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#1 Dalit Study Circle, Chhattisgarh, September 10, 2004, Friday Increasing Violence on Dalits and Adivasis - Violation of Human Rights Attack on Dalits and Adivasis had increased to alarming heights in India in the last 2-3 years. Particularly in Chhattisgarh the graph is on an escalation. In the last couple of months gang attack on Dalits by upper caste forces have increased. Gumka is at a distance of 6 km from Balod block; Balod is at a distance of 56 km from the district headquarter Durg district of Chhattisgarh. On the morning of 16th August around 7 am, the whole village of Ghumka encircled the two Satnami[1] bastis[2] holding lathis[3]. Among the besiegers there were young and old, men and women, boys and girls, who were nearly countless according to Dalits. The mob didn??™t spare even a single person including women, senile, or even small children. They lashed them blue and black causing severe injuries to them. They were lashed like a flock of sheep. Women were dragged out while their cloths were either torn or disrobed off. The woman Sarpanch was one the victims of this deplorable act. Her cloths were torn and she was expose naked before everyone. She then ran here and there to hide her body searching for some resort. Even they attacked them on their private areas. Both men and women were not left in this process. Tension between Dalits and non-Dalits has a longish history of conspiring against the Dalits under the aegis of caste oppression and its strings and flaws. Four years back social boycott was imposed on the people and they were blocked from every activity in the village. The police and administration didn??™t take adequate steps to ensure peace and harmony within the village and that is why the tension groomed. Ironically even after the mass attack the police had deliberately not registered in the case under sections 3 (1,10-11) of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. This is not only a matter of siding with the culprits but also giving an impetus to them. Hence the police is acting as a protective unit to the caste forces, which is a gross violation of human rights. interestingly 20 people were arrested in connection with the case on 24th August who were released on 4th September. In a way this clearly arms the caste forces in and around Gumka to further aggrandize their hostility and hate campaign against Dalits. After this case Gumka is projected as a model to Dalits in other villages too. Hence it could be said that the police and adminstration sponsor the caste tension in Chhattisgarh. Similarly another case of human rights violation came into light Ram Kumar Dhruv a 26-year-old tribal wage labourer from Bhalesure village within Simga Tahsil, Raipur District died in police custody. He was arrested on 18th July. People in Suhela saw him police custody on 8th August. On 11th august people of Bhalesure, Sundervan and Kathia witnessed police of Suhela police station torturing Ramkumar Ramkumar was handcuffed and surrounded by the police who were beating him mercilessly. On 13th August the dead body of Ramkumar was found hanging from the ventilator of the toilet inside the police station. When the people from his village rushed to the spot they spotted an attempt to cover up this case by the police and doctors and show it as a case of suicide. On 18th a PIL was filed in the High Court of Bilaspur pointing the fact that Ramkumar was so badly injured that he can??™t climb the 13 feet height to hang himself. The court ordered for re-postmortem. The re-postmortem confirmed the injuries on his body. Immediately the police began to intimidate all villagers in the surrounding areas, harassing and torturing residents in order to prevent them as witness against the police in the court. This was followed up by a protest by the local people to bring the guilty police personnel under the grip of law, where the police and administration retaliated with lath charging and firing and after which innocent people are locked up in the lockups. In both these cases the state government is coming out with antagonistic statements day after day. But they are not really concerned about the rotten system of police and administration that deal with the Dalits and Adivasis as social caste lords and political masters. Under the above mentioned circumstances we demand for an impartial investigation into the whole incident of Gumka and Suhela. The victims should be properly compensated so that they re-start their lives anew with afresh sense of freedom and liberty. In reality no compensation could fill their psychological and cerebral wound that is still grey and fresh, but efforts should be made to ensure justice and equality, and space and dignity to the marginalized. Goldy M. George General Convenor Adv. Tamaskar Tandon Legal Advisor Dalit Study Circle MD-45, Veersavarkar Nagar, Hirapur Colony, Tatiband Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India Tel: +91-98933-57911 E-mail: dalitstudycircle@y... dalitstudycircle@r... [1] This Dalit community is known as Satnami after they became the followers of Guru Ghasidas and this community is prominently spread all across Chhattisgarh. This is single largest Dalit community in Chhattisgarh. [2] Basti means a kind of colony or hamlet, where people dwell. In north India each basti is an inhabitation of different castes or communities. Hence the basti is named after their caste. In this case too it is the same where the basti is known as Satnami basti. [3] Lathi is sort of strong and long stick used for different purposes in rural areas. Primarily this is an implement but this could also be used for lashing. Also this is the first weapon of the police in all sorts of counter action too. -------------------------------------------------------------- #2 The Hindu, September 11, 2004, Saturday Tamil Nadu declares People's War unlawful association By Our Special Correspondent CHENNAI, SEPT.10. The Tamil Nadu Government today issued orders declaring the Communist Party of India Marxist-Leninist (People's War), and its front organisations unlawful associations under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1908, to prevent their cadres and sympathisers indulging in acts prejudicial to the public peace and slipping back into Andhra Pradesh. The move became necessary in view of the Centre's decision to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and the Andhra Pradesh Government's decision not to extend the ban on the CPI-ML (PW) beyond July last, says an official release here. Why the action ``The CPI-ML (PW), known as the `People's War Group', through its seditious literature, wall writings, posters, pamphlets, etc, has been inciting and encouraging its members and the general public to use criminal force and violence against the government machinery to achieve its avowed objective of establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat. ``Members of this outfit have committed various acts of violence and a large number of criminal cases have been registered against them for offences including possession of arms and ammunition, extortion, abduction, bomb blasts etc. They were found undergoing arms training near Uthangkarai in Krishnagiri district, with a view to mobilising cadres for an ultimate armed struggle. ``The CPI-ML (PW) and its front organisations were notified as terrorist organisations with effect from December 5, 2001 under POTA by the Government of India. The Government of Andhra Pradesh also declared the CPI-ML (PW) a banned organisation in that State under the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Public Security Act, 2002. ``Since the POTA covers the entire country, the Government of Tamil Nadu has not banned this outfit under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1908 (Central Act XIV of 1908) in Tamil Nadu. However, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has not extended the period of operation of the ban on this outfit beyond July 2004, and the Government of India is also reported to have decided to repeal the POTA. ``In the light of the above, the matter was reviewed by the Government of Tamil Nadu. It has been assessed that there is every likelihood that the cadres and sympathisers of CPI-ML (PW) will attempt to infiltrate into Tamil Nadu, to indulge in acts prejudicial to public peace and slip back into Andhra Pradesh. ``The Government of Tamil Nadu has, therefore, decided to declare the CPI-ML (PW) and its front organisations as unlawful associations, by invoking the power conferred by sub-clause (b) of clause 2 of Section 15 and sub-section (1) of Section 16 of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1908.'' http://www.hindu.com/2004/09/11/stories/2004091109330100.htm ----------------------------------------------------------- #3 AIPRF, September 12, 2004, Sunday SUPPORT the Cause of Prisoners on Indefinite Hunger Strike in Tamil Nadu Jails We are mailing you an appeal addressed to Eleven POTA Prisoners of Tamil Nadu who are on Hunger Strike since 26/9/2004. Today is the 17th day of their indefinite fast and most of them, including three women, are in a precarious condition. Any one of them may suffer the loss of life or permanent damage to vital organs like kidneys if the government remains adamant and the prisoners continue with their struggle in this way. It is a matter of concern for all justice loving, democratic and humane people. They should come forward in defence of the prisoners??™ cause. The prisoners are demanding the withdrawal of POTA cases against themselves and others and also the repeal of POTA as a law. The case highlights: 1. These prisoners are political prisoners and, are twenty seven in number. 2. They are members of the Revolutionary Youth League (RYL). 3. They were arrested in November 2002 from a place in Dharmapuri district of Tami Nadu while they were attending a political class. 4. In January 2003 they were charged under POTA. 5. Their trial has not yet started even when it is about two years when they were incarcerated. 6. Their petition before the Review Committee on POTA is still pending as the Government of Tamil Nadu is not co-operating. 7. Already, a representation has been made to the Home Minister of India but he has expressed his helplessness to intervene. 8. Many prominent personalities have come in support of the cause of these prisoners. Now, as the government of Tamil Nadu is intransigent the danger to the life of these prisoners has increased. Some intellectuals and human and democratic rights activists have decided to intervene into the matter to end this fast. Here, we are sending an appeal to you to express your concern by signing it. So, please SIGN and SUPPORT: An APPEAL to the PRISONERS Who are on an Indefinite Hunger Strike in Chennai and Vellore Jails We are deeply disturbed that the authorities in Tamil Nadu have not taken any notice of the 11 political prisoners who are on indefinite hunger strike since August 26, 2004. We are informed that the condition of the prisoners, including three women, has deteriorated and their lives are in danger. It is a matter of great concern that when the Central Government has decided to repeal POTA, it is Tamil Nadu government which is not willing to consider the demand for withdrawal of POTA cases against the prisoners. It is not ready to hear repeated pleas of the people throughout the country who are concerned with the health condition of the hunger strikers. The prisoners are justified in their demand to lift cases against them. Firstly, they are being held inside the prison for a long time without trial. Secondly, they are political prisoners and they should be given the right to protest and to be heard through democratic means. Going on hunger strike inside the jails is one of the democratic means the prisoners usually adopt throughout the world. It is resorted to only when all channels of protest in the jails make no impact. The intransigence of the Tamil Nadu Government has forced the prisoners to take such a step which entails a danger of bringing death to the hunger strikers themselves rather than of hurting any other person. We strongly wish that the voice of these prisoners should be heeded by the government of Tamil Nadu. To the prisoners we say that their cause is justified and we support their cause. It has now become a public issue and their struggle has become a part of the over all struggle for democratic rights. Some of the eminent concerned citizens such as Justice Rajinder Sachar, Ex-Member of Parliament Surender Mohan, Democratic Rights Activist Gautam Navlakha, Dr. Tripta Wahi and others met the Home Minister of India on 9th September 2004 and submitted to him a memorandum demanding immediate intervention in this matter. We appeal to the brothers and sisters sitting on indefinite hunger strike that as their cause is being taken up by the people outside of the jails they should end their fast. We will continue to take up you cause and hope that this cause would find mass support among the intellectuals, democratic, human and civil rights activists and justice loving people throughout the country. So, please end your fast and accept our congratulation for standing uprightly and determinedly against oppression and injustice. September 11, 2004 In Solidarity 1. Justice Rajinder Sachar 2. Justice Ajit Singh Bains 3. Shri Surender Mohan, Ex-MP 4. Dr. Nirmala Deshpande 5. Prof. Ali Javed, DU 6. Gautam Navlakha 7. Dr. Tripta Wahi, DU 8. Prof. Jagmohan Singh 9. Hari Singh Tarq, President AFDR Punjab Sent by: Dr. Darshanpal President ALL INDIA PEOPLES RESISTANCE FORUM (AIPRF) aiprfdelhi@v... --------------------------------------------------------- Courtesy: Confederation of Human Rights Organizations (CHRO) 3, Rams' Cottage Ambalathumukku Pettah Thiruvananthapuram-695024 Kerala South India Ph.: 0471-2476262 www.humanrightsindia.com www.humanrightskerala.com |
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