INCARCERATIONS Paperback

The Incarcerations: Bhima Koregaon and the Search for Democracy in India" by Alpa Shah is a powerful and meticulously researched account that exposes the chilling reality of Indian democracy through the lens of the Bhima Koregaon case. Shah unravels the story of 16 human rights defenders—including professors, lawyers, journalists, and poets—who were imprisoned without credible evidence as alleged Maoist terrorists, accused of inciting violence and plotting against the state. The book delves into the shocking revelations of cyber warfare research, demonstrating how electronic evidence was not only hacked but also planted on the devices of these individuals. Through their life histories, Shah highlights the broader struggles of India's Adivasi, Dalit, and Muslim minorities, arguing that the case serves as a critical bellwether for the erosion of democratic freedoms and a coordinated assault on dissent in the world's largest democracy.