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Climate of ‘Fear’ Among Rights Groups as India Arrests Activists

  • Activists, lawyers, journalists arrested across the country
  • Amnesty International says there’s an ‘atmosphere of fear’
Indian police detain the Progressive Organisation for Women leader Sandhya during a protest against the arrest of activist Varavara Rao in Hyderabad, on Aug. 29.

Indian police detain the Progressive Organisation for Women leader Sandhya during a protest against the arrest of activist Varavara Rao in Hyderabad, on Aug. 29.

Photographer: Noal Seelam/AFP via Getty Images

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India’s top court has prevented police from jailing activists and lawyers swept up in a nationwide operation that human rights groups say is aimed at intimidating critics of the government.

The Supreme Court ordered that the five be kept under house arrest and not transferred into police custody. Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud -- one of those hearing the case -- said: "Dissent is the safety valve of democracy. If you don’t allow the safety valve, the pressure cooker will burst."