had links with Maoist groups, which the organisation denied, asserting its non-partisan rights-based stance.<ref>{{Cite news |title=APDR has links with Naxals: Police |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/apdr-has-links-with-naxals-say-police/articleshow/141870.cms |access-date=8 July 2025 |work=The Times of India |date=15 January 2003}}</ref>

In 2004, APDR workers in Jangipara, Hooghly, were attacked by ruling CPI(M) members.<ref>{{Cite web |title=India: Physical attack on APDR activists |url=https://www.fidh.org/en/region/asia/india/Physical-Attack-on-Human-Rights |access-date=8 July 2025 |website=FIDH}}</ref>

== Structure ==
APDR operates through local branches across West Bengal, with its central office in Kolkata. It collaborates with:
* [[People's Union for Civil Liberties]] (PUCL),
* [[Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights]] (CPDR),
* [[Organisation for Protection of Democratic Rights]] (OPDR),
* Amnesty International, and others.<ref name="gx1"/>

== Publications ==
APDR publishes pamphlets, reports, and books on issues like:
* Political Prisoners in India
* Custodial Deaths in West Bengal
* Human Rights and Armed Forces

== Legacy ==
APDR played a foundational role in the civil liberties movement in India. Its model inspired other organisations like:
* PUCL (1976),
* Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee (1973),<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Banerjee |first=S.G. |title=Civil Rights Movements in India |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |volume=18 |issue=5 |pages=174–180 |date=1983}}</ref>
* Jharkhand Organisation for Human Rights.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Human Rights Groups in India |url=https://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/programs/ai/rule-of-law/archives/india |access-date=8 July 2025}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[People's Union for Civil Liberties]]
* [[Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights]]
* [[Civil liberties in India]]
* [[Custodial deaths in India]]

== References ==
<references/>

== External links ==
* [https://www.apdrwb.in Official Website]
* [https://www.facebook.com/APDRofficial Facebook page]

[[Category:Human rights organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Civil liberties advocacy groups]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Kolkata]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1972]]
[[Category:1972 establishments in West Bengal]]

Association for Protection of Democratic Rights - Revision history

GAURI PARIHAR at 03:37, 7 May 2026