Oasis under Section 144

The prohibitory orders 8212; to be in force till further orders 8212; followed increasing pressure mounted by the Serkhi Panchayat body, whose members alleged several malpractices by the forum.

Based on police recommendation, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Mona Khandhar prohibited the entry of activists as well as villagers inside the premises and also asked Oasis activists to restrict their movement in the village.

The official action came amid much drama early on Sunday morning, though the prohibitory orders were reportedly signed on late Saturday evening. While the SDM and several senior police officials reached the premises in the morning and asked the six girls inside to clear their belongings by evening, about 100 villagers assembled there demanded that the forum be closed permanently.

However, protesting against the development, Oasis members claimed that the prohibitory orders were unjust and, in a signed statement, said that they had sought time to reply to the charges levelled against the organisation. 8220;We would prefer to get arrested than bend before injustice,8221; managing trustee Sheeba Nair said.

The organisation was not even given time to reply to the notices issued by the district collector8217;s office last month, the members said, adding that they had also demanded action against those people who had incited villagers against Oasis volunteers.

Claiming that a 8220;smear8221; campaign had been unleashed against the Oasis and its founder Sanjeev Shah for the past few days, Oasis has also initiated defamation proceedings against two of its former members, who had levelled allegations against it early this month. The duo has been issued a notice and asked to apologise within seven days failing which a court case would be filed against them, Oasis said.

Controversy arose about a month ago when allegations were levelled against Oasis that it had done nothing for the upliftment of the poor villagers despite its duty to do so.

Incidentally, Oasis had been alloted a 10-acre land on August 21, 1997, on an annual rent of Rs 100 for 10 years on the condition that it would carry out social, educational and health-related activities for the welfare of the poor villagers.

The tiff took an ugly turn on September 11, when two parents alleged at a press conference that their daughters were 8220;brainwashed into leaving their houses and joining Oasis on a wholetime basis8221;. They also submitted a memorandum to district collector in this regard.

The issue snowballed after a section of city8217;s intelligentsia supported Oasis, while the panchyat body reiterated its demand for an immediate closure of the social forum.