PhD-holding far-left extremist sentenced to prison for 7.5 years for 'Jane's Revenge' firebombing of pro-life office in Wisconsin

A far-left extremist that firebombed a pro-life office in Wisconsin in 2022 has been sentenced to 7.5 years in federal prison, along with three years of supervised release and a $32,000 fine. 

Hindu Sankar Roychowdhury, who also holds a PhD, was arrested in March 2023 and charged with attempting to cause damage by means of fire or an explosive. 

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the incident occurred in 2022 when Roychowdhury was accused of vandalizing and setting fire to the offices of Wisconsin Family Action in Madison. The firebombing took place following a leaked report suggesting the Supreme Court's potential overturning of Roe v. Wade. 

Court documents in the case stated, "Roychowdhury attempted to firebomb an organization to intimidate those people with views different than his. For all of the reasons described above, he should not have the chance to continue to use violence against those who disagree with him for a very long time." 

As part of the vandalism, Roychowdhury wrote on the walls of the office, “If abortions aren’t safe then you aren’t either.”

When the firebombing first took place, a militant pro-abortion group known as "Jane's Revenge" took responsibility for the attack. The group shortly released a statement that called for "the disbanding of all anti-choice groups, fake clinics, and violent anti-choice groups within the next thirty days," according to WISC-TV.

Roychowdhury was identified as the suspect nearly a year after the incident through DNA evidence and handwriting matches from the vandalism messages. He initially pleaded not guilty, arguing that the case should be dismissed because the federal arson statute he was charged under is unconstitutional. However, the motion was denied, and Roychowdhury agreed to plead guilty to the charges.

Wisconsin Family Action President Emeritus Julaine Appling emphasized the seriousness of the crime, stating that the incident was a “very visual reminder that people who disagree with us can and will use violence to try to silence us." 

Appling also expressed disappointment in the sentencing, as the organization had recommended a 15-year imprisonment, citing the severity of the crime, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

"In light of this, we are disappointed in the judge’s decision regarding a crime the judge called ‘terrorism’ multiple times. The U.S. Attorney’s office had also recommended 12-15 years imprisonment. A civil society does not exist if violence is the default reaction to disagreeing with people,” Appling said.