Association for Protection of Democratic Rights

The Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) is one of the oldest human rights organisations in India, 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.

Association for Protection of Democratic Rights

Abbreviation	APDR
Formation	1972
Founders	Civil rights activists in West Bengal
Type	Non-governmental organisation
Legal status	Active
Purpose	Human rights advocacy, civil liberties protection
Headquarters	18, Madan Baral Lane, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Region served	India
Website	www.apdrwb.in

History

APDR was founded in the political context of the early 1970s, marked by the Naxalite movement and heavy state repression in West Bengal. The organisation's first public declaration was released on 9 September 1972.^[1]

During the Indian Emergency (1975–77), APDR was banned and its literature destroyed. Several activists were arrested.^[2]

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, NSA, AFSPA, and TADA.^[1]

It has conducted several public fact-finding reports and protests, including:

• the Archana Guha torture case (1977),^[3]
• the Rizwanur Rahman custodial death case (2007),^[4]
• and the Bhikhari Paswan incident (1993).^[5]

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.^[6]

Campaigns

In recent years, APDR has opposed:

• the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA),^[7]
• the arrest of activists under UAPA,^[8]
• and the treatment of tribal villagers in Bastar and Jangalmahal.^[9]

Controversies

In 2003, police alleged APDR’s links with Maoist groups, which the organisation denied, asserting its non-partisan rights-based stance.^[10]

In 2004, APDR workers in Jangipara, Hooghly, were attacked by ruling CPI(M) members.^[11]

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.^[2]

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 has 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),^[12]
• and Jharkhand Organisation for Human Rights.^[13]

See also

• People's Union for Civil Liberties
• Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights
• Civil liberties in India
• Custodial deaths in India