AGP Executive Report

Punjab Accountability: A statewide bandh followed the killing of anti-drug campaigner Parvinder Singh Jhota. Police arrested the main accused and suspended the local station chief, as scrutiny turns to drug-shop oversight and the state’s anti-drug efforts. Protest Rights: Ankita Bhandari’s parents were released after detention at an India Gate protest. They want a newly appointed Sikkim governor’s appointment put on hold pending a CBI probe and threaten nationwide protests if their demand is ignored. Climate Advocacy: Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion activists protested at the European Parliament, urging EU leaders to reduce reliance on fossil fuels ahead of a summit on energy prices and competitiveness. Forest Protection: A new civil-society assessment says more than 7 million hectares of forest were lost in 2025, leaving global targets to halt forest loss by 2030 far out of reach. Coastal Communities: Ghanaian civil society groups welcomed the suspension of offshore gold exploration but say licences should be revoked over risks to fisheries and livelihoods.

Punjab Accountability: Police arrested the main suspect in the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, but protests in Mansa turned tense, with the accused’s shop set ablaze and part of his home demolished. Opposition parties are demanding accountability as residents call for justice. Right to Protest: Delhi police arrested Cockroach Janta Party leaders after they entered Jantar Mantar, recently removed as a designated protest site; two were remanded to five days’ custody. Opposition leaders and civil society groups say the arrests threaten dissent. Civil Liberties: The UN human rights office urged Sri Lanka to redraft its proposed anti-terrorism law, warning it could enable arbitrary detention, torture and restrictions on expression despite some improvements over earlier drafts. Humanitarian Access: Palestinian and international NGOs say settler violence, military raids and access restrictions are disrupting West Bank services and preventing farmers from reaching olive groves as harvest season begins.

Protest Rights: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condemned the five-day judicial custody of two Cockroach Janata Party activists arrested at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, saying peaceful protest and waving the national flag are not crimes. The site has been removed from the city’s designated protest locations; Gandhi says opponents will challenge the move and reclaim it. Violence Against Activists: Punjab police arrested the medical-store owner accused of shooting anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota during a confrontation livestreamed on Facebook. Jhota’s killing has intensified scrutiny of the state government’s response to drug sales and public safety. Accountability: Nigerian activist Omoyele Sowore is seeking ₦5 billion in damages from the DSS, its director-general and the attorney-general, alleging agents assaulted and abducted him inside a court. Political Prisoners: Cambodia’s appeal court upheld 18-month sentences for two opposition activists and a construction worker. Rights group Licadho says they are among 109 prisoners jailed for activism or exercising free expression. Medicine Costs: Health activists welcomed the Supreme Court’s call to examine whether a proposed 30% cap on trade margins for cancer medicines could cover other essential drugs.

Civic Safety: Anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot dead in Punjab’s Mansa while livestreaming, prompting his family to vow to continue his campaign. Climate Preparedness: A proposed Ilocos Sur task force would coordinate drought and heat responses, including protecting water supplies and agriculture. In the Philippines, civil society group Atom criticized President Marcos’s advice to collect rainwater in buckets, calling for concrete government action. Palestinian Solidarity: Malaysia’s “Sumud Protocol,” unveiled at a gathering of 250 delegates from 43 countries, aims to coordinate support through media, students and politicians. Rights & Governance: A new report on digital public infrastructure in 11 African countries warns that weak safeguards could exclude vulnerable people and undermine civic participation. Israeli forces also raided Palestinian civil society organizations in the West Bank. Education Protests: More than 161,500 people joined rallies across France over underfunded schools; Greta Thunberg joined students near Paris. Political Accountability: The UK Liberal Democrats are seeking to evict former party official Jo Hayes, 71, from her home to recover legal costs. Hayes, who has incurable cancer, says she fears being left homeless.

Activist Safety: Anti-drug campaigner Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot dead in Punjab while confronting a medical-store owner over alleged drug sales; police are investigating. Election Rights: Opposition parties and civil society groups in India took their voter-roll concerns to the Supreme Court as protests spread. Delhi has removed Jantar Mantar’s protest-site designation, and the High Court has questioned police over an activist’s confinement ahead of demonstrations. Public Spending: Philippine budget watchdogs say the House passed the 2027 budget with too little transparency, while an education network warns cuts to classroom facilities and computer programs could deepen inequality. Local Accountability: Cape Town residents and activists oppose a proposed R114-million N2 safety wall, arguing the money should address housing and community safety needs. Climate Response: A Philippine civil society group criticized the president’s advice to store rainwater in buckets, calling for concrete government measures ahead of a predicted Super El Niño.

India’s Voter-Roll Crisis: Tens of thousands protested alleged “vote theft,” citing the deletion of 130 million names from voter rolls and demanding the election chief’s resignation. Police detained demonstrators, while the Delhi High Court sought a report on an activist’s alleged confinement before a protest. Public Land: A federal judge condemned the Trump administration for cutting more than 400 trees at a Washington golf course despite an understanding to pause major work while a preservation lawsuit proceeds. Local Government: Seven London councils now say they will limit cooperation with immigration raids unless legally required, including restricting data-sharing and working with activist groups on migrant support. Jail Oversight: New York’s Rikers Island jail is set to miss its 2027 closure deadline, disappointing advocates as replacement facilities lag and reports of violence and poor conditions persist. Ocean Protection: Experts at the Nairobi Convention’s COP12 urged governments to turn regional pledges into laws, budgets and enforceable conservation measures, warning that implementation and funding remain major obstacles.

India’s Protest Crackdown: Opposition leaders plan a Supreme Court march over alleged voter-roll irregularities as Delhi faces fresh security restrictions. Activists and journalists say police detained thousands over the weekend; the Cockroach Janta Party is demanding a date for its protest within 24 hours. Digital Rights: Rights groups say Türkiye blocked at least 1,270 X accounts in September, reaching a combined 35 million followers, and urge the government to end censorship orders. Nigeria’s Police Reform: A proposal to let states establish police forces is advancing, but critics warn separate legislation could hinder NGOs and rights groups documenting abuses. Girls’ Education: FAWE-Liberia will support 650 marginalized young people with tuition, stipends and training; women are expected to make up 80% of recipients. ICC Accountability: A civil society commission warns US sanctions on the International Criminal Court could cut off legal support for families seeking justice in the Philippines’ drug-war case, set for trial in November.

Civil Liberties: Delhi police detained thousands during protests over voter-roll changes, with activists and journalists among those held. Courts ordered the release of detained protesters, while the UN rights office raised concerns; India rejected its remarks as interference. Electoral Rights: Rahul Gandhi called for an opposition march to the Supreme Court, but Chief Justice Surya Kant declined a meeting, saying the issues should be raised through a court petition. Climate Accountability: Brazilian prosecutors, alongside an NGO, are seeking $108 million from Shell over deadly 2024 floods, arguing the company should answer for its contribution to climate change. Child Protection: UNICEF says child marriage in Nepal has fallen over the past decade, but girls from the poorest households remain at greatest risk and the country is off track to meet its 2030 goal. Public Integrity: South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit says it recovered assets, prevented losses and helped set aside contracts worth R28.5 billion in 2025/26.

Civil Liberties: Indian police detained thousands of protesters in Delhi as the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over voter-roll revisions. A court released three party leaders on a one-year peace condition; opposition parties plan another protest Monday. The UN urged India to release anyone arbitrarily detained, but the government called its concerns interference in domestic affairs. Local Conflict: The death toll from fresh Kuki-Naga clashes in Manipur has risen to nine. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh called for restraint and ordered steps to restore peace. Environmental Oversight: Activists are seeking a halt to new data centres in Andhra Pradesh over concerns about pressure on water supplies. Google says its planned Visakhapatnam facility will use air cooling after a water assessment found local watershed pressures.

India Protest Crackdown: Thousands were detained in Delhi during protests demanding the election chief’s resignation over alleged voter-roll irregularities; most were released, but CJP leaders remained in custody. The UN urged India to respect peaceful assembly and release anyone arbitrarily detained. India called the criticism interference, while protesters vowed to march again Sunday and a Supreme Court petition challenged the detentions. Government and Nonprofits: Trinidad and Tobago approved $1.6 million in grants for three NGOs providing services to children, women and families. Civil Society: Sahrawi rights groups are taking part in an African NGO forum and human rights commission session in Dakar, pressing for action on alleged abuses in Western Sahara and the release of political prisoners.

India’s Protest Crackdown: Police detained hundreds, including Cockroach Janta Party leaders, journalists and activists, as demonstrators called for Election Commission chief Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over a disputed voter-roll revision. Delhi imposed internet and transport restrictions; officials said the rally lacked permission, while India’s Supreme Court backed the right to protest and urged against blanket transit bans. International Justice: South African jurist and human-rights activist Navi Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work on international law. The United States then sanctioned the International Criminal Court, drawing a defense of the court from Britain and allies. Gaza Advocacy: More than 100 NGOs said the Gaza ceasefire exists “in name only,” warning that death and suffering continue.

Protest Rights: Ahead of an October 10 Delhi rally against electoral-roll revisions, Left parties say police restrictions, train cancellations and metro closures are obstructing participation; activists also allege detentions and pressure. International Justice: Navi Pillay’s Nobel Peace Prize has renewed attention to international accountability as Washington imposes fresh sanctions on the ICC; Britain and G7 allies have backed the court. Humanitarian Response: MERCY Malaysia is expanding haze support nationwide, preparing health kits and public advisories for vulnerable communities. Climate & Community: New York is suing to protect its permitting authority as the Trump administration revives the Constitution Pipeline; Indigenous elders and residents say the project threatens land, water and livelihoods. Gaza: More than 100 humanitarian and rights groups say the ceasefire exists “in name only,” citing continued deaths and restrictions on aid and rebuilding.

Electoral Rights: Indian activists say police detained thousands ahead of an October 10 protest over voter-roll changes, while Delhi denied permission for the rally and imposed restrictions. The Election Commission rejects claims of wrongdoing. Anti-Corruption: Sri Lanka’s Parliament passed amendments to its anti-corruption law despite warnings from civil society, opposition lawmakers and the IMF that limits on public access to officials’ asset declarations could weaken oversight. Kerala Investigation: The High Court ordered an FIR against former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and family members over alleged financial dealings, following a petition by activist-lawyer K.M. Shajahan. The order does not establish guilt. Environmental Accountability: Residents near an Italian chemical plant are seeking justice as two former directors face trial over alleged environmental disaster linked to PFAS pollution.**

Electoral Rights: Ahead of an October 10 protest against India’s voter-roll revision, student groups and civil society activists allege police detained, assaulted or restricted organizers in several states. Protesters are demanding the election chief’s resignation and a halt to the revision. Housing and Labor: Spain’s unions have called a November 11 general strike over wages and housing costs, as protests continue after the death of 87-year-old Maricarmen, whose eviction sparked nationwide outrage. Environmental Defenders: International organizations warn that Colombia’s Committee for the Defense of Water and the Santurbán Páramo faces escalating intimidation after opposing a mining project and backing new environmental protections. Public Accountability: Guyana’s police chief has placed a senior officer on leave pending an investigation into rape and threatening-behavior allegations, following public pressure from civil society. Resource Oversight: Ghana suspended offshore gold exploration pending stakeholder talks after civil society groups raised concerns about environmental impacts and consultation. Regional Policy: ECOWAS convened civil society, diplomats and academics to discuss how West Africa can strengthen its position amid shifting global power dynamics.

Electoral Accountability: In India, civil society and student groups are escalating protests over alleged voter-roll deletions, with a Bengaluru people’s tribunal ahead of a larger Delhi rally. Nigeria’s 2027 Vote: Yiaga Africa says 84% of respondents intend to vote, but 61% fear election violence and just 34% trust elections will be credible; it is urging authorities and parties to address those concerns. Transparency & Rights: Sri Lanka’s RTI Commission is increasingly serving as an access-to-justice forum, while a separate debate over police searches of seized phones highlights the need to protect privacy. Public Services: Workers in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory began an indefinite strike over teachers’ promotion rules, after talks with the administration failed. Climate Accountability: Australia’s High Court rejected a coal-mine expansion after regulators failed to account for emissions from coal burned overseas, prompting Queensland’s government to consider strengthening industry protections. WASH Funding: Uganda’s Tooro Kingdom has partnered with civil society groups to sustain water and sanitation work as funding declines.

Civic Freedoms: Rights groups urge Singapore to drop charges against six people over peaceful assemblies and vigils, warning that prosecutions are chilling advocacy. In Sudan, CIVICUS calls for peacebuilder and women’s rights defender Najwa Musa Konda’s release; she has reportedly been sentenced to a year in prison and denied family visits and medical care. Election Oversight: U.S. documents show ICE shared voter data from at least six states with Palantir, adding to concerns about federal involvement in elections. In Delhi, police are urging residents not to join an October 10 protest seeking the election chief’s removal and a halt to voter-roll revisions. Press and Civil Society: The U.S. pressured countries to withdraw sponsorship of a European disinformation conference, the Guardian reports, prompting concern about political pressure on independent forums. NGO Accountability: African civil society leaders are pushing back against donor-driven agendas and calling for more grassroots power and stronger accountability of governments and funders.