Staff Reports
An activist advocating for abortion rights has been sentenced to 90 months in federal prison for setting fire to an anti-abortion organization's building in Madison, Wisconsin. Hridindu Sankar Roychowdhury, aged 29, admitted in December to throwing two Molotov cocktails through the windows of Wisconsin Family Action on May 8, 2022. This incident occurred shortly after the significant United States Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which declared that the Constitution does not guarantee a right to abortion. The arson appeared to be a retaliatory act in response to that decision.
Roychowdhury received his sentence on April 10 following a comprehensive statement from the Department of Justice. Court documents revealed that one of Roychowdhury's firebombs ignited a bookcase. Law enforcement arrived at a substantial fire in the office and discovered additional tools for causing damage, along with graffiti on the wall that read, "If abortions aren’t safe, then you aren’t either." Other writings included "1312" and a large "A" encircled.
Roychowdhury's charges stemmed from a collaborative investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, the Wisconsin State Capitol Police Department, and the Madison Police Department, among others, according to the Department of Justice.
Several officials commented on the case and the sentencing.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco remarked, "Today's sentencing is the result of the FBI and Justice Department's diligent work to investigate this case. It also serves as a reminder that the Justice Department will hold individuals accountable for resorting to violence to intimidate others."
"FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate stated, "The FBI will not tolerate the use of violence or criminal acts to express personal views on any issue. Today's sentencing is a reflection of the FBI's commitment to pursue individuals who resort to violent tactics to advance their ideologies."
ATF Director Stephen Dettelbach commented, "Engaging in an act of terror, such as setting fire to a business due to ideological differences, is both illegal and un-American. This sentencing demonstrates that such actions will not be tolerated. I commend the collaborative efforts of all local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies involved in this case, as well as the ATF's forensic laboratory and the ATF Boston Field Division for their dedication. Their swift actions led to the apprehension of the defendant and enhanced community safety through DNA testing."
U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O'Shea of the Western District of Wisconsin stated, "Roychowdhury's arson constituted an act of domestic terrorism. Domestic terrorism is cowardly and undermines democracy. It does not constitute speech or an exchange of ideas but rather an attempt to harm or intimidate individuals, thereby dividing Americans and weakening our democratic principles. The U.S. Department of Justice and this U.S. Attorney's Office, alongside our local and federal law enforcement partners, remain steadfast in holding domestic terrorists accountable."
