Bengaluru police on Thursday, February 13, detained 11 activists from various student and human rights organisations for holding a press meet outside the Global Investors Meet (GIM) 2025. The activists were protesting the Indian government’s deepening ties with Israel, citing its ongoing military actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
The activists—representing organisations such as the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), All India Students Association (AISA), All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), and Fridays For Future Karnataka—were taken into preventive detention and held at Sadashiv Nagar Police Station from 12:30 PM to 5:30 PM.
The press meet was called to highlight concerns over an event at GIM 2025 titled Sky to Soil: How Indian-Israeli Cooperation in Drones, Agri-Tech, and Clean Energy Is Driving Sustainable Innovation. The activists alleged that such collaborations amounted to legitimising Israel’s actions in Gaza, where, according to the UN, bombings have created over 50 million tons of rubble. They also condemned the Indian government for engaging in research collaborations on drones, which they described as "the backbone of Israeli military operations."
The statement further pointed out that India’s stance on Palestine, reiterated by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in November 2024, contradicts its growing partnerships with Israel. The activists demanded that India impose an arms embargo on Israel and join the ICJ case filed by South Africa against Israel for alleged genocide.
Calling the detentions arbitrary, Bengaluru for Justice and Peace urged the Karnataka government to respect the right to peaceful dissent. "Protest is a constitutional right," the statement said, demanding the immediate release of the detained activists.