Voice of voiceless

चुनाव के बहाने राजनैतिक दलों व जनता से कुछ खरी-खरी

2012-01-23T09:18:00.001-08:00

http://www.pvchr.net/2012/01/blog-post_23.html

चुनाव आ गया है। वादे शुरू हो गये। चुनाव के बाद सरकार बनने वाली हैं। जो मानवाधिकार, कानून के राज व लोकतंत्र का नाम लेकर उसी का गला घोट देगी। मुद्दों को उठाने में कई पार्टिया एवं संगठन भ्रष्टाचार दिखा रही हैं। मानवाधिकार, कानून का राज व लोकतंत्र तब तक नही बचाया जा सकता है या फिर भ्रष्टाचार खत्म नही किया जा सकता है, जब तक वंचित तबके, अल्पसंख्यक व हाँसिये पर रह रहे लोगों का अधिकार न बचाया जाय और उसके लिए कानून व लागू करने वाला सक्रिय संस्थाओं को स्थापित न किया जाय।

मैला उठाने वाले समाज के लिए तीन राष्ट्रीय सफाई कर्मचारी आयोगों का गठन किया गया, किन्तु आज तक संसद के पटल पर एक भी आयोग की रपट नही रखी गयी। वही दलितों की मसीहा ने उत्तर प्रदेश में मैला उठाने वाले लोगों की योजना लागू करने की गारण्टी लेने से मना कर दिया, जिससे केन्द्र से आने वाली करोड़ों रूपये की योजना बन्द हो गयी। मुसहर व मैला ढ़ोने वाले लोग अब लोगों के एजेण्डे पर नही हैं, क्योकि इस तबके के लोग बहुत ही कम संख्या में शासन, प्रशासन, मीडिया, सांसद व विधायिका में है।

कानून के राज की स्थिति इतनी खराब है कि पुलिस की जगह लोग असलहे खरीद रहे है या माफियाओं को 'राबिनहुड'की तरह से गले लगा रहे है। 2009 के बाद 9 हजार से करीब 15 हजार असलहों का लाइसेंस हो गया बनारस में। गाँधी व महात्मा बुद्ध एवं डा0 अम्बेडकर के अहिंसा की दुहाई देकर दुनिया में नेतृत्व करने की इच्छा रखने वाले भारत को मानवाधिकार लागू करने एवं पुलिस यातना के खिलाफ कानून बनाने में डर लगता है।

बनारस के बुनकरों को छः हजार करोड़ का पैकेज मिला और आधा पैसा कापरेटिव के लिए हैं। कापरेटिव कितना ईमानदार है ? पैसा किनकी जेब में जायेगा, ये तो बुनकर तय करे ? किन्तु हैण्डलूम (हथकरघा) बुनकरों के बिजली बिल कब माफ होगी। बुनकरों के नाम पर गद्दीदारों को ही कब तक फायदा पहुचाया जायेगा ? सीधे बाजार से जोड़ने की योजना क्यो नही चली ??

मुरादाबाद, बरेली व मेरठ में मुसलमानों पर सीधे हमले हुए किन्तु राजनैतिक पार्टियाँ चुप है, क्यों ? मेरठ में ईनाम की बेटी आधी जल गयी, सहसपुर में एक बच्चा करा एवं वाराणसी के बजरडीहा में दो मुसलमान बच्चों को पुलिस ने गोली मार दी। गोरखपुर के इलाके में हिन्दूवाद के नाम पर एक फासीवादी व्यक्ति की गुण्डागर्दी चल रही हैं। किन्तु सभी चुप है और मुसलमानों के बीच की साम्प्रदायिक ताकते ''मुसलमानों का सवाल मुसलमान उठायेगा" (ऐसा बुनकरों की बैठक में मेरे साथ भी हुआ) कहकर असली लड़ाई को भटकाकर साम्प्रदायिक फासीवाद (हिन्दू फासीवाद) को मजबूत कर रहा है। मुसलमानों को रंगनाथ मिश्रा कमेटी की सिफारिश के आधार पर शासन एवं सच्चर कमेटी की सिफारिश के आधार पर न्याय दिया जाय!!

जब हमारा विचार ही भ्रष्ट (साम्प्रदायिकता, साम्प्रदायिक फासीवाद, जातिवाद, पितृ सत्तात्मक) है तो हम विचार से पैदा होने वाले आचार (भ्रष्टाचार) को कैसे रोक सकते है ? इसलिए जनता व राजनैतिक दल मजबूत भारत के लिए अल्पसंख्यको, वंचितों व हाशियें पर खड़े लोगों के लिए खड़ा हो। औरतों व अल्पसंख्यकों को आरक्षण देकर सभी की भागीदारी सुनिश्चित करे, कानून के राज के लिए पुलिस यातना विरोधी कानून लागू किया जाय, फर्जी पुलिस मुठभेड़ रोकी जाय। तभी हम कानून का राज व लोकतंत्र स्थापित कर सकते हैं। साथ ही उ0प्र0 की जनता से अपील है कि वे भारत के अन्‍य क्षेत्र के मुद्दों पर भी राजनैतिक दलों से सवाल उठाये। जिससे एक नये राष्ट्र-राज्‍य (नेशन-स्‍टेट) का निर्माण किया जा सके, जो धर्म निरपेक्षता, समता, बंधुत्‍व, अहिंसा पर आधारित हो।

भवदीय

(डा0 लेनिन)

महासचिव

2007 ग्वांजू पुरस्कार

2008 आचा पीस स्टार अवार्ड

2010 वाइमर ह्यूमन राइट्स पुरस्कार

पता.सा0 4/2ए, दौलतपुर,

वाराणसी-221002 (उ0प्र0)

मो0नं0-09935599333

E-mail: lenin@pvchr.asia

Web Site: www.pvchr.asia, www.pvchr.net

दलित गर्भवती महिला पर पुलिस का तांडव

2012-01-15T20:40:00.000-08:00

http://www.thebhaskar.com/2012/01/blog-post_6745.html

पुलिस के पिटाई व घसीटने के कारण गर्भवती दलित महिला का प्रसव हुआ महिला के अचेत बच्चे की भी हालत नाजुक बनी हुई है। महिला के साथ दलित घसिया आदिवासी बस्ती के लगभग दो दर्जन महिलाओ,बच्चों और पुरूषॊ की पुलिस द्वारा पिटाई।आजादी के इतने वर्ष बितने के बावजुद आज भी हमारे देश के दलितों की हालत गुलामों की तरह ही है भले ही उत्तर प्रदेश में दलित मुख्यमंत्री का राज रहा हो। या तो लोकतंत्र में दलितो से वोट बैंक बनाने के लिए उनका उपयोग किया गया है या तो उन्हें सामाज में हथियार बनाकर अपनी रोटी सेकी गयी है।

ऐसा ही एक घटना जो दलितो के उपर पुलिस तांडव के उपर आधारीत है आपके सामने रखना चाहता हू। उत्तर प्रदेष के अति पीछड़े जिले सोनभद्र के जिला मुख्यालय से सटे गाव रौप घसीया बस्ती में 9 जनवरी 2012 का दिन बस्ती वालों के लिए पुलिस द्वारा ढाए गए कहर का दिन रहा। चुनाव आचार संहिता के दौरान इस दिन पुलिस वाले बस्ती में अपराधियों की दबीस के लिए बस्ती में घुसे और बस्ती में ललकारना शुरू किए और घरो में से आदिवाशीयों को बाहर निकालकर अपना तांडव मचाना शुरू कर दिए पुलिस वालों के लिए शर्म कि बात यह है कि एक गर्भवती महिला जो अपने प्रशव पीड़ा के दर्द से कराह रही थी उस दूलारी उम्र32 वर्श को भी पुलिस वालों नें बेरहमी से पीटकर घसिटना शुरू कर दिया इसी दौरान दूलारी का प्रशव हो गया और वह अचेत हो गई और दूलारी का नवजात शीशु धुल और मिट्रटी में तड़पने लगा फिर भी पुलिस वालो को दया नही आयी और पुलिस वाले दूलारी के पति रामसुरत को भी पत्नी के प्रशव के बावजुद भी मारपीट कर थाने ले गयी।

इतना ही नही प्रशव के बाद जब बस्ती के लोगो ने पुलिस का विरोध किया तो बस्ती के महिलाओ ,बच्चों और बृद्वो को दौड़ा दौड़ा कर बुरी तरह से पिटा जिसके दौरान बिलासीपत्नीस्वचरक,40वर्श,राजकुमार पुत्र होलसाल,30वर्श,फुलचन्द्र पुत्र हृतलाल,35वर्श,हंशु पुत्र बुझावन,32वर्श,चमेली पत्नी बबुन्दर,26वर्श,सुरतीया पत्नी संतोश,25वर्श,सुरतीया पत्नी षिवकुमार,30वर्श,विजय पुत्र नरेष,22वर्श,फुलकुवारी पत्नी गजाधर,50वर्श,प्रतापी पत्नी नन्दलाल,20 वर्श ,सोमारू पुत्र रामभरोस,32वर्श,तेतरी पत्नी बच्चे,32वर्श,ऐनवा पत्नी मुरत,32वर्श,रूकमनी पत्नी हंषलाल,62वर्श,सनीचरी पत्नी रामसुरत,60वर्श,विमली पत्नी सुक्खन,42वर्श,सुरतीया पत्नी सोमारू,30वर्श,फुलवन्ती पत्नी नरेष,40वर्श,गीता पत्नी फुलचन्द्र,32वर्श,मुरत पुत्र रामलाल,32वर्श,परमीला पत्नी तपेषर,20वर्श,संतोश पुत्र असर्फी,30वर्श, बुरी तरह पुलिस के तांडव के कारण घायल हो गए वहा कोहराम मच गया हर तरफ लोगो के रोने बिलखने की आवाज सुनार्इ देने लगी पुलिस वालो ने चार लोगो रामसुरत पुत्र रामअधार,32वर्श,तपेषर पुत्र स्व चरकू,20वर्श,संदेष पुत्र स्व सुलेन्दर,17वर्श,ेराजू पुत्र भुनेष्वर,18 को पीटते हुए थाना रावर्ट्रसगंज ले गए और एक दरोगा डी0एन0सिंह अपने उपर बस्ती वालो द्वारा हमला बोलने और मारने पीटने के कारण चोट का डाक्टरी की रिर्पोट बनवाकर बस्ती वालों में से चार लोगो जो गिरप्तार किए गए थे पुलिस के तहरीर के आधार पर एफ0आई0आर0 दर्ज कर लिया गया प्रशासन के लोगो ने बेशर्मी तब कर दिया जब मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता के निगरानी में रौप घसिया बस्ती के लोगो का उपचार और मेडिकल मुआयना कराने जिला चिकित्सालय सोनभद्र में पहूचे तब वहा डाक्टर आर0के0सिंह नें प्रषव पीड़ा से तड़फड़ा रही महिला का उपचार नही किए.

डाक्टर का कहना था कि आप लोग कही चले जाये कही हमारी िशकायत कर लें मै इस महिला का और पुलिस पीटाई से घायलो का न तो उपचार करूंगा और न ही इनका मेडिकल रिर्पोट बनाउंगा और मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता को डाक्टर शराब के नशा में होने के कारण अपशब्द बोलने लगा जिसकी शिकायत मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता द्वारा मुख्यचिकित्साधिकारी को इस घटना कि सूचना दी गयी लेकिन सी0एम0ओ0 ने सी0एम0स0 पर जिम्मेदारी छोड़कर अपना पल्ला झाड़ लिया इसके बाद मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता द्वारा डी0एम0 को डाक्टर के नशे में धुत होन और चिकित्सक द्वारा प्रशव वाली दलित महिला एंव बस्ती के घायल लोगो का इलाज न करने कि शिकायत की गयी जिस पर जिलाधिकारी द्वारा उपजिलाधिकारी को इस मामलें की जांच करने को कहा गया मौके पर उपजिलाधिकरी नही आए किन्तु बस्ती में जाकर उपजिलाघिकारी द्वारा घायल महिला और घायल लोगो का बयान लिए और उनके लगे चोटो को भी देखे और बस्ती के चार बुजुर्गो को लेकर उपजिलाधिकारी कोतवाली रावट्र्रसगंज पहूचे और कोतवाल से बातचीत करके पुलिस हिरासत में चार लोगो को छोड़ दिया गया ।लेकिन इस प्रकार गर्भवती महिला और आदिवाशी बस्ती के लोगो पर पुलिस कहर बरसाने और घायलो और गर्भवती महिला का इलाज न करने वाले डाक्टर के उपर कोई कार्यवाही नही कि गयी ।अगर बस्ती वाले पुलिस के उपर हमला किए तो एफ0आई0आर0 के बाद भी पुलिस द्वारा बस्ती के चार लोगों को छोड़ना पुलिस की गलती और शर्मदगीं का गवाह है।

इलाज न होने के कारण गर्भवती महिला का शरीर सुज गया है और महिला के नवजातषीषु की भी हालत चिंताजनक बनी हुयी अगर मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति के कार्यकताओं द्वारा इस घटना पर पहल न कि जाती तो शायद पुलिस के पीटाई से घायल प्रशव पीड़ीत दूलारी को अपने गरीबी और बेबसी के कारण अपनी और अपने नवजात शिशु की जान गवानी पड़तीे और पुलिस के पीटाई में पकड़े गए चार युवको को चुनाव आचार संहिता के दौरान उनका अपराधी होना तय था।किन्तु शुक्र है मानवाधिकार जन निगरानी समिति का जो उत्तर प्रदेश में लोगो के मानवाधिकार हनन विशेष पुलिस उत्पीड़न के मामले पर ऐतीहासीक एंव सराहनीय कार्य किया जा रहा है जिससे कई जिन्दगीयां तबाह होने से बच रही है। फिर हाल मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति के निदेशक डा0 लेलिन द्वारा इस प्रकरण को राश्ट्र्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग नईदिल्ली एंव पुलिस महानिदेषक उत्तर प्रदेश को फैक्स के माध्यम से इस घटना में जाच कर कार्यवाही करने के लिए पत्र भेज दिया गया है। पुलिस द्वारा लोकतंत्र में इस तरह की घिनौनी घटना के लिए मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति द्वारा इस मामलें में कार्यवाही के लिए अरजेंट अपील भी जारी कि जा रही है जिससे कि दलितो के पुलिस पिटाई के मामले की आवाज दबाई जा न सके।फिर हाल पुलिस उच्चअधिकारी चुनाव आचार संहिता के दौरान चुनाव आयोग से बचने के लिए इस मामले की जांच के खाना पूर्ती में लगें है।

सत्यप्रकाश देव पाण्डेय (मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्त्ता)

Community based work against Torture and organized Violence

2012-01-11T20:39:00.000-08:00

Community based work against Torture and organized Violence

उत्‍तर प्रदेश चुनाव निगरानी (UP Election Watch)

2012-01-10T23:36:00.000-08:00

11 जनवरी, 2012

प्रिय साथी,

हार्दिक अभिवादन एवं नये वर्ष की शुभकानाएं !

एशोसिएशन फार डेमोक्रेटिक रिफार्म (ADR), नई दिल्ली द्वारा आयोजित आगामी चुनाव की रणनीति बनाने एवं परिचर्चा में आप सादर आमंत्रित हैं।

परिचर्चा का विषय-(उ0प्र0 में आगामी विधान सभा चुनाव में कैसे जनहितैषी, जनमित्र प्रत्याशी, साफ सुथरे छवि के प्रत्याशी चुनाव में भागीदार हो और जनमित्र शासन-प्रशासन स्थापित हो सके।)

हम संवैधानिक रूप से यह विश्वास करते हैं कि हम नागरिकों को यह मौलिक अधिकार है कि हम चुनाव में खड़े प्रत्याशियों के बारे में सही जानकारी रखे, उनका क्या इतिहास रहा है व समाज निर्माण में उनका क्या योगदान रहा है। चुनाव के बाद क्या वह जीता हुआ प्रत्याशी जनमित्र शासन-प्रशासन के लिए सक्रिय रहेगा या नही।

आने वाले समय में ADR/UPEW वाराणसी के सभी MLAs की आर्थिक एवं आपराधिक रिकार्ड की रिपोर्ट जारी करेगा, जो उनके स्वंय के हलफनामें के आधार पर होगी। जिसमें जनता के सामने सभी प्रत्याशियों की वास्तविक स्थिति होगी ताकि जनता को सही प्रत्याशी चुनने का मौका मिल सके।

आगामी चुनाव को लेकर हम सभी लोगों के मन मस्तिष्क में उथल-पुथल मचा हुआ है कि आगामी दिनों में प्रदेश में कौन और कैसे सरकार बनायेगा वह सरकार किस तरह से किन कार्य प्रणालियों में किन विचार धाराओं के साथ शासन-प्रशासन स्थापित करेगा। आइये हम सभी लोग इस प्रक्रिया में सक्रिय भागीदारी करें जिसमें आने वाले दिनों में जनमित्र सरकार स्थापित कराने में अपनी महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका व सहयोग दे सके।

इस परिचर्चा में आप सादर आमंत्रित है !

दिनांक - 13 जनवरी,दिनांक - 13 जनवरी, 2012

स्थान - कामेश हट होटल, (वीर स्टूडियों के बगल वाली गली में), जगतगंज, वाराणसी।

समय - 11:30 बजे दोपहर

भवदीय
(डा0 लेनिन)

समन्वयक

सम्‍पर्क : +91 9935599333

e-mail : lenin@pvchr.asia

घसिया जनजाति की गर्भवती महिला पर पुलिसिया कहर और चार निर्दोश युवकों को जबरिया उठाकर ले जाने के संदर्भ में।

2012-01-10T20:50:00.000-08:00

सेवा में,
श्रीमान् पुलिस महानिदेशक,
लखनऊ।

महोदय,

हम आपका ध्यान सोनभद्र जिले के राबर्ट्सगंज स्थित रौप घसिया बस्ती की ओर आकृष्ट कराना चाहुँगा, जहाँ आज 09 जनवरी, 2012 को लगभग 01ः00 बजे दोपहर में 6-7 चार पहिया और दो तीन मोटर साईकिल के द्वारा कोतवाली थाना राबटर््सगंज तथा चुर्क पुलिस चैकी के पुलिस वाले पहुचे और अचानक हमला करते हुए लोगों को पकड़कर गाड़ी में बैठाने लगे। जब वहाँ उपस्थित महिलाओं के साथ लोगों ने पूछा कि पहले हमें वारंट या पकड़ने की कोई कागजात दिखाओं तब हमें गिरफ्तार करों। इतना सुनते ही बिना कुछ कारण बताये पुलिस वाले लाठी चार्ज कर दिये, जिसमें 30-35 बच्चे, महिलाये और बुजुर्ग लोगों के साथ नवयुवक घायल हो गये। उसी दौरान एक गर्भवती महिला दुलारी देवी, पत्नी-रामसुरत का गर्भपात हो गया, बच्चा तो जीवित है लेकिन पीडि़ता अभी भी बेहोष है, जिसे लाठियों से बेरहमी से पिटाई की गयी और इसके पति के साथ तपेसर, पुत्र-स्व0 चरखू, सदेष, पुत्र-सुरेन्द्र, लल्ला, पुत्र-नरेष को जबरदस्ती गाड़ी में बैठाये और उठाकर ले गये। समुदाय वालों को यह भी नही पता कि इन लोगों को कहा रखा गया है।

विदित हो कि आज स्व0 चरखू का तेरही था, जिसका पूरा खान-पान का इंतेजाम किया गया था, जिसे पुलिस वाले तहस-नहस करते हुए यह अमानवीय और घोर अत्याचार का ताण्डव वहाँ खेले। इस घटना के बाबत जब मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता द्वारा पुलिस अधीक्षक को फोन किया गया, तब उन्होंने जवाब दिया कि किसी कारण वश पुलिस वाले बस्ती में गये होगें, हम पता लगाते है। इसके बाद मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता द्वारा जिलाधिकारी को फोन लगाया गया तब दो-तीन बार फोन करने के बाद बस्ती में किसी अधिकारी को भेजा गया, जो वहाँ पर दौरा कर घायलों को केवल बयान लिए है और बोले कि हमारे साथ उन चारों परिवार के लोग चलो उन्हें भी आधा घण्टा के बाद छुड़वा देगें, लेकिन अभी तक साथ जाने वाले अभिभावको व परिजनों का भी कुछ अता-पता नही है।

घटना के बाद जब जिला अस्पताल लोढ़ी (राबर्ट्सगंज) में मेडिकल कराने के लिए गए पीडि़तों को इमरजेंसी में तैनात डाक्टर नसे के हालत में गाली-गलौज कर वहाँ से भगाने लगा। जब इसका विरोध किया गया तब डाक्टर ने कहा पहले एफ0आई0आर0 दर्ज कराओं और उसकी प्रतिलिपि लेकर आओ तब मेडिकल जाँच होगी।

महोदय पुलिस वालों के द्वारा उत्पीडि़त पीडि़तों की एफ0आई0आर0 अगर पुलिस थाना या चैकी दर्ज करती है तब तो एफ0आई0आर0 कराया जा सकता था और फिर मेडिकल जाँच होती, लेकिन यहाँ साफ-साफ दिखाई पड़ रही है कि पुलिस वालों के साथ-साथ डाक्टर भी इस गैर कानूनी और अमानवीय कृत्य में सहयोग कर रहे है।

गिरफ्तारी, हिरासत एवं पूछताछ के सम्बन्ध में माननीय सर्वोच्च न्यायालय के दिये निर्देशों को उल्लंघन किया गया साथ ही डाक्टर द्वारा शराब के नशे में आपातकालीन चिकित्सकीय निर्देशों का उल्लंघन किया गया।

अतः श्रीमान् से निवेदन है कि गर्भवती महिला और अन्य पीडि़तों को मुआवजा एवं सुरक्षा दी जाए तथा गिरफ्तार किये गये लोगों को कानूनी सहायता उपलब्ध करायी जाए तथा दोषी पुलिस कर्मियों एवं डाक्टर के खिलाफ न्यायोचित कानूनी कार्यवाही करने की कृपा करें।

भवदीय

(डा0 लेनिन)
महासचिव

Testimony Ceremony for the Survivors of TOV at Silchar, Assam

2011-12-29T20:12:00.000-08:00

A ten days TOT workshop on Testimony Therapy for the survivors of torture and organized violence was held at Silchar, Cachar, Assam. The program was organized by the joint endeavor of Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), Peoples Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), Rehabilitation and Research Center for Torture Victims (RCT) and National Alliance on Testimony Therapy (NATT). As a part of the workshop a ceremonial honor was awarded to the survivors of torture and organized violence, who are struggling for justice on the 13th September, 2011. On the 10th December, 2011 BHRPC organized another meeting to honour the torture victims at Banga Bhawan,Silchar and thus to observe the International Human Rights Day. Dignified personalities of the locality attended the Honor Ceremony. The meeting was presided over by Mr. Manindra Sankar Gupta (Retd. ACS), the Chairperson of BHRPC.

At the outset Mr. Sadique Mohammed Laskar, the Joint Secretary of BHRPC delivered the welcome address, and also gave a brief idea on Testimony Therapy. The president took chair and thereafter Mr. Imad Uddin Bulbul (Advocate), Ms Bithika Acharya (Advocate), Mr. Mujammil Ali (Advocate), Mr. Shourindra Kumar Bhattacharya (Lecturer, Cachar College), Mr. Abid Raja Majumder (Retd. Principal, Nehru College) Mr. Makabbir Ali Barbhuiya (PG Teacher) took chairs in the dais.

A printed booklet containing the Bengali translation of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights was distributed in the hall. Mr. Neharul Ahmed Ahmed Mazumder (Secretary General of BHRPC) elaborated some parts of the UDHR and informed the audience about various laws against torture. He added that democracy is possible in a torture free environment. Mr. Imad Uddin Bulbul says that BHRPC is working to make Barak Valley free from all forms of torture and ill treatment.

Mr. Faruk Ahmed Barbhuiya, member of BHRPC read the testimony of Mr. Ranjit Roy who is the victim of torture by the personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Mr. Ranjit Roy is a shopkeeper who survived from the jaws of death. Mr. Roy was called upon the stage and honored with garlands and Uttaria (Shawl), at the same time slogans against torture as well as slogans hailing Mr. Roy’s struggle for justice raised in the hall. Mr. Imad Uddin Bulbul handed over the beautifully printed testimony to Mr. Ranjit Roy. The hall was filled with claps and slogans. Ranjit also delivered a short speech.

Mr. Nehar Uddin’s testimony was read by Mr. Mrinal Kanti Shome. He was tortured by his neighbours and lost his mental and physical strength. He is a day labourer and a very poor person. His wife Safirun Nessa was raped by their enemy. But the police was allegedly negligent to their complaint. Safirun Nessa’s testimony was read earlier in private. Both of them were honoured with garlands and Shawls. Their testimonies were handed over by Mr. Manindra Sankar Gupta and Ms Bithika acharya. The hall filled with the loud sounds of claps and slogans.

Mr. Hussain Ahmed Laskar a poor mason apprentice, tortured by the personnel of the Indian Army in front of his family members and in Army camp. Hussain lost his physical and mental strength. His testimony was read by Asab Uddin Barlaskar and thereafter he was called upon the stage and honored. His testimony was handed over by Mr. Abid Raja Majumder. Mr. Choudhury Charan Gorh, an activist was tortured by an organized group of miscreants for protesting against corruption. His testimony was read by Aftabur Rahman and was handed over by Mr Abid Raja Majumder. Mr. Nurul Alom Laskar, a driver was tortured by the CRPF personnel. His testimony was read by Miss Sarmila Singha and was handed over by Mr Mujammil Ali Laskar. Mr. Ataur Rahman Majumder, a teacher was tortured by the Indian Army personnel. His testimony was read by Miss Nasim Akhtar Majumder and was handed over by Mr Mujammil Ali Laskar. Mr. Surman Ali Laskar, a farmer was tortured by the Indian Army personnel. His testimony was read by Miss Perbin Sultana and was handed over by Mr. Makabbir Ali Barbhuiya. Mr. Riaz Uddin Choudhury was tortured by the Indian Army personnel. His testimony was read by Mr. Najir Hussain Laskar and was handed over by Ms Bithika Acharya. Mr. Raju Kar was tortured by the Indian Army personnel. His testimony was read by Mr. Biswajit Das and was handed over by Mr Imad Uddin Bulbul. Mr. Alom Hussain Barbhuiya, a businessman was tortured by the Indian Army personnel. His testimony was read by Mr. Abdul Wakil and was handed over by Mr Shourindra Kumar Bhattacharya. Mr. Sams Uddin Laskar, a student was tortured by the Indian Army personnel. His testimony was read by Mr. Snigdha Nath and was handed over by Mr Manindra Sankar Gupta. Mrs. Kimati Rani Das a housewife and a victim of rape by her Father-in-law and torture by her in-laws. Her testimony was handed over by Ms Bithika Acharya. Each of them was called upon the stage and honoured with garland and Shawl. The audience loaded the hall with the sounds of claps and slogans.

Miss Mina Begum a victim already honoured delivered a short speech describing how she came out of trauma by testimony therapy. The eminent personalities and the activists delivered speeches on various aspects of human rights and the works of BHRPC. BHRPC also honoured Mr. Shyamendra Malakar a victim of torture by organized group of miscreants who were nourished by the political bigwigs and hence allegedly backed by the police. Shymendra recently approached BHRPC.

The meeting ended after thanks from and to the Chair.

Glimpse of testimony ceremony: https://picasaweb.google.com/104017757952983176993/SearchResultsForDesktop?authkey=Gv1sRgCPfp0Oitk87klQE#

PVCHR: Merry Christmas

2011-12-21T10:26:00.000-08:00

PVCHR: Merry Christmas: Dear All, This Christmas, on behalf of all the marginalized people we work with, we would like to say a huge thank you for your support. ...

भट्ठा मालिक द्वारा दी गयी यातना के वजह से उसकी जीवन संगिनी तथा उसकी बेटी का उससे जिन्दगी भर के लिए साथ छोड़कर जाना

2011-12-19T02:46:00.000-08:00

http://myselfsuffering.blogspot.com/2011/12/blog-post.html

Public tribunal on child labour, child trafficking, abuses & child rights - about implementation of RTE, whats true on ground and fake operational systems.Today public and the administration talk face to face without any membrane & curtain.

2011-12-17T05:53:00.000-08:00

https://picasaweb.google.com/110401311420308365319/NCPCRIndia#

NCPCR - India

They were such criminals that they even mistreated my two-months-old daughter

2011-12-17T01:31:00.000-08:00

My name is Jyoti (24) and my father is Naresh Seth. I am a Sonar (jweller) by caste. I have a two-year-old daughter Anshika and I live in Sarai Digri, post Tikri, police station Lanka, block Kashi Vidhyapeeth, Tehsil Sadar district Varanasi Uttar Pradesh.

I was married to Neeraj Soni son of Radheyshyam Seth on February 12, 2009 at Karmveer Susuwayee police station Lanka district Varanasi. For eight days after marriage the in-laws behaved well with me but when I visited the house for a second time after visiting my parents house there was a change in their behaviour. My mother-in-law Prabhawati, father-in-law Radheyshyam and the sister-in-law Kirti started making pranks upon me but I thought this happens in every house after marriage and then with time it subsides so will be the case with me, so I kept quiet.

My mother-in-law said that my father had given all fake items in marriage and she demanded those items should be given again. My in-laws sold off all that was given by my father in the marriage and demanded for again giving those items. When I asked my husband why things like fridge and cooler were being sold he started beating me and my mother-in-law said, “Beat her up properly she is insolate.”

I slept with tears in the eyes that night. In two months all that happened with me in my in-laws house had made my life hell. I became pregnant but they never thought of giving me relief. They made me work for hours and then offered less food that was not sufficient for me. I used to fall down out of weakness and hunger but they never used to ask why I was getting weak every passing day.

On top of this my mother-in-law used to comment I was trying to make fool of others by falling down. My husband joined her and used to ask me to go to my parents’ house if I were to behave like this.

I used to think my father had given so much of dowry and even then I get beating from these people. My mother-in-law used to feed my husband against me and my husband used to believe her. When I tried to tell him the truth and what all those women do with me, he never trusted me and always started to beat me. I could not do much about it and always though the child in my womb should not take birth in such a situation.

After some time my father came to take me. He said to my in-laws if he could take me to home for a few days. Hearing this, my father-in-law started abusing my father. For long heated words were exchanged between the two and then my mother-in-law stood up to say, “take away your witch, inauspicious daughter and I came back with my father weeping. Daughters always feel happy after coming back from their in-laws house but I never felt anything was making me happy.

I used to think what was the shortcoming in me that I got such a treatment from that family. Neither is my husband interested in me nor is he paying attention towards the child who is going to take birth soon.

After a few days a daughter was born to me and the information was sent to my in-laws house. But no one from came to see the child. I thought if not for me they could have come to see the child at least.

Whenever someone knocked at the door I used to run and see hoping it were someone from my in-laws family but when it found it was someone else I used to come back with tears. My mother and wife of my brother always consoled me saying things will get better soon.

Then on March 01, 2010 my mother-in-law and sister-in-law came to take me and my father told me to go with them. But when I came to my in-laws house they repeated the behaviour. My husnad never used to see my child for she was a girl. All of them used to say it was a girl child. What was the fault or that child or even mine if she was a girl child. They didn’t allowed her to have milk. My mother-in-law used to say, “give her flour with water instead of milk.”

Her words made me cry and I asked her, “She is just two months old and if I do this she will die. You may not give food to me but please allow my daughter to have milk.” It was then turn of my sister-in-law who said, “Your father hasn’t given money for her milk then how could you feed her.”

When I used to give her breastfeed they snatched her from me and put her on the floor and compelled me to work. My sister-in-law used to spit upon me and made me clean her footwear. When my husband was at home they used to feed him against me and made him beat me up. They thumped my child on floor instead of playing with her and cursed my parents. My father-in-law used to say, “We are the court and your father will not be able to do anything.”

Even then I used to think that things will get better soon. But nothing got better but became worse.

One night my husband brought me down from the first floor while thrashing me and all other family members including my mother-in-law and sister-in-law too came there. Father in-law tried to make me drink acid kept in a bottle while my husband kept on beating me. I was crying and asking mercy at the feet of everyone. None had sympathy for me. My father-in-law said, “go and get money from your father else we will kill you.” I replied, “Father, how would my parents bring more money.”

Listening to my reply he dragged me by the hair and beat me up.

On May 22, 2010 my father came for vidai to take me home. When he asked them to allow me to go with him my husband pushed my brother as a result of which his head got bang with the wall. He said no one is going from this house unless you people bring money. Hearing this my father left the house.

I was afraid and though if my father left the house who will then save me from these demons. They will kill me. I rushed and picked up my child and went behind my father crying, “father take me along with you else these people will kill me.”

At present I am living with my parents and my husband is planning his second marriage. My father did an FIR in this regard but nothing has happened so far. I am unable to understand what sin have we mother and daughter done in the past life that we are suffering in such a situation.

Though I am narrating my plight to you but feat even if understanding is made between us they might still repeat the same behaviour with me as they have been doing in the past. I want I should go back to that house with respect. My husband may not give love to me but should give affection to my daughter. My daughter should get the love of her grandparents and other family members.

People in both the families should respect each other. I feel relaxed after narrating my woes to you. But my head is paining excessively. I feel so bad that do not want to go to anyone or any place. Never feel like attending marriage or any other function. I feel like repenting in a corner of the house, as I fear whether I will get justice or not.

Testimony taken by psycho-social community worker Ms. Chhaya Kumari and Jyoti was brought to PVCHR office by PVCHR member Ms. Pinky Singh.

फर्जी मामलों में फंसाये जा रहे हैं मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता

2011-12-11T06:35:00.001-08:00

http://www.sarokar.net/2011/12/%e0%a4%aa%e0%a5%80%e0%a4%b5%e0%a5%80%e0%a4%b8%e0%a5%80%e0%a4%8f%e0%a4%9a%e0%a4%86%e0%a4%b0-%e0%a4%a8%e0%a5%87-%e0%a4%ae%e0%a4%a8%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%af%e0%a4%be-%e0%a4%ae%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%a8%e0%a4%b5/

http://visfot.com/home/index.php/permalink/5421.html

पीवीसीएचआर ने मनाया मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता दिवस

समय Dec 11, 2011 | टिप्पणी दें

उपेन्‍द्र कुमार की रिपोर्ट

आज पराड़कर स्मृति भवन में मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता दिवस पर मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति द्वारा आयोजित सम्मेलन में मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ताओं के असुरक्षा और हमलों की चिंता की गयी। वही उनके अमूल्य योगदान के लिए जनमित्र सम्मान से सम्मानित किया गया।

सामाजिक न्याय एवं इंसानी गरिमा के लिए संघर्षरत मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ताओं के योगदान को जहाँ एक तरफ दुनिया के सभी देश स्वीकार करते हुए सम्मान दे रहे है। वहीं दूसरी तरफ मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ताओं पर विभिन्न प्रकार के हमले, फर्जी मुकदमे, जान – मारने की धमकी, शारीरिक व मानसिक यातना राज्य व असमाजिक तत्वों द्वारा लगातार दिया जा रहा है।

संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघ में मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ताओं पर स्पेशल रिपोर्टियर सुश्री मारगे्रट सेकेग्गया ने संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघ के साधारण सभा में कहा – मानवअधिकार कार्यकर्ताओं पर संयुक्त राष्ट्र घोषणा को ज्यादा से ज्यादा प्रचारित करने की आवश्यकता है। उन्होंने कहा कि 12 सालों बाद भी अधिकांश सरकारें और मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ताओं को यह पता नही है कि कार्यकर्ताओं की जिम्मेदारी एवं सुरक्षा के लिए अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय कानून भी बनाये गये हैं।

मानवाधिकारों के पक्ष में

16 मार्च, 2011 को वाराणसी में आयोजित प्रान्तीय सम्मेलन में 09 दिसम्बर, 2011 को राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग ने मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता दिवस के रूप मे मनाने का निर्णय लिया गया था। जो 9 दिसम्बर, 1998 को ही संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघ द्वारा मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ताओं के घोषणा – पत्र को पारित किया गया था। इस अवसर पर राष्ट्रीय मानव अधिकार आयोग भी स्वीकार करते हुए एक सन्देश जारी किया है की आयोग मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता के सृजन करने मे समर्थन के लिए प्रतिबद्ध है, जो अधिकारो के प्रति जागरूकता और नागरिक समाज के सम्मान का निर्वाह करता है ! आज वाराणसी सहित देश के विभिन्न स्थानों पर मानवअधिकार कार्यकर्ता दिवस मनाया जा रहा है।

इस अवसर पर आशियान इंटरगोर्वेंटल कमीशन आन हृयूमन राइट्स के कमीशनर एवं पूर्व अध्यक्ष रफाण्डी राजमीन ने भी शुभकामनायें दी है। इस अवसर पर पूरा जीवन मानवाधिकार हनन के खिलाफ संघर्षरत उड़ीसा से श्री दुर्योधन रेड्डी को जनमित्र सम्मान से सम्मानित किया गया। वही जौनपुर से श्री महातिम मुसहर, वाराणसी से श्री मंगला राजभर, मुरादाबाद से जनाब मो0 सलीम अंसारी, अम्बेडकरनगर से श्री रामकृपाल एवं जनाब मुर्हरम अली और महोबा से श्री मंगल सिंह को अपने क्षेत्र में विभिन्न तरह की चुनौतियों और हमलों का सामना करते हुए मानवअधिकारों और लोकतंत्र के मूल्यों को स्थापित करने की दिशा में उनके अमूल्य योगदान के लिए "जनमित्र सम्मान" से सम्मानित किया गया। साथ ही सरकार से उन्हें सुरक्षा प्रदान करने की माँग की गयी।

सम्मेलन में मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता डा0 लेनिन रघुवंशी को जान से मारने की धमकी की भर्त्सना करते हुए मुख्यमंत्री – उत्तर प्रदेश, राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग – नई दिल्ली एवं संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघ को पत्र भेजा गया है। इस मामले पर आयरलैण्ड की मानवाधिकार संगठन फ्रन्टलाइन ने अर्जेण्ट अपील जारी की है। वही राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग ने पुलिस महानिदेशक को नोटिस जारी कर सात दिन में जवाब देने को कहा है, साथ ही वाराणसी के डी0आई0जी0 ने जाँच का आदेश दिया है।

कार्यक्रम के मुख्य अतिथि एवं पी0यू0सी0एल के प्रान्तीय अध्यक्ष श्री चितरंजन सिंह ने कहा – " कानून के राज को स्थापित करने के लिए राज्य एवं लोकतांत्रिक ताकतों को मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ताओं को सुरक्षा व संरक्षण देना चाहिए। मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता दिवस व अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार दिवस को जन – जन तक पहुचाया जाय, जिससे आमजन अपने अधिकारों को लेकर जागरूक हो सकें। "

अध्यक्षता करते हुए इकानोमिक टाइम्स – उड़ीसा के वरिष्ठ पत्रकार नागेश्वर पटनायक ने कहा – " भारत के 65 साल की आजादी के बाद भी मानवाधिकार हनन की बहुलता है। सुरक्षा बलों के जवाबदेही की कमी वंचित तबकों की पुलिस द्वारा अत्याचार व फर्जी मुठभेड़ व यातना में न्याय का न मिलना या न्याय की देरी देश के लोकतंत्र पर सवालिया निशान लगाते है। सबसे ज्यादा दुःखद एवं आश्चर्यजनक है कि मानवाधिकार पर काम करने वाले कार्यकर्ताओं को प्रताडि़त किया जाता है, यातना दी जाती है और झूठे मुकदमों में फंसाया जाता है। "

इस अवसर पर फ्रन्टपेज लंदन द्वारा प्रकाशित डॉ0 लेनिन रघुवंशी की किताब 'जस्टिस, लिबर्टी, इक्विलिटीः दलित इंडिपेन्डेन्ट इंडिया ' का विमोचन चितरंजन सिंह एवं नागेश्वर पटनायक ने संयुक्त रूप से किया।

जुल्‍म की दास्‍तां साझा करते कार्यकर्ता

कार्यक्रम मे शहीद मानव अधिकार कार्यकर्ताओ की आत्मा को शांति के लिए एक मिनट का मौन रखा गया ! इस कार्यक्रम मे वाईड एंगल, ह्युमन राइटस ला नेटवर्कस, रोजा संस्थान, वायस आफ पीपुलस, सावित्रि वाई फूले महिला पंचायत, पीपुल युनियन फार सिविल लिबर्टी, एकता परिषद ट्रस्ट, वादा फाण्डेशन, नेशनल एलायंस आन टेस्टीमनी थेरेपी, परमार्थ, सखी केन्द्र, ग्राम्या, बुनकर दस्तकार अधिकार मंच, बराक ह्युमन राइटस एण्ड प्रोटेक्शन कमेटी, सेंटर फार पीस एण्ड हार्मोनी, संग्राम, इंस्टीटूट आफ सोशल डेवलपमेंट ट्र्स्ट संगठन शामिल हुए. संचालन मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति के महासचिव डा0 लेनिन व सीनियर मैनेजर अनूप श्रीवास्तव ने किया। स्वागत एवं धन्यवाद ज्ञापन संस्था की मैनेजिंग ट्रस्टी सुश्री श्रुति नागवंशी ने किया।

उपेन्द्र कुमार मानवाधिकार जन निगरानी समिति के सदस्य हैं. फिलवक्‍त वाराणसी में रहते हैं और संगठित हिंसा मुक्त समाज के लिए कार्यरत् हैं. इनसे pvchr.adv@gmail.com पर संपर्क साधा जा सकता है.

9 December as human rights defender day

2011-12-10T03:49:00.000-08:00

9 December as human rights defender day

अन्तर्राश्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार दिवस पर यातना व संगठित हिंसा के खिलाफ रैली

2011-12-10T02:23:00.000-08:00

आज 10 दिसम्बर, 2011 को मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति द्वारा जिला मुख्यालय, कचहरी, वाराणसी पर ‘‘विश्व मानवअधिकार दिवस’’ पर रैली का आयोजन हुआ। जिसमें सोनभद्र, अम्बेडकरनगर, मेरठ, अलीगढ़, मुरादाबाद, कोडरमा एवं वाराणसी के विभिन्न ब्लाकों (हरहुआ, पिण्डरा, चिरईगाँव, बड़ागाँव, आराजीलाईन, काशी विद्यापीठ, आदि) के कई गाँवों से 300 से अधिक लोगों ने भागीदारी की। यह रैली सर्किट हाउस, कमिश्नरी, जे0पी0 मेहता इण्टर कालेज, अम्बेडकर चैराहा गोलघर होते हुए पुनः सर्किट हाउस पर समाप्त हुई।

विभिन्न ग्रामीण ईलाकों से आये जन समुदाय यातना अब और नही, कहीं नहीं, कभी नहीं। यातना रहित जीवन मानव का अधिकार है। यातना के विरूद्ध संघर्ष करें, यातना व संगठित हिंसा मुक्त समाज बनाये। 10 दिसम्बर विश्व मानवाधिकार दिवस जिन्दाबाद आदि नारे बुलन्द कर अपनी आवाज सरकार तक पहुँचाने की पुरजोर कोशिश की।

इस मौके पर महामहिम राष्ट्रपति को सम्बोधित माँग पत्र हस्ताक्षर अभियान भी चलाया गया। 50 हजार हस्ताक्षर युक्त माँग पत्र भेजा जा रहा है, जिसमें निम्नवत् मांगे है:-

 यातना पर संयुक्त राश्ट्र कन्वेंषन ;न्छब्।ज्द्ध का अनुमोदन किया जाय।  यातना और संगठित हिंसा के षिकार पीडि़तों की पुनर्वासन नीति बनायी जाय।  संयुक्त राश्ट्र कन्वेंषन UNCAT के मद्देनजर यातना पर घरेलू कानून अविलम्ब बनाया जाय।  पुलिस हिरासत में हुई मौतों की जाँच सी0आर0पी0सी0 की धारा 176 (1) (ए) के तहत् न्यायिक मजिस्ट्रेट द्वारा कराई जाए।

महामहिम राष्ट्रपति को भेजा जा रहा है। वंचितों के अधिकार पर उत्तर प्रदेश चुनाव में सभी राजनैतिक दलों को जनता का घोषणा पत्र भेजा जा रहा है।http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

रैली का नेतृत्व पी0यू0सी0एल0 के प्रान्तीय अध्यक्ष श्री चितरंजन सिंह एवं इकोनामिक टाइम्स के पत्रिका के वरिष्ठ पत्रकार श्री नागेश्वर पटनायक ने किया। वही मानवाधिकार के संघर्षो को बढ़ाने वाले कई सम्मानित दुर्योधन रेड्डी, महातिम मुसहर, मंगला राजभर, मो0 सलीम अंसारी, रामकृपाल, मुर्हरम अली, डा0 लेनिन, श्रुति, जय कुमार मिश्रा, अजय सिंह, शिरिन शबाना खान, उपेन्द्र कुमार, अनूप श्रीवास्तव, राजीव कुमार सिंह, मृत्युंजय सिंह, आसीफ जावेद खान, विजय कुमार, सत्य प्रकाश देव पाण्डेय, मनोज कुमार सिंह, शिव प्रताप चैबे, मीना, छाया, ओमकार, तुकनरायन, कात्यायिनी, चन्द्रशेखर, रोहित आदि मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता शामिल हुए।

PLease see the glimpse: https://picasaweb.google.com/104017757952983176993/10December?authkey=Gv1sRgCM243Mqa1p3EOg&feat=email

Convention of human right defenders held

2011-12-09T20:41:00.001-08:00

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Convention-of-human-right-defenders-held/articleshow/11049967.cms

VARANASI: On the eve of Human Rights Day (December 10), a convention of human right defenders was held at Paradkar Bhawan by the People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) on Friday.

Addressing the convention, the speakers expressed concern on the increasing threats to human right defenders. The state president of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Chittaranjan Singh, advocated for proper security to human right activists and said the state and democratic forces should come forward for their protection and establish rule of law. The people should be informed about the Human Rights Day and Human Rights Defender's Day to know their rights, he said. Speaking on the occasion, other speakers also pointed out the cases of human rights violation by police. They also condemned the life threat given to PVCHR general secretary Lenin Raghuvanshi.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in its message believes that December 9, which is the day when the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders was adopted by the United Nations on December 9, 1998, be declared as Human Rights Defenders Day to acknowledge and pledge continued support to the human right defenders who are working for the creation and sustenance of a rights aware and rights respecting civil society.

The message of NHRC was also circulated on the occasion. According to NHRC message, the nation as well as international community around the world are increasingly realising and acknowledging the role and contribution of human rights defenders in strengthening the human rights regime throughout the globe. The NHRC considers the human rights defenders as its partners in the endeavour to fulfill its role as an institution for promotion and protection of rights of common man. The NHRC understands that there are many security risks for human rights defenders and they have to tread a very risky and difficult path to perform their tasks. The problems and harassment of the human rights defenders are in the knowledge of the NHRC and it has always made sincere efforts to ameliorate the problems.

The inaugural session was followed by the testimonials of human rights defenders. Many human rights defenders including Duryodhan Reddy from Orissa, Mahatm Mushahar from Jaunpur, Mangala Rajbhar from Varanasi, Mohammed Salim Ansari from Mordabad, Ram Kripal and Muharram Ali from Ambedkar Nagar and Managal Singh from Mahoba were also felicitated on the occasion for their works. The PVCHR will also organise rally and a march at the district headquarters on Saturday on the Human Rights Day.

Glimpse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLGmVbtr-6M

हिंदुस्तान में अभी भी महिलाएं डायन कहलाने के लिए अभिशप्त हैं ....

2011-12-02T23:56:00.000-08:00

Death threats to human rights defender Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi

2011-12-01T23:54:00.001-08:00

India: Death threats to human rights defender Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Issue: Intimidation, right to life with dignity, threat to human rights defender

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Dear Friend,

Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) Secretary General / Executive Director Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi received a threatening call from by mobile phone. He is pursuing the case of Sohrab killing in Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh, India. The caller was also saying he is resident from the same district. He abused and given threat to life to Dr. Lenin.

Case detail:

On 29^th November, 2011 around 5:27 pm Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi[i], Secretary General / Executive Director of Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) received threatening call from mobile number +94757251733 on his mobile No. +91-9935599333. The caller was abusing by using filthy words after using the words Human Rights. He also threat to life saying "You will be towed" and "if you speak too much you will be shot out". During that time Dr. Lenin was busy in the meeting with its associates in his office and he became distracted.

At mean time around 5: 42 pm Dr. Lenin immediately released an urgent release in facebook. Around 6:22 pm Dr. Lenin rang on same number but he did not receive any response from that side. Then again he ranged this time he succeed to know the identity of the caller. The caller said, "My name is J.P Mishra, I am resident of Gorakhpur. You did not know about my power. I can do anything. Son, I have relation with many person you know Tulsi Singh. Now you understand what type of person I am. I lived in Mumbai I can do anything. If you are Governor or Chief Minister of the state, understand I have worth to do anything. Then he threat what is your worth monthly earning of only 10 thousand and 20 thousand". The caller was speaking in Bhojpuri mixed Hindi language.

Immediately letter through email was sent to Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission and Director General of Police and on 30^th November, 2011 same letter was sent through post.

It is noted that high level enquiry is going in the Soharab[ii] killing case in Gorakhpur. In this matter on the behalf of organization he made complain. In which the name of Sri Aditya Yogi Nath[iii] (Member of Parliament, Bhartiya Janta Party) also came. The caller was also telling he was resident of Gorakhpur. Through his dialogue it seems he was near to the Sri Aditya Yogi Nath ji, because he was assuming Dr. Lenin as any Government officer. He was telling he is making call from South Africa and sometime America.

More information:

PVCHR wrote letter to all relevant authorities to provide security and financial assistance to the family of Sohrab under European Union project "Reducing Police Torture against Muslims at the Grass-roots Level by Engaging and Strengthening Human Rights Institutions in India". On 12^th August, 2011 DGP office[iv] and on 20^th August, 2011 National Human Rights Commission[v] took cognizance (case no. 33098/24/34/2011) on complains. On 15th September, 2011 Governor of Uttar Pradesh in its letter no. p-2115/G.S directed to Special Secretary, Home department to take appropriate action in this matter. On 12 November, 2011 PVCHR receive the investigation report from Mukesh Shukla, DIG, Gorakhpur

Sample letter:

Dear………………………

Sub: Please take immediate action in death threat to Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi

I want to bring in your kind attention towards the incidence happened with Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi Secretary General / Executive Director of Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) that on 29^th November, 2011 around 5:27 pm he received threatening call from mobile number +94757251733 on his mobile No. +91-9935599333. The caller was abusing by using filthy words after using the words Human Rights. He also threat to life saying "You will be towed" and "if you speak too much you will be shot out". During that time Dr. Lenin was busy in the meeting with its associates in his office and he became distracted.

I am informed that at mean time around 5: 42 pm Dr. Lenin immediately released an urgent release in facebook. Around 6:22 pm Dr. Lenin rang on same number but he did not receive any response from that side. Then again he ranged this time he succeed to know the identity of the caller. The caller said, "My name is J.P Mishra, I am resident of Gorakhpur. You did not know about my power. I can do anything. Son, I have relation with many person you know Tulsi Singh. Now you understand what type of person I am. I lived in Mumbai I can do anything. If you are Governor or Chief Minister of the state, understand I have worth to do anything. Then he threat what is your worth monthly earning of only 10 thousand and 20 thousand". The caller was speaking in Bhojpuri mixed Hindi language.

Immediately letter through email was sent to Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission and Director General of Police and on 30^th November, 2011 same letter was sent through post.

I am also informed that high level enquiry is going in the Soharab killing case in Gorakhpur. In this matter on the behalf of organization he made complain. In which the name of Sri Aditya Yogi Nath (Member of Parliament, Bhartiya Janta Party) also came. The caller was also telling he was resident of Gorakhpur. Through his dialogue it seems he was near to the Sri Aditya Yogi Nath ji, because he was assuming Dr. Lenin as any Government officer. He was telling he is making call from South Africa and sometime America.

Therefore it is a kind request to conduct a high level enquiry against the alleged perpetrator and provide security to the Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi and the witness.

Thanking You

Sincerely Yours

…………………………….

PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Chief Secretary
Government of Uttar Pradesh
Shri Lal Bhadur Shastri Bhavan
Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
Fax: +91 52 2223 9283
Email: csup@up.nic.in

2. Director General of Police
1-Tilak Marg, Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
Fax: + 91 522 220 6120 / 220 6174
E-mail: police@up.nic.in

3. Chief Minister
Government of Uttar Pradesh
Chief Minister's Secretariat
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
Fax: + 91 52 2223 0002 / 2223 9234
E-mail: csup@up.nic.in

4. Inspector General of Police
Varanasi Zone
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
Email: igzonevns@up.nic.in

5. Senior Superintendent of Police
Varanasi, SSP Office
Kachahari, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
Email: sspvns@up.nic.in

6. Mrs Margaret Sekaggya
Special Representative of the Secretary General for human rights defenders
Att: Ben Majekodunmi
Room 1-040
C/o OHCHR-UNOG, 1211 Geneva 10,
SWITZERLAND
Tel: + 41 22 917 93 88
Fax: + 41 22 917 9006
E-mail: urgent-action@ohchr.org

7. Chairperson

National Human Rights Commission

Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg,

New Delhi, PIN 110001

Fax No. 23384863

E-Mail: covdnhrc@nic.in, ionhrc@nic.in, jrlawnhrc@hub.nic.in

Attn: Focal point Human Rights Defender

8. I.G.Police,

Gorakhpur Zone

Tel: 2333707

Email: iggkp@nda.vsnl.net.in, igzgor@nic.in

[i] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenin_Raghuvanshi

[ii] http://petition-nhrc.blogspot.com/2011/08/yogi-adityanath-obstructing-legal.html

[iii] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adityanath_Yogi

[iv] http://muslim-minority.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-post_12.html

[v] http://muslim-minority.blogspot.com/2011/08/ackonwledgement-lettercomplaint.html

Death threats to human rights defender Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi

2011-12-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

http://muslim-minority.blogspot.com/2011/12/death-threats-to-human-rights-defender.html

http://twocircles.net/2011dec01/death_threats_human_rights_defender_dr_lenin_raghuvanshi.html

India: Death threats to human rights defender Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi

2011-11-30T20:59:00.001-08:00

http://www.pvchr.net/2011/11/india-death-threats-to-human-rights.html

Lopsided growth

2011-11-29T22:28:00.001-08:00

http://www.pvchr.net/2011/11/lopsided-growth.html

Submission by PVCHR regarding India for the Universal Periodic Review:State of Impunity

2011-11-27T06:16:00.001-08:00

http://www.pvchr.net/2011/11/submission-by-pvchr-regarding-india-for.html

मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता-अधिकार दिवस पर आयोजित अधिवेशन एवम अंतर्राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार दिवस पर आयोजित रैली मे भागीदारी के समबन्ध मे

2011-11-26T02:33:00.000-08:00

http://www.pvchr.net/2011/11/blog-post_26.html

महोदय / महोदया,
अभिनन्दन !!!

मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ताओ की ह्त्या और उन पर बढते हमले के परिप्रेक्ष्य मे मानवाधिकार जन निगरानी समिति द्दारा 9 दिसम्बर 2011 को अंतर्राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता – अधिकार दिवस पर एक दिवसीय अधिवेशन का आयोजन पराडकर स्मृति भवन , मैदागिन, वाराणसी मे आयोजित किया जा रहा है। अधिवेशन के मुख्य अतिथि माननीय श्री चितरंजन सिंह – राष्ट्रीय सचिव, पी.यु.सी.एल. एवम विशिष्ट अतिथि – माननीय श्री नागेश्वर पटनायक (इकोनामिक टाईम्स) है । कार्यक्रम प्रात: 11 बजे से प्रारम्भ होगा ।

10 दिसम्बर 2011 को अंतर्राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार दिवस पर यातना और संगठित हिंसा के खिलाफ मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ताओ एवम पीडितो द्दारा रैली आयोजित की गयी है ।

महोदय / महोदया उपरोक्त कार्यक्रम मे आपकी व्यक्तिगत / संस्थागत उपस्थिति आवश्यक एवम वन्दनीय है ।

आपका

डा0 लेनिन

(महासचिव)

Firing probe in Assam rights panel court

2011-11-24T20:55:00.000-08:00

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1111122/jsp/northeast/story_14782210.jsp

A STAFF REPORTER
Guwahati, Nov. 21: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has forwarded a complaint pertaining to the death of four farmers in police firing at Besimari in Darrang district, to the Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) for early disposal.

Four farmers lost their lives while around 20 others, including policemen, were injured when security forces opened fire on agitating jute cultivators on October 10.

The agitating farmers blocked National Highway 52 demanding government intervention in regulating jute prices.

An official source said the complaint which was filed at the NHRC by the convener of People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights, Lenin Raghuvanshi, last month, had been recently transferred to the Assam Human Rights Commission for appropriate action.

“The grievances raised in the petition relate to matters which are subject to the State and hence the complaint was transferred to state human rights commission under Section 13 (6) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, as amended by the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2006 for disposal in accordance with the provisions of the act,” the source said.

The people’s vigilance committee is a Varanasi-based NGO, which is working for the protection of human rights of marginalised people.

Speaking to The Telegraph over phone from New Delhi, Raghuvanshi said they had sought an inquiry by an independent agency into the circumstances in which the police opened fire on the agitating farmers.

They also demanded that the victims of police action be compensated adequately as prima facie their rights have been violated.

In the petition, the NGO had accused the authorities of a “high-handed attitude” towards the farmers.

“According to NHRC guidelines, if death is caused by police firing, then there is a provision for filing an FIR against policemen,” Raghuvanshi said.

Soon after the incident, the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), a peasants’ body, had termed the killing of four farmers in police firing “cold-blooded murder”.

RTI activist and KMSS general secretary Akhil Gogoi had stated that the police firing on unarmed farmers was a reflection of the anti-peasant stand of the Tarun Gogoi government.

According to the source, the Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has registered the complaint and would seek a reply from Assam police.

“Since former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Aftab Hussain Saikia, who is appointed the AHRC chairman is yet to assume office, the notice has not been issued to the police yet. As soon as he assumes charge, the notice seeking reply from Assam police will be issued,” the source said.

मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति द्वारा जौनपुर विकासखण्ड रामपुर, ग्राम-सकरा में विकास कार्यो एवं मुसहर परिवारों की चुनौतिपूर्ण स्थितियों की रपट

2011-11-22T01:34:00.000-08:00

मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति के गर्वनिंग बोर्ड सदस्य श्री मंगला राजभर, मैनेजमेंट कमेटी सदस्या सुश्री शिरिन शबाना खान एवं सुश्री कात्यायनी ने पत्रकार भवन कचहरी परिसर जौनपुर में संस्था द्वारा आयोजित प्रेसवार्ता में विकास खण्ड-रामपुर, ग्राम-सकरा में मुसहर परिवारों के बीच संस्था द्वारा किये जा रहे विकास कार्यो मुसहर परिवारों की चुनौतिपूर्ण स्थितियों की रिपोर्ट रखी।

उन्होंने बताया कि-समिति द्वारा मुसहर परिवारों को सरकारी योजनाओं और कानूनों की जानकारी सामुदायिक बैठकों/लोक विद्यालय के माध्यम से दी जाती है। जिससे सरकार द्वारा चलायी जा रही विभिन्न विकास कार्यक्रमों योजनाओं को लेकर अपना जीवन स्तर ऊँचा उठा सकें, उनकी गरीबी दूर हो। इसी दौरान (वर्ष 2009) मुसहर परिवारों ने बताया कि ग्राम के दबंग व्यक्तियों के साथ ही ग्राम प्रधान द्वारा बार-बार यह दबाव बनाया जा रहा है कि वे मनरेगा में बिना काम किये ही अपनी मजदूरी बैंक से निकालकर उन्हें दे देवे। विदित हो कि इन मजदूर मुसहर परिवारों में से कुछ परिवारों का जाॅब कार्ड ग्राम प्रधान द्वारा बनवाकर अपने पास ही रखा था। जिस पर वे मनमानी तरीके से काम के दिनों, मजदूरी की इंट्री कर नाजायज तरीके से (बिना काम के ही) भुगतान कराना चाहते थे। मजदूरों ने कानून के डर से बिना लालच में आये इसकी लिखित शिकायत जिलाधिकारी से की, जिसके बाद ग्रामप्रधान का खाता सीज हो गया। शिकायत के बाद ही उन्हें पहली बार उनका जाॅब कार्ड उनके हाथ में मिला।

वर्ष 2010 में सकरा के ही श्री ओम प्रकाश सिंह के रिश्तेदार (साले) दिल्लकपुरा, थाना-केराकत निवासी श्री इन्द्रमणि सिंह ने 15 मुसहरों को परिवार सहित ईंट भट्ठे पर बंधुवा बनाकर ईटों की पथाई करायी और सीजन खतम होने पर पूरी मजदूरी दिये बिना ही उन्हें मार-पीटकर भगा दिया। (मजदूर दिलकुमार की स्व0 व्यथा-कथा संलग्न है) जिसकी शिकायत जिलाधिकारी सहित राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग, नई दिल्ली से की गई। आयोग द्वारा मामले पर जाँच कर जिला प्रशासन से रिपोर्ट मांगी गई है।

देश में बंधुवा मजदूरी उन्मूलन के लिए बंधुवा मजदूरी अधिनियम 1976 के अन्तर्गत प्रत्येक बंधुवा मजदूर को मुक्त कराकर उन्हें पुर्नवासित किये जाने का प्रावधान हैं, जिसकी जवाबदेही प्रशासन की हैं।

वर्ष 2010 अक्टूबर में मुसहर परिवारों की अमानवीय अवस्था को देखते हुए समिति द्वारा यहाँ कार्यक्रम की गतिविधियां तेज की गयी, जिसके अन्तर्गत यहाँ सर्वप्रथम शिक्षा से वंचित बच्चों को अनौपचारिक शिक्षा देने का काम शुरू किया गया। इस कार्य में बालाधिकारों पर कार्यरत अन्र्तराष्ट्रीय संस्था ‘‘ग्लोबल फण्ड फाॅर चिल्ड्रेन ;ळथ्ब्द्ध’’ ने आर्थिक सहायता की। जिससे बच्चों को प्रशिक्षित शिक्षकों द्वारा शिक्षा शिक्षण सामग्री दिये जाने की शुरूआत हुई। यहाँ पोषण के लिए खाद्य सामग्री भी दी जाती है।

वर्तमान में संस्था द्वारा मुसहर परिवारों के सहयोग से सावित्री बाई फूले जनमित्र शिक्षण केन्द्र (अनौपचारिक) की स्थापना की गई। जिसमें 6-14 वर्ष के 22 बच्चें शिक्षा ग्रहण कर रहे है, और 25 बच्चें पूर्व प्राथमिक स्तर के शिक्षा कार्यक्रम से जुड़े है। साथ ही 6 बच्चों को ग्राम के सरकारी प्राथमिक विद्यालय में (मुख्यधारा) नामांकित कराया गया है। जिससे वे सरकारी सुविधाओं सहित शिक्षा ग्रहण कर सकें। ऐसे में 0-5 वर्ष के 52 बच्चों में पोषण एवं विकास के लिए प्ब्क्ै विभाग द्वारा कोई प्रयास नही चलाया जा रहा है।

‘‘शिक्षा कार्यक्रम से जुड़ने पर मुसहर परिवारों का अपने बच्चों का शिक्षा एवं विकास का दृष्टिकोण बदलना शुरू हो गया है। उनके आँखों में भी पढ़-लिखकर जानकारी हासिल करने के सपने साफ दिखाई देने लगे हंै। जिससे ग्राम के वे तबके जो आजाद भारत में भी इंसानों को गुलाम बनाकर रखना चाहते है वे विचलित हो उठे हैं और मुसहरों को परेशान करने की मंशा से फर्जी आरोप और मुकदमों में फँसाने का असफल प्रयास भी कर रहे हैं।’’

मुसहर परिवारों की स्थिति का अंदाजा इसी से लगाया जा सकता है कि आज भी 22 वयस्कों (महिला-पुरूष) के पास मतदाता नही है। जो गाँव-देश का नागरिक होना सुनिश्चित कराता है। जिसके बाद भी वे किसी योजना के हकदार होते है। किसी राजनितिक या जनप्रतिनिधि को उनके वोट की जरूरत नही है। मुसहरों को राज्य व्यवस्था, अपने जनप्रतिनिधियों के चुनाव की समझ शायद नही होती है। ऐसा उनका सोचना होगा, तभी तो शायद किसी ने यह प्रयास नही किया। पिछले कुछ समय पहले सरकार द्वारा अभियान चलाकर ठस्व् (लेखपाल, शिक्षक) द्वारा मतदाता पहचान पत्र दुरूस्तीकरण किया जा रहा था, लेकिन तब भी इस बस्ती में कोई सरकारी कर्मचारी इस बाबत नही पहुचा।

आजीविका और सामुहिक सम्पदा संसाधनों से बदहाल स्थिति होने के बावजूद भी 15 मुसहरों के पास अभी भी जाॅब कार्ड नही है। जबकि काम न मिल पाने के कारण ये ईंट भटठों में पेशगी के ऐवज में बंधुवा मजदूर बनने को मजबूर होते है। जिनके कार्ड जाॅब कार्ड है भी उन्हें भी मनरेगा में काम नही मिलता। प्रधान और रोजगार सेवक के लिए शासनादेश का कोई मायने नही है। वे मिलीभगत कर मनरेगा के धन का दुरूपयोग करने में ही व्यस्त है। जिसका सीधा उदाहरण है कि, आज भी जाॅब कार्ड युक्त/संतृप्त व्यक्तियों में से कुछ के बैंक खाते नही खोले गये है। वही जिनके खाते खोले गये है, उन्ही बैंक खातों में उन मजदूरों का भी भुगतान कराया जाता जिनके खाते नही खोले गये है, यह सरासर मनरेगा कानून के उल्लंघन का मामला है। काम की मांग और हनन के मामलों पर इनके द्वारा कई बार शिकायत की गयी है। लगभग दो माह पूर्व तथाकथित सोशल आडिट में ब्लाॅक कोआर्डिनेटर की मौजूदगी में कानून निर्देशित नियमों के व्यवहारिक उपयोग एवं सत्यता की जाँच में भी मजदूरों ने अपनी समस्या को रखा, लेकिन कोई सुनवाई नही की गई।

2002 के सर्वे के अनुसार 48 मुसहर परिवारों में केवल दो परिवारों के पास ही बी0पी0एल0 राशन कार्ड है जिसमें भी राशन समय से नही मिलता। सर्वोच्च न्यायालय के आदेश (मु0सं0-196 भारत सरकार बनाम च्न्ब्स्) के बाद भी अति वंचित मुसहर समुदाय के 44 परिवार राशन कार्ड से वंचित है। जिससे वे परिवार खुले बाजार में मंहगे दाम में राशन खरीदकर खाने को मजबूर है। जिसका सीधा प्रभाव उनके पेट-स्वास्थ्य पर पड़ता है। क्योकि कई बार कुछ खाने का अनाज न होने के कारण उनके चुल्हे में आग नही जलायी जा पाती।
महामाय गरीब आर्थिक मदद योजना के सर्वे में भी केवल 5 परिवारों को ही सूची में शामिल कर मदद पहुचायी जा रही है।
33 परिवारों के पास कोई भी जमीन सिवाय उस जमीन के जिस पर उनकी झोपड़ी नही है। जिसके कारण वे छोटी मोटी खेती से अनाज या सब्जी पैदा नही कर पाते। 16 परिवारों को जमीन आवंटन है, लेकिन वे जमीन पानी के अभाव में बंजर पड़ी है जबकि मनरेगा कानून के अन्र्तगत इस जमीन को उपजाऊ बनाने का कार्य कर इनकी आजीविका व जीवन स्तर में वृद्धि की जा सकती है।

प्रेसवार्ता में सकरा ग्राम से महातीम मुसहर, डब्बल दिलकुमार, सोमारू सहित, सावित्री बाई फूले जनमित्र शिक्षण केन्द्र के शिक्षक प्रमोद कुमार रत्नाकर एवं कंचन भारती आदि उपस्थित रहे।

Jaunpur Paper Cutting

TORTURE, TESTIMONIES OF SURVIVORS AND RIGHT TO HEALTH

2011-11-17T04:42:00.000-08:00

http://www.pvchr.net/2011/11/torture-testimonies-of-survivors-and.html

TORTURE, TESTIMONIES OF SURVIVORS AND RIGHT TO HEALTH

"My name is Harinath Mushahar and I am 50 years old. Apart from working in the field as a landless labourer, I make leaf plates and sell it for making a living.

On February 1988, two days after Basant Panchmi, we all family members were sleeping under one roof. Suddenly, at 4 a.m, there was a knock at the door. My wife opened the door then, she saw the police. Two policemen barged inside and pounced on me, grabbing my arms wanted to take me to the police station. When they pulled me outside, then I saw Ramdev Yadav, Rambali, Vikram Pehlwan, Kanhaiya, Dr. Bhaiyalal telling the police, 'Arrest Lalman'. Seeing them Lalman was trying to flee. Lalman and I, both of us were taken to Phulpur police station.

Police continued thrashing me for 8 days and pressurised me to fall on their line and accept that we have committed the theft. Four policemen were moving over my body and pounding with wooden stick as it seemed they were walking on the field but not over a human being. While narrating the police's savagery tears jerks out of my eyes. There was no one to advocate for us. Whenever any high official visited the police station, police used to hide us. Police used to give us one meal a day, it's was quite difficult to take food, I used to writhe terribly in pain but then also neither they applied any ointment nor they gave any oral medicine for healing the wounds. The pain was unbearable.

Facing continuous torture for 8 days in the lock up, I was sent to the jail. I was treated in the jail. It always crossed over my mind, what fate had befallen on me and suffering for whose sin, then I questioned myself is it not that I am facing it for being born a 'Mushahar'. Waiting for my bail after two and half months I was released. After that, I had to appear on the hearing of my case.

My incarceration in jail pushed my family to languish in penury and my son died deprived of a proper treatment. Medicines vanish from the Government hospitals so my son also left this world without medicine. If he would have been alive then he would lend his helping hand in my hour of distress.

On 16th April 2002, the Court awarded imprisonment, which distanced me from my family members. On that day I and my brother, Lalman reached the Court in the morning. Our name was called after the Judge occupied his seat. My advocate asked us to stand at the dock. Then, he whispered something on Judge's ear. At around 2 p.m. the Court broke for the lunch and the Judge went away. Filled with fear, I went to the Judge then he told me, "Go I am coming. I trusted him and I came back to my seat. Post to the lunch the Judge came. Staring at the door I was thinking would the advocate coming or not. I was getting frightened. Court's reader made an announcement in the post-lunch session. Then the Judge gave the ruling, "Sentenced for 10 years of imprisonment and booked under 382 and 459 IPC. Deposit a penalty of Rs. 17,000 to the Court."

It was shocking for me, my face grew red, and I started sweating. They did not know that I had been jailed. They were thinking that I might have gone to my sister's house. ..... When they went to the advocate to ask him he just bluffed and told that we had asked to be forgiven so we were sentenced for 10 years of imprisonment. When it was narrated to me it hurt me terribly and started crying.

Some days after staying at Chokaghat District jail I was shifted to Central jail. ...... I was assigned the job of cleaning the barrack and filling up water where the Pakistani prisoners were kept.

After two and half years, at Central jail's Shivpur farm, 6 jail inmates were allocated the work of cultivating 6 acres. Each prisoner had to do ploughing and weeding of an acre.... After putting up a hard toil covering whole of the day we were given Rs. 10 as a daily wage. On Sundays, we had to work but we were not paid single paise. When I asked twice why we were not paid wages for the work done on Sundays, then they responded Sundays are holidays so we do not pay. I used to think, are there holidays in jail but I could not ask them out of fear. We used to toil hard for 30 days in the month but 15 days were entered in the register and 15 percent from our wages went as commission to the contractor.

At that time, I used to think 'what a fate had befallen on me!' Many a times I cried and mocked on my pathetic conditions. In the jail, I earned through sweat and blood of my hard toil but that's also being snatched away by others. I was put behind the bars on trumped up charges without committing any crime.

I was afflicted by tuberculosis (TB) due to insufficient food and hard toil. Continuously I had to take medicines for 6 months to cure my TB. I was served milk and eggs but couldn't consume it as health conditions were quite precarious.... Whenever there were rains, I used to think if the thatched roof leaks then where would all family members sleep. Days passed by while working but my nights were sleepless as worries and anxieties filled up my restless mind.

It was quite a delightful moment, though quite a shorter one, when family members came to meet me at the jail.... One day, when my family members came to meet me I handed over Rs. 5000 which I earned while working in the jail. Once I passed on Rs. 1,000 and then, Rs. 2,000 but took away Rs. 500 for my personal consumption to purchase soap and oil. In the jail I worked in the field for 7 years.

In 2009, I asked the police officer, "When I would go home?" Then, his response was that my jail term had finished two months back as I was unable to pay the penalty due to tuberculosis. Then he told me that I would be released on 2nd February 2011. After this, I started counting the days and used to think if I had the penalty to pay and not afflicted by tuberculosis then I could have been in home. The days passed by.

2nd February was day of celebration for me. Earlier I had informed my family members. I was besieged by happiness and I did not take any food..... I was thinking I would go to my home and village. I would breathe in fresh air liberated from the shackles of bondage. Seeing the Superintendent of Police (SP) coming, I rushed to the office, and then he handed over a cheque of Rs. 6,081 and gave me Rs. 500. After being released I briskly walked towards my home. Then, tears jerked through my eyes and it seemed that happiness was all around me.

Reaching home, I spent the entire night talking to my wife and children...... For earning a living she carried lanterns or tube lights over her head in wedding ceremonies at night. She made leaf plates to run the household. My son toiled hard to earn Rs. 35 as a daily wage. Listening to their woes I cried incessantly.

False case was framed against me and jailed for 10 years. I lost 10 years which won't come back. What I want that it should not happen with others....

Coming back from the jail, I am no more interested to go anywhere. After being punished for so many years I started thinking myself as guilty. I think what people might be thinking about me. I am mentally disturbed. Due continuous police beating and the hard toil which I put in jail for years together, there is always terrible pain in my body."

(Excerpt of the Testimony of Harinath Mushahar and the testimony was recorded by Farahat Shaba Khanam and Meena Kumari Patel on 4^th March, 2011, under RCT-PVCHR initiative for Testimonial Therapy[i])

In this article detention refers to prison, police custody and custody under security forces.

Why Testimony

The testimony (truth telling and emotion-pain sharing of survivors) is a short psychological approach to trauma. Significance of truth is an important aspect of the justice process. Testimony is located within the broad framework of social construction and provides valid information of human rights violation without humiliating the witness. It has often resulted in the survivors overcoming depressive symptoms and cope with difficult situation. Survivors rediscover self worthiness and dignity. Regaining self esteem by recording their stories in a human rights context, private pain is reframed with a political meaning. Compilation and analysis of information emerging from testimonies indicates the rights abuse in the originating country and helps in initiating advocacy measures for institutional reform.

It has played an important role as a central mechanism in the functioning of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa, studying suppressive symptoms of the traumatised Bosnian Kosovo refugees, treatment of traumatised asylum seekers in Netherlands, rural community in Mozambique with survivors of prolonged civil war, traumatised Sudanese adolescent refugees in United states and also used for injured humanitarian aid workers who had survived the bombing of the UN Headquarters in Iraq. In India it has acquired psycho-legal form that emphasises on denunciation of human rights violation and initiates advocacy for justice.

Testimony involves following three components:

(1) Private: Psychological rehabilitation of the survivor leads to certain degree of restoration of physical and mental state. This opens the possibility of his/her participation in a community movement and ultimately becoming a human rights defender;

(2) Legal: Testimonies provide a lot of subjective information about the plight of the victim which help the court to take into account when the bail application of the victim is considered. The human sufferings are never recorded in the court proceedings. However, these small references of human sufferings often go in favour of the victim in front of the well prepared perpetrator;

(3) Political: Under testimonial therapy, public ceremonies are organised to honour the survivors of torture. These ceremonies provide an opportunity to bring back the survivor to the same society/ community that has isolated him/her for being tortured. Testimonies are read out in the presence of the villagers, invited guests, local politicians, elected representatives, and local media creating debate and discussion at the local level because it contains human sufferings, institutional malpractices, and failure of constitutional guarantees. Testimonies can be used as urgent appeals and advocacy work. Campaigns can be initiated by "psychological mapping" of the evidence of the severe effect of torture on large number of people. Considering the difficulties in getting the state's approval for visiting and monitoring the detention centres under the police, para-military forces and the military across the country, these testimonies are great source of primary data for research work. Organisations following developments relating to use of testimony emerging out of torture and organised violence can help building foundation for People's movement.

The concept of testimony was brought into India by Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT). Both RCT and PVCHR worked together to learn and adapt it in Indian context.[ii] At present PVCHR and Wide Angle are two organisations using it in their work to strengthen rule of law.[iii] Both the organisations are documenting different kinds of experiences because psychological suffering of the victim has never been an area of concern for the state and civil society groups. The focus and content of the debates during Prevention of Torture Bill, 2010 both inside and outside the Parliament prove the point.

Findings from the Testimonies of the Survivors of Torture

Following findings have emerged out of the testimonies of the torture victims:

(a) It is immensely difficult for an ordinary citizen to negotiate with the unlimited power and absolute impunity enjoyed by the security agencies and law enforcement agencies to get justice;

(b) With court process becoming expensive and human rights institutions having limited mandate, the poor victims confront limited scope to access to justice;

(d) Majority of the detainees are poor, marginalised and people from religious minorities charged with either unnecessary or unjustified sections.

(e) If one tries to abjure violence and lead a normal life particularly, in conflict area, there is no scope for initiating process of social reconstruction and coexistence;

(f) with state outsourcing legislative initiatives to non state actors like business houses and multinational companies, it will be futile to expect that door of justice will be closer to poor;

(g) Growing urgency to address 'right to health' for victims in detention;

(h) Present systems of governance hardly conform to the UDHR's language and ideology.

PVCHR and Detention Watch[iv]

As testimonies poured in, PVCHR got an insight into the multidimensional and multilayered issues related to and relevant to the justice process and survival of the victim. The available information convinced everyone in PVCHR to begin an initiative called Detention Watch. Under this initiative, whenever there is information of unlawful detention, the matter is immediately taken up with the concerned police station under which the accused is confined. Interventions are also done by communicating with senior police and civil administration of the state, State and National Human Right Commissions to protect the accused from physical and mental torture. Representations are also made in the court and other concerned authorities. Not surprisingly, no one has been subjected any kind of physical torture in all the cases of interventions under this initiative However, there are varying degree of psychological anxiety and fear prevalent among those detainees.

In India custody does not mean "safe custody." It is a place where one encounters the prevalence of opposite norms and practices of a civilised society. It drives one through the ugly side of the repressive character of the state. It is this place from where the victims start loosing faith in the state. Perhaps this is also a reason why no one in this country has ever come back from the police custody to say that she/he was respectfully treated as a citizen of this country.

Every detainee is in a situation of particular vulnerability, both vis-à-vis their captors and in relation to their environment. The change in status from a free person to detainee means the loss of all points of reference and immersion in an unknown world where the rules are different and the valued unfamiliar. Life in a closed environment away from the outside world tends to dehumanise people by eliminating individuality and responsibility. Detention is thus a fundamental change for each individual person, even if he or she is prepared for it.[v] This vulnerability is accentuated in situation of armed conflict and collective or political violence when the isolation and the temptation to use force in an abusive manner are even greater.[vi]

Regulatory Mechanisms should be put in place to ensure a favourable environment for the detainees. The later ensures the dignity and well being of the detainee. The primary responsibility for establishing and maintaining such an environment rests with the authorities concerned. They are duty bound to provide the vital needs of the persons they arrest and detain and to guarantee that they receive decent, humane treatment. When they become aware of the problems, they have to take all necessary steps as soon as possible to remedy them. This also mean proceedings to make a prompt and impartial investigation whenever there are grounds to believe that abuses have taken place (This obligation is notably contained in Article 12 of the Convention against Torture), and then, if the facts are confirmed, imposing appropriate penalties.(In particular, on the basis of Article 4 of the UNCAT, but also under the provisions of the Geneva Conventions concerning grave breaches and other serious violations of International Humanitarian law, Article 40,50, 129, and 146 of GC I,II,III and IV respectively). This favourable environment, even if it does exist, is potentially unstable. Thus the risk of abuse is constant. Favourable environment therefore have to be monitored, developed and consolidated by mechanisms able to detect abuses as soon as they come to light and exert the necessary pressure on the relevant authorities to ensure that they take the appropriate steps.[vii] These regulatory mechanisms could include media, citizen's rights groups, lawyers, independent judicial system, and the traditional role of elders in the societies.

There is no disagreement in the argument that structural deficiencies and politicisation of functioning of police and security agencies have adversely affected the latter's performance immensely. But it is also a proven point that social structure plays a great role in perpetuating custodial crime. Caste and religious loyalties decides not just ministerial posts but also official postings. Evidences indicate that postings are temporarily done to neutralise certain individuals in custody. These untold and unholy alliances, which can not be checked by law pose serious challenges to justice process of this country. Rights and guidelines laid down by the honourable court and Human rights institutions have not deterred the perpetrator to commit crimes in custody and in other places of detention where majority of the victims are youths belonging to poor families, minority groups and socially backward groups.

To have a political, legislative, and institutional environment that would encourage the concerned authorities to undertake obligations and respect rights of the person in detention, Detention watch feels there is urgent need to, (a) ways must be found to register information regarding the accused the moment a person is taken into custody. It could be done through email, phone call, fax and telegram. This point of registration must remain within the supervision of the judiciary; (b) undertake media and legislative advocacy, a step ahead from monitoring of custodial violence. Harm to any defenceless person in the custody is a great betrayal by the state and (c) provide testimonial therapy for psychological support.

Judiciary: Distancing away from Survivors

Harinath's case is an indication of what is happening in the system. It is certainly not the case always and everywhere but this testimony has highlighted the glaring systemic loopholes affecting the future of citizens of the country in the absence of accountability in the context of right to life with dignity under Article 21 of Indian constitution. Unfortunately, majority of the detainees are illiterate and they do not understand what all documents they are signing. In some cases it has so happened that they have signed documents related to their land instead of court papers. As the legal process is becoming expensive, detainees who can not afford to pay even for their bail bond continue to languish in jail. The long and tedious process of verification of the bail guarantor has created more hurdles for them.

So many years after Independence, the state has not been able to establish a scientific investigation process. Lack of investigative manpower from the field of forensic and medicine limits the fairness of trial. Investigation report of a Daroga (lower police official) who is often selected for the job on the basis of a minimum educational qualification and physical fitness is considered as the entry point of the trial. Impunity enjoyed by the state apparatus is an important factor that perpetuates the crimes in custody. Complaints against such perpetrator often results in acquittal as the accused person manages to influence all forms of departmental or judicial investigation against him. Rarely the solidarity behind the accused persons fizzles out in front of judicial activism generated due to media onslaught. For that to happen, either the victims or the accused has to be high profile in nature. Systems must be put in place to protect the life of people like Harinath by prosecuting the concerned investigating officer and provide immediate and adequate compensation to the survivors with an apology from the state. Given the conditions of detainees, the policy makers in consultation with judiciary should consider decriminalising certain offences. It would not only decongest number of detainees but also reduce burden on judiciary.

People in India have the courts with great hope. Besides deciding the cases, the courts have done some exemplary work to restore the confidence of ordinary citizens in the judicial process. Few months back the Honourable Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court considered news report on the issues of suicide by farmers in Bundelkhand as Public Interest Litigation. The same court also considered complaints made by PVCHR on hunger death by weavers from Varanasi as Public Interest Litigation. Amidst this positive development, there are also areas of concern. The fast processing of evidences, particularly in Fast Track Courts has put immense pressure on all the concerned parties. These courts might have been very useful in reducing the backlogs, which is a matter of statistics and not about appreciation of evidence. The state must consider policy reform to provide relief to the poor and establish mechanism to assess the quality of judgements with accountability.

Human Rights Institutions (HRIs): They can do better

In most part of the world institutions are created as a result of learning from past crisis. Having an institution does not mean that the crisis will stop occurring, only damage could be moderated. "We do not learn spontaneously from our mistakes. This is why we need institutions in society," says Prof Lars Magnusson of Economic History at Upasala University. Things are no different in India.

Human Rights Institutions (HRIs) like National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) are of utmost importance in addressing issues related to detainees. The number of complaints received by NHRC has highlighted the extent of human rights violations taking place in India. According to its recent press release, in last eighteen years it registered 10,94,113 cases of human rights violation, maximum 6,22,635 number of complaints are from Uttar Pradesh. NHRC has also registered maximum number of 901 cases of complaints of death in police custody. In many respects, the human rights commissions have acted as a check. The problem though is that an institution like the NHRC in a country of India's size becomes too remote from the scene to be effective in many cases. A large number of police atrocities are committed in small towns and villages of India where people are not aware of the commission's existence or its procedures.[viii]

The question that crosses everyone's mind is about the performances of the HRIs. And why their performances have not been debated or why a performance audit of these institutions has not taken place by the legislatures? A performance audit must provide space for public hearing too, so that victims, civil society groups and other interested parties get an opportunity to voice their concerns and suggestions. This exercise will provide an opportunity to find out whether the organisations have got enough mandates to fulfil the expectations and whether these institutions have delivered on their mandate.

These institutions suffer from two types of problems. First, the state does not consider protection of human rights as its one of the most important responsibilities, so it makes the institutional short of full functional through delayed appointment in important posts, providing minimum infrastructure. Had it not been so, NHRC would not have remained headless for a long time. In States, the appointments in SHRCs are more of political in nature. Second, the major problem is about the mandate. The recommendatory power of NHRC is restricted due to non cooperation by the states. The states are also using the SHRC to stall the move of NHRC in sensitive cases. However, despite limited mandate, nothing restraints the HRIs to walk the extra miles for the victims or invoke its power to remain pro active. For example, the health and hygiene conditions in the custody and prisons are in a terrible condition due to overcrowding. This needs urgent attention of the HRIs to guarantee adequate health infrastructure and food quality. HRIs need to sensitise the security forces and law enforcing agencies that the guns they are holding are to respect individual freedom and protection of constitutions. These sensitisation programmes should also focus on having respect for women and their privacy. In conflict areas, the HRIs can help in strengthening the democratic institutions and create space for reconciliation.

The political parties and the legislatures must realize adverse impact of failed institutions. They should also be aware of the consequences of power of information technology and network power of victims. The state is no longer in a position to hide its performance and intention. Its accountability for protection of human rights is no more limited to domestic constituencies instead, now it is a global commitment. The state positions are openly challenged and can be challenged by several other versions to drive opposite points at least in the web. Technology has empowered victims, perpetrators, NGOs, HRIs, state and non state actors. It has created opportunity for locals to go global.

Remedies do not lie in just framing law. There are socio cultural factors heavily influencing the causes of torture and human suffering and it is very difficult to deal with those within legal framework, particularly how to deal with a social structure perpetuating culture of silence in majority part of India. Mechanisms must be created at the local level to debate causes of human rights violations and finds ways for preventive and containment aspect. The institutions must reach out to victims instead of waiting the victims to approach them. Institutions related to Medical and Victim Rehabilitation need to urgently highlight the importance of scientific investigation procedures and management of trauma, a precondition for a victim to be a part of justice process.

Prevention of Torture Bill-2010 and Right to Health

The Human Rights Information and Documentation Systems International (HURIDOCS)[ix] database of human rights violations tallies 73 forms of torture that takes place in detaintion. Each technique engenders short-term and long-term consequences, sometimes unique. The likelihood of profound and long-lasting psychological effects from torture is independent of the intensity, nature, or duration of the abuse, although such effects may be partly related to poorly understood psychological attributes of the victim. Torture may attack the body, but the ultimate target is the mind of the victim during, and after, imprisonment.[x]

Although the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) recognizes that torture can be purely psychological in character and bans "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted", many policy makers and citizens underestimate the profound and intentional damage psychological forms of torture can produce. The psychological consequences for the individual can be more disabling than residual physical disabilities. Even after the memories of the pain of a physical assault have abated or disappeared altogether, torture survivors tell their therapists of intrusive memories of mock executions and watching or hearing the torture of others.[xi]

A right to health care for survivors of torture is explicitly stated in the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and Punishment (UNCAT) that came into force on 26 June 1987.[xii] The treaty calls on the states to make it as an "enforceable right." Few international treaties provide such an explicit statement of the right to care. The UNCAT calls on states to make the "means for as full rehabilitation as possible" along with other forms of redress, an "enforceable right". The treatment and rights of torture victims are also addressed in other international instruments.[xiii]

Testimonies of the survivors studied by both PVCHR and Wide Angle highlight the urgency of addressing detainees' right to health. The prison jurisprudence recognizes the inalienable rights of the prisoners. This right has been upheld by the Supreme Court of India in its landmark judgement in Parmanand Katara vs. Union of India (1989). According to Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economics, Social and Cultural Rights, "everyone has a right to enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health." Under United Nations' General Assembly Resolution 44/111, "Prisoners shall have access to the health services available in the country without discrimination on the grounds of their legal situation." One way to ensure that all prisoners have access to health services is to link together prison and public health care. The World Health Organization made several recommendations to this effect in the Declaration on Prison Health as Part of Public Health (2003). This right to health care and a healthy environment is linked to the persons with HIV inside the prison, to rights, like non-discrimination, privacy and confidentiality. Prisoners cannot fend for themselves in their situation of detention, and it is the responsibility of the state to provide for health services and a healthy environment. In this context, the testimonial therapy especially emphasizes on the overall well being of the survivors.[xiv]

Various international and regional oversight bodies concerned with human rights systematically investigate and document the living conditions of prisoners. Two UN Human Rights bodies are particularly important to mention: The UN Committee Against Torture (CAT) and the Special Rapporteur on Torture, both of which monitor the implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention which investigates cases of deprivation of liberty imposed arbitrarily and monitors compliance with the relevant international standards. Since 2006 and the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, an international visiting mechanism for the prevention of torture has been set up. To date, 37 of the 62 countries that have signed the Optional Protocol have also ratified it, [xv] allowing regular visits on their territory.

Similar mechanisms have been implemented at a regional level, within the member states of the Council of Europe, with the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT). The Committee, composed of independent and impartial experts from various backgrounds, exerts its control by means of regular visits to different places of detention (e.g. prisons and juvenile detention centers, police stations, holding centres for immigration detainees and psychiatric hospitals). It surveys the conditions of detention and recommends, if necessary, improvements to the states visited.[xvi]

Prisons and jails in even the richest and most developed countries are still plagued by severe overcrowding, decaying physical infrastructure, a lack of medical care, security abuses and corruption, and prisoner-on-prisoner violence. Rates of infection with regards to tuberculosis, HIV and hepatitis are much higher than in the general population, and chronic diseases, especially psychiatric conditions, are often neglected.[xvii]

The health status of prisoners has highlighted the urgency of the role of medical professionals in fighting impunity and establishing right to health. Although medical workers in general do not require knowledge of human rights and law, their ethical duties require them to assume the role of advocates on behalf of their patients. This is particularly true in the closed and isolated environment of prisons, where human rights abuses occur with impunity and where health workers are sometimes the first witnesses of such violations.[xviii]

Protecting the rights of the prison population imposes innovative thinking inspired first by patients' needs and expectations. The accumulated experiences of prison medicine could play a complementary role in documenting situations that could lead to health policy reforms. The systematic screening of violence at prison entry – which explores violence experienced by detainees during arrest or incarceration (violence expert testimony evaluation) – is a good example of how organized epidemiologic and clinical information collection could be used to defend prisoners' rights and improve prison practice.[xix] Such operational research, using equity as its conceptual "lens", offers a means of monitoring the relevance and responsiveness of clinical activities in such settings.

Prisoners are more likely to be in a bad state of health when they enter prison and have therefore more health-related needs, and higher consumption of health services, than the general population.[xx] Caring the prisoners reflect the values the state and the society in the form of justice and solidarity.

Guaranteeing Prisoners should highlight (1) Separation of power between the judicial system and medical professionals. There should be proper medical cadre dedicated to service for the prisoner, including psychologists and psychiatrics; (2) specialized training programmes for the prison staff with focus on priority on humanitarian law and rehabilitation.; (3) a through medical profiling of the prisoner at the time of entering and leaving the prisoner; and (4) compulsory medical insurance of the prisoner.

In a country like India where policy makers and politics juggle their priority for providing health care to its vast population within the available resources, need of victim of torture is often considered synonym with basic health requirement. The medical curriculum does not prioritise comprehensive rehabilitation of a victim. Neither the society is sensitised for that. Many health care workers underestimate the value of treatment.[xxi]

Despite criticism NHRC has provided landmark directives on Right to Health. It is time that NHRC makes a assessment of the trauma and psychological suffering of the victims of torture and detainees. Its opinion would matter a lot and possibly help in opening new horizons of hope for the victims of torture.

Conclusion

Political consensus should be built to create provisions for legislative resilience, institutional reliability, and social reconciliation. World wide there are examples to prove that violence perpetrated by the state in peacetime or during an extra ordinary situation has failed to win the trust of its own people. There is no need to justify that violence wins hearts. Politics of the state is responsible for prevalence of a peaceful situation as well as situation of emergency. Proportion of torture is directly proportional to the degree of alienation. Misuse of law enforcement agencies for political gain is as dangerous as the willingness of the former to be misused by the later for protection and indulging in unlawful activities. The values and rights of the constitution do not match with the procedural guarantees laid out by the legislatures and implemented by the administration. This needs urgent corrective measures before the victims lose their trust in the constitutions for being denied justice. It is different matter that dalits despite facing atrocity in every eight minutes in this country have not revolted perhaps because they still have trust in the constitution drafted by Dr Ambedkar. They do not find problem with the constitution but see biasness in its interpretation and implementation, rightly so.

Nation building does not happen by showing the map of India. People's alienation from this process on the ground of denial of justice and well-being due to absence of political environment will bring dangerous consequences. Everyone in this country should see and realise that justice is done. And for that our men in khadi[xxii] and khaki[xxiii] need to do serious thinking.

(This Article is written by Dr Mohanlal Panda, Ph.D, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Presently, he is working with People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) as an Advisor and Advocacy Consultant. PVCHR is a Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh based Human Rights Organisation.)

[i] Inger Agger, Lenin Raghuvanshi, Sirin Shabana Khan, Peter Polatin, Laila K Laursen, Testimonial Therapy: A pilot project to improve Psychological wellbeing among survivors of torture in India, Scientific Article, Torture Volume 19, November 3, 2009.

[ii] Lenin Raghuvanshi, Shirin Shabana Khan, Giving Voice: Using testimony as a brief Therapy Intervention in Psychological Community work for Survivors of Torture and Organised Violence, June, 2008

[iii] www.pvchr.net, www.testimonialtherapy.org, http://wideanglesocialdevelopment.blogspot.com

[iv] www.detentionwatch.blogspot.com

[v] Vivien Stern, A Sin against the Future: Imprisonment in the World, Penguin Books, London, 1998

[vi] Alain Aeschlimann, Protection of Detainees: ICRC action behind bars, in the Booklet Detention, International Review of the Red Cross, Volume 87, Number 857, March 2005

[vii] Alain Aeschlimann, Protection of Detainees: ICRC action behind bars, in the Booklet Detention, International Review of the Red Cross, Volume 87, Number 857, March 2005).

[viii] S.S. Srivastava, Criminology Criminal Administration. Allahabad: Central Law Agency, 2007

[ix] http://www.huridocs.org/

[x] Douglas A. Johnson and Steven H. Miles, "As Full Rehabilitation as Possible": Torture Survivors and the Right to Care, Realizing the Right to Health (Ed), Andrew Clapham and Mary Robinson, Swiss Human Rights Book, Vol:3, 2009, Page 217.

[xi] Dr. Jose Quiroga and Dr. James M. Jaranson, 'Politically-Motivated Torture and Its Survivors: A Desk Study Review of the Literature', in 15(2–3) Torture: Journal on Rehabilitation of Torture Victims and Prevention of Torture (Copenhagen: International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), 2005. See also www.irct.org.)

[xii] http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cat.htm

[xiii] These include: The Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (1977); Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 (1979); the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment (1988); International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as elaborated in General Comment No. 14 (2000); the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (2002); the Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law (2005); and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2007.

[xiv] Slim Slama, Hans Wolff and Louis Loutan, The Right to Health in Prisons: Implications in a Borderless World, Realizing the Right to Health (Ed), Andrew Clapham and Mary Robinson, Swiss Human Rights Book, Vol:3, 2009

[xv] The status of ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment is available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/ratification/9_b.htm.

[xvi] (Under the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, CPT delegations have unlimited access to places of detention. They also have the right to unrestricted access inside secure units and can interview detainees in private. The last periodic visit (5th visit) to Switzerland took place in autumn 2007. It was one of 11 that the CPT undertook in 2007. Other countries include Spain, the Netherlands, Croatia and Moldova. After each visit, the CPT sends a confidential report containing its conclusions and recommendations to the country concerned. Preliminary observations by the CPT after its last visit to Switzerland are accessible at http://www.cpt.coe.int.

[xvii] Lars Møller, Heino Stöver, Ralf Jürgens, Alex Gatherer and Haik Nikogosian (eds.) Health in Prisons: A WHO Guide to the Essentials in Prison Health (Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2007), available at http://www.euro.who. int/document/e90174.pdf

[xviii] Slim Slama, Hans Wolff and Louis Loutan, The Right to Health in Prisons: Implications in a Borderless World, Realizing the Right to Health (Ed), Andrew Clapham and Mary Robinson, Swiss Human Rights Book, Vol:3, 2009

[xix] Dominique Bertrand, Laurent Subilia, Daniel S. Halpérin, Romano La Harpe, Jean-Marc Reymond, Donatella Bierens de Haan, Louis Loutan, 'Victims of Violence: Importance of Medical Testimony for the Practitioner' 87(12) Praxis (1997), at 417–420.

[xx] Jean-Marc Feron et al., 'Substantial Use of Primary Health Care by Prisoners: Epidemiological Description and Possible Explanations' 59 Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (2005) at 651– 655; Tom Marshall, Sue Simpson, Andrew Stevens, 'Use of Health Services by Prison Inmates: Comparisons with the Community' 55 Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (2001), at 364–365.

[xxi] Douglas A. Johnson and Steven H. Miles, "As Full Rehabilitation as Possible": Torture Survivors and the Right to Care, Realizing the Right to Health (Ed), Andrew Clapham and Mary Robinson, Swiss Human Rights Book, Vol:3, 2009, Page 215.

[xxii] Meaning: Politicians in general and Elected representatives in particular

[xxiii] Meaning: Police and other Security forces

Fwd: युवक को 24 घंटो से ज्यादा लोहता थाना, वाराणसी, उत्तर प्रदेश मे रखने व पुलिसकर्मियो द्वारा धकमी देने के सन्दर्भ मे

2011-11-16T21:07:00.000-08:00

http://detentionwatch.blogspot.com/2011/11/fwd-24.html

Fwd: युवक को 24 घंटो से ज्यादा लोहता थाना, वाराणसी, उत्तर प्रदेश मे रखने व पुलिसकर्मियो द्वारा धकमी देने के सन्दर्भ मे !

2011-11-16T21:04:00.000-08:00

http://detentionwatch.blogspot.com/2011/11/fwd-24.html

First National Convention on HRDs

2011-11-15T22:43:00.001-08:00

http://www.pvchr.net/2011/11/first-national-convention-on-hrds.html

Against impunity in case of witch hunting

2011-11-13T21:52:00.000-08:00

Response from NHRC on witch hunting

Link of the petition:

http://petition-nhrc.blogspot.com/2011/09/blog-post_2906.html

Link of news:

http://www.bhaskar.com/article/BIH-women-is-killed-in-bihar-2413472.html

‘‘पुलिस प्रषासन ने दुत्कारा, मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति ने सम्मानित किया

2011-11-11T23:03:00.000-08:00

honor ceremony

दिनांक 08 नवम्बर, 2011 को बड़ागाँव ब्लाक के अनेई मुसहर बस्ती में मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति, वाराणसी व रिहैबिलिटेशन एण्ड रिसर्च सेन्टर फाॅर टार्चर विक्ट्मिस, डेनमार्क के तत्वाधान में यातना व संगठित हिंसा से संघर्षरत पीडि़तों को सम्मानित करने के लिए सम्मान-समारोह का आयोजन किया गया। इस कार्यक्रम में मुख्य रूप से महिला उत्पीड़न की शिकार हुई, 1. शर्मिला, निवासनी-बड़ी पियरी, वाराणसी, जो अपने दबंग पड़ोसियों के द्वारा शिकार हुई तथा पुलिस प्रशासन द्वारा समझौता के लिए दबाव डाला जा रहा है और अभी तक दोषियों पर कार्यवाही नही की गई है। इसी कड़ी में 5 बंधुवा मजदूरों जो गोसाईपुर ईंट-भट्ठा से छुड़ाये गये थे, जिसमें नान्हू, सुर्दशन, सारनाथ, मुन्ना, सीताराम, राम अवतार मुसहर निवासीगण जिला-चंदौली, गाजीपुर व वाराणसी के है एवं पतिराज, निवासी-जंगमपुर, कपसेठी, बड़ागाँव के है, को सम्मानित स्व0 व्यथा-कथा, साल और फूल प्रदान कर सम्मानित किये गये।

इन मजदूरों को पूर्व में पूर्व एस0डी0एम0 (भोजूबीर), वाराणसी के द्वारा अपमानित कर आरोप भी लगाया था, बाद में जिलाधिकारी द्वारा जाॅच कराकर और बंधुवा मजदूरी मुक्त प्रमाण-पत्र प्रदान किया गया और मालिक पर मुकदमा कायम हुआ।

आज के इस कार्यक्रम में अनेई गाँव की मुसहर समुदाय की संघर्ष की कहानी जिगर (कुपोषण का मामला था) की कहानी और रामदयाल मुसहर (सराय, पिण्डरा) ने अपनी सफल संघर्ष की कहानी लोगों के समक्ष रखे, जिससे पूरा समुदाय भावुक हो गये। वही इस कार्यक्रम में पिण्डरा के माॅडल 10 गाँवों से आये प्रतिनिधियों ने गायकी कार्यक्रम रखा, जो सामाजिक क्रांति, उत्पीड़न की गाथा थी। जिसमें छोटे लाल, राम दयाल, हूबराज, रघुनाथ इत्यादि रहे और स्थानीय अनेई मुसहर बस्ती के लोगों ने उनका साथ दिया। वही दिनेश कुमार अनल ने पुलिस यातना के शिकार संघर्षरत पीडि़त विनोद गुप्ता की स्व0 व्यथा-कथा को गायकी द्वारा समुदाय में प्रस्तुत किये।

कार्यक्रम की अंतिम रूप में यातना और संगठित हिंसा, महिला उत्पीड़न, पुलिस उत्पीड़न, शिक्षा इत्यादि पर जोरदार नारा लगाते हुए अनेई बाजार तक पैदल मार्च निकाला गया। जिसकी अगुवाई मीना पटेल व छाया के द्वारा हुआ।

आज के कार्यक्रम में 12 आयु गाँवों से मुसहर, दलित और अनेक जिलों-गाजीपुर, सोनभद्र, चंदौली और वाराणसी, अम्बेडकर नगर के लगभग 350 लोग एकजुट होकर यातना मुक्त समाज स्थापित कर लोकतांत्रिक व्यवस्था के लिए जोर देते हुए आवाज बुलंद किये। वही डेनमार्क के रिहैबिलिटेशन एण्ड रिसर्च सेन्टर फाॅर टार्चर विक्ट्मिस ;त्ब्ज्द्धए डेनमार्क के एशिया मैनेजर मिस्टर ईरिक और मिस अने के साथ समिति के डा0 लेनिन, अजय, शबाना, चन्द्रशेखर, शिव प्रताप चैबे, मंगला राजभर, सत्य प्रकाश, मनोज, पिन्टू, द्विग्विजय के साथ बीसों मानव अधिकार के अगुवा व ग्राम प्रधान आदि उपस्थित रहे। गाॅगकला, अनेई व सम्मानित स्थानीय ग्रामीण के साथ, महिला सामाख्या के साधना सिंह उपस्थित रही। कार्यक्रम का संचालन अनूप श्रीवास्तव के द्वारा तथा सधन्यवाद ज्ञापन चन्द्रशेखर पटेल ने किया।

Newspaper Clipping:

Learning from Model block process

2011-11-11T22:17:00.000-08:00

Model Block[1] Final

Report of select committee on anti- torture bill in India

2011-11-04T21:11:00.000-07:00

http://www.pvchr.net/2011/11/report-of-select-committee-on-ati.html

Reply of your letter dated 13.05.2011 from Special Enquiry, Jawahar Bhawan, Lucknow, UP

2011-11-01T03:18:00.000-07:00

SE-153(25)-2011_Dr._Lenin[1]

Response from forest department on the testimony

2011-11-01T02:21:00.000-07:00

complaints

Police torture of a doctor and lawyer in Varanasi,India

2011-10-31T09:58:00.001-07:00

http://ilawsites.com/tag/pvchr

अहमद नगर बजरडीहा में दो दिवसीय स्वास्थ्य परीक्षण

2011-10-17T03:00:00.000-07:00

भारतीय मूल की स्वीडेन निवासी सुश्री पारूल शर्मा एवं त्ब्ज् द्वारा आर्थिक सहयोग मिला, जिसके बाद मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति एवं बुनकर दस्तकार अधिकार मंच ने स्वास्थ्य कैम्प आयोजित किया।

सरकारी विभाग द्वारा लगातार उपेक्षित रहे बजरडीहा क्षेत्र में पिछले कुछ दिनों पहले हुई बारिश के कारण वहाँ के रहने वाले लोगों का जीवन बिल्कुल ही अस्त-व्यस्त हो गया। एक तरफ तो भारी बारिश के कारण मकानों में पानी घूस गया, मकान गिर गये, वही दूसरी तरफ जलजमाव जो आज तक है। सरकारी विभाग द्वारा फिर से उपेक्षा करते हुए वहाँ जल निकासी या दवा छिड़काव के कारण एक तरफ तो वहाँ के लोगों का चलना दूभर हो गया, वही दूसरी तरफ बीमारियों से वहाँ की जनता परेशान हो गयी। वहाँ स्वास्थ्य सुविधा की न तो कोई व्यवस्था है और न ही कोई सुध लेने आया। जबकि लगातार अखबारों व न्यूज चैनलों पर वहाँ की दुर्दशा की खबर प्रकाशित होती रही।

जिसे देखते हुए मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति ने दिनांक 11 व 12 सितम्बर, 2011 को बजरडीहा के अहमद नगर क्षेत्र में दो दिवसीय स्वास्थ्य परीक्षण एवं दवा वितरण कैम्प लगाया। जिसमें कुल 160 मरीजों का स्वास्थ्य परीक्षण कराया गया एवं उनको मुफ्त दवा वितरण की गयी। स्वास्थ्य कैम्प में परीक्षण के दौरान यह पाया गया कि यहाँ पर डायरिया, चर्म रोग पेट की बीमारी, मौसमी बुखार, जोड़ों के दर्द, फेफड़े से सम्बन्धित इत्यादि बीमारियां फैली हैं।

इस स्वास्थ्य कैम्प को भारतीय मूल की स्वीडेन निवासी सुश्री पारूल शर्मा एवं त्ब्ज् द्वारा 22,000/- का आर्थिक सहयोग मिला, जिसके बाद मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति एवं बुनकर दस्तकार अधिकार मंच ने स्वास्थ्य कैम्प आयोजित किया। इसमें शहर के प्रतिष्ठित जैन हास्पिटल के डा0 अमित जैन व डा0 प्रवीण वर्मा ने मरीजों का स्वास्थ्य परीक्षण एवं दवा दी। इस स्वास्थ्य शिविर के मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति के कार्यकर्ता आनन्द, सावित्री, अनारकली, सिद्दीक हसन, शोभनाथ, बृजेश, महताब, अब्दुल कादिर, रहमानी, इदरीश अंसारी आदि लोगों का सहयोग रहा।

Bazardiha Health Camp

June 26 International Day in Support of Torture Victims 2011

2011-10-07T22:37:00.000-07:00

Brief Report of the Events.

South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM) in collaboration with St Joseph’s College and National Alliance for Testimonial Therapy (NATT) organized events to observe June 26- International Day in Support of Torture Victims on the 24 and 25th June 2011.

June 26th is the day on which the international community comes together to observe the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. This day is marked with significance because it was on June 26th 1987, that the Convention against Torture, Inhuman Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) came into effect (adopted in 1984). The Convention requires each State Party to take effective measures to prevent acts of torture within its jurisdiction. Importantly, to make torture a criminal offence in domestic law punishable with appropriate penalties.

As of 22nd June 2011, there are 147 State Parties, who have shown their commitment to eradicating torture by ratifying CAT and 77 states that are yet to ratify CAT - India belongs to this group. The overwhelming support of CAT in the international community underlines the importance of the norm prohibiting torture in international law.

SICHREM in Karnataka has documented 69 cases of illegal detention, torture, encounters(extra judicial killings), deaths in police & judicial custody from January 2011 to June 2011(6months), and has filed complaints with the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), courts of law, Government of Karnataka, the Police department and other human rights institutions.

Sadly, the practice of torture remains a pervasive feature of India’s criminal justice system and society more widely. In this regard, it should be noted that instances of torture are not confined to police custody and interrogation situations. In a variety of other settings, particularly in the private sphere, vulnerable groups are subjected to standards of treatment which are no less severe than those meted out in police custody. Consider for example, the emotional and physical ordeal endured by women harassed and discrimination based on gender; the plight of young children forced into labor, subjected to verbal, physical and sexual abuse; the suffering caused by social boycotts on marginalized groups, and the severe inhumane forms of atrocities perpetrated by upper castes and law enforcement authorities on Dalits. It is a well known fact throughout the country that torture is prevalent, with the victims being largely drawn from the poor & marginalized in society. These examples serve to reinforce the prevalence of many forms of torture in our society and the need for effective mechanisms to eradicate torture.
This being the statement and the theme, SICHREM in collaboration with St Joseph’s College and National Alliance for Testimonial Therapy (NATT) initiated a journey to create awareness for the benefit of the general public and students to know about evils of torture and the remedies available.

Report for PVCHR[1]

Giving Voice in Hindi

2011-10-05T03:47:00.000-07:00

Giving Voice in Hindi

Honouring survivors of torture and organised violence as a part of therapeutic intervention

2011-10-03T22:41:00.000-07:00

A ten days TOT workshop on Testimony Therapy for the survivors of torture and organized violence was conducted at Silchar, Cachar, Assam. As a part of the workshop a ceremony to honour the survivors of torture and organized violence, who are struggling for justice, was held at Banga Bhavan, Silchar on the 13th September, 2011. The program was organized by the joint endeavors of Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), Peoples Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), Rehabilitation and Research Center for Torture Victims (RCT) and National Alliance on Testimony Therapy (NATT). Eminent personalities of the locality attended the Honor Ceremony. The meeting was presided over by Mr. Manindra Sankar Gupta (Retd. ACS), the Chairperson of BHRPC.

At the outset Mr. Sadique Mohammed Laskar , the Joint Secretary of BHRPC, delivered the welcome address, and also gave a brief idea on Testimony Therapy. The president took chair and thereafter Mr. Lenin Raghubanshi, Secretary General and Director of PVCHR, Ms Sirin Sabana Khan of PVCHR, and Mr. Imad Uddin Bulbul took chairs at the dais.

Mr. Neharul Ahmed Mazumder, Secretary General of BHRPC, delivered his speech on the purpose of Testimony Therapy and the Honor Ceremony. He dwelt on the need of psychological rehabilitation of the traumatized survivors of torture and organsed violence which aspect is neglected in human rights works. Hence, there was an urgent need for such type of trainings to serve the victims in a better way.

Ms. Shirin Sabana Khan in her very brief speech told about the experiences of working with BHRPC, and about the pattern of torture and human rights violation in the valley. She also added that there remained a lot to work with BHRPC. Ms. Khan further told about various aspects of testimony therapy.

Mr. Nirmal Kumar Das, member of BHRPC, read out the testimony of Mr. Kalam Uddin Choudhury, who is a survivor of torture by the personnel of the Indian Army. Though all the doors are shut by the human rights institutions of India, still Kalam is fighting for justice in legal forum and trying to attract the helping hands of the organizations and individuals. Mr. Kalam is a poor mason apprentice and lost his mental and physical strength to a large extent after the excruciating experience of torture. Kalam was called upon on the stage and honored with garlands and Uttaria (shawl), at the same time slogans against torture as well as slogans hailing Kalam’s struggle for justice raised in the hall. Mr. Lenin Raghubanshi handed over the beautifully printed testimony to Mr. Kalam Uddin Choudhury, The hall was filled with claps and slogans.

The testimony of Miss Mina Begum Choudhury, a secondary victim of organized violence was read by Miss Chaya Kumari, a member of PVCHR. Mina lost her brother in this incident, and her parents alongwith her uncle also faced inhuman torture. She lost her property and shelter. Still she is facing hard as her opponents are very close to the heavyweight political leaders of the locality. Mina got warm welcome when she appeared on the stage with loud slogans, claps, garlands and uttaria. Miss Sirin Sabana Khan handed over the testimony to Mina, which was beautifully printed.

The testimony of Mrs. Alimun Nessa, another survivor of torture, was read out by Sadique mohammed Laskar. Alimun Nessa lost her husband due to cruel inhuman torture in police custody. The torture to which her husband was subjected was witnessed by her. The human rights institutions has never paid heed to her complaints seriously, though all the enquiries conducted into the incident found the involved policemen guilty. Alimun, in spite of, all limitations such poverty and ignorance is still fighting for justice.

Mr. Parvez Khasru Laskar read out the testimony of Mr. Fariz Uddin Barbhuiya, who was tortured by the personnel of 147 Battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) with his family members. Fariz is a retired CRPF personnel himself and runs his business near his house situated opposite to the CRPF camp. Fariz got warm welcome with slogan against torture and praising his bravery. He was honored with garlands and uttaria (shawl). The Chairperson then handed over the beautifully printed testimony to Mr. Fariz. He then delivered a speech thanking the organizers. He added that he has got half justice after being able to express his feelings in such a forum, and that he has got energy to expedite his fight for justice.

Mr. Waliullah Ahmed Laskar, a member of BHRPC, delivered his short speech on various provisions of national and international laws against torture. He also added that the impact of torture on individuals and in society is very serious, it creates trauma in individual and mass mind.

After that Mr. Dholu Mia Choudhury, father of Mr. Kalam Uddin Choudhury was escorted to the stage by Mr. Abdul Rahman Laskar and Mr. Abul Hussain Barlaskar, members of BHRPC. He was welcomed with garlands, Uttaria (shawl) and loud claps and slogans from the audience. Mr. Dholu Mia, a secondary victim of torture had the bitter experience of torture, when he saw his son, the only earning member of his family paralyzed after torture by the personnel of Indian Army. He received his beautifully printed and decorated testimony from Mr. Imad Uddin Bulbul.

Mrs. Aftarun Nessa Barbhuiya, wife of Mr. Fariz Uddin Barbhuiya, a secondary victim was escorted to the stage by N. Kamalini and Sarmila Singha, members of BHRPC. She received warm welcome with garlands, Uttaria, claps and slogans. She received her testimony from Ms. Shirin Sabana Khan, which was beautifully printed and decorated.

Mr. Imad Uddin Bulbul, advocate and Legal Advisor of BHRPC delivered his speech. He told that torture victims must raise their voices and testimony therapy will help to uphold the suppressed voices. He also added that BHRPC has crossed many hurdles, and it will do a lot with PVCHR and RCT.

Mr. Anup Kumar Choudhury (Advocate) and Mr. Shyamal Dey (social activist) delivered their speeches and appreciated the organizers for arranging such a unique program in the valley.

Mr. Lenin Raghubanshi delivered a pithy speech where he expressed the experiences of working with BHRPC. He cited various examples of victims becoming activists after testimony therapy, and encouraged the survivors to raise their voice against torture. He also brought to light the various issues and problems in Barak Valley.

The meeting ended after the address from the chair and vote of thanks.

Sadique Mohammed Laskar
Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC)
Silchar, Assam
18 September, 2011

Detention Watch: An initiative for inculcating humane approach towards detainees convicted wrongfully

2011-10-03T21:22:00.001-07:00

http://www.pvchr.net/2011/10/detention-watch-initiative-for.html

Assam: Honour ceremony of torture victims at Silchar

2011-09-29T03:28:00.000-07:00

http://bhrpc.wordpress.com/2011/09/20/774/

Honouring survivors of torture and organised violence as a part of therapeutic intervention

Views from the Honour Ceremony of survivors of torture and organised violence that was held at Silchar, Assam on 13 September, 2011. The event was organised by Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), People s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) with support from Rehabilitation and Research Centre (RCT) at Banga Bhavan, Sadarghat Road, Silchar. As a part of testimonial therapy 8 survivors of torture by law enforcement officials, security forces, domestic violence and organised violence were honoured with garland, shawl by Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi and Shirin Saban Khan of PVCHR, Manindra Shankar Gupta and Imad Uddin Bulbul of BHRPC. The testimonies of the survivors were also read out and delivered to them. (Part-1)

Views from the Honour Ceremony of survivors of torture and organised violence that was held at Silchar, Assam on 13 September, 2011. The event was organised by Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), People s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) with support from Rehabilitation and Research Centre (RCT) at Banga Bhavan, Sadarghat Road, Silchar. As a part of testimonial therapy 8 survivors of torture by law enforcement officials, security forces, domestic violence and organised violence were honoured with garland, shawl by Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi and Shirin Saban Khan of PVCHR, Manindra Shankar Gupta and Imad Uddin Bulbul of BHRPC. The testimonies of the survivors were also read out and delivered to them. (Part-2)

Views from the Honour Ceremony of survivors of torture and organised violence that was held at Silchar, Assam on 13 September, 2011. The event was organised by Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), People s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) with support from Rehabilitation and Research Centre (RCT) at Banga Bhavan, Sadarghat Road, Silchar. As a part of testimonial therapy 8 survivors of torture by law enforcement officials, security forces, domestic violence and organised violence were honoured with garland, shawl by Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi and Shirin Saban Khan of PVCHR, Manindra Shankar Gupta and Imad Uddin Bulbul of BHRPC. The testimonies of the survivors were also read out and delivered to them. (Part-3)

Views from the Honour Ceremony of survivors of torture and organised violence that was held at Silchar, Assam on 13 September, 2011. The event was organised by Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), People s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) with support from Rehabilitation and Research Centre (RCT) at Banga Bhavan, Sadarghat Road, Silchar. As a part of testimonial therapy 8 survivors of torture by law enforcement officials, security forces, domestic violence and organised violence were honoured with garland, shawl by Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi and Shirin Saban Khan of PVCHR, Manindra Shankar Gupta and Imad Uddin Bulbul of BHRPC. The testimonies of the survivors were also read out and delivered to them. (Part-4)

Views from the Honour Ceremony of survivors of torture and organised violence that was held at Silchar, Assam on 13 September, 2011. The event was organised by Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), People s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) with support from Rehabilitation and Research Centre (RCT) at Banga Bhavan, Sadarghat Road, Silchar. As a part of testimonial therapy 8 survivors of torture by law enforcement officials, security forces, domestic violence and organised violence were honoured with garland, shawl by Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi and Shirin Saban Khan of PVCHR, Manindra Shankar Gupta and Imad Uddin Bulbul of BHRPC. The testimonies of the survivors were also read out and delivered to them. (Part-5)

Views from the Honour Ceremony of survivors of torture and organised violence that was held at Silchar, Assam on 13 September, 2011. The event was organised by Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), People s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) with support from Rehabilitation and Research Centre (RCT) at Banga Bhavan, Sadarghat Road, Silchar. As a part of testimonial therapy 8 survivors of torture by law enforcement officials, security forces, domestic violence and organised violence were honoured with garland, shawl by Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi and Shirin Saban Khan of PVCHR, Manindra Shankar Gupta and Imad Uddin Bulbul of BHRPC. The testimonies of the survivors were also read out and delivered to them. (Part-6)

Views from the Honour Ceremony of survivors of torture and organised violence that was held at Silchar, Assam on 13 September, 2011. The event was organised by Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), People s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) with support from Rehabilitation and Research Centre (RCT) at Banga Bhavan, Sadarghat Road, Silchar. As a part of testimonial therapy 8 survivors of torture by law enforcement officials, security forces, domestic violence and organised violence were honoured with garland, shawl by Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi and Shirin Saban Khan of PVCHR, Manindra Shankar Gupta and Imad Uddin Bulbul of BHRPC. The testimonies of the survivors were also read out and delivered to them. (Part-7)

Views from the Honour Ceremony of survivors of torture and organised violence that was held at Silchar, Assam on 13 September, 2011. The event was organised by Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), People s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) with support from Rehabilitation and Research Centre (RCT) at Banga Bhavan, Sadarghat Road, Silchar. As a part of testimonial therapy 8 survivors of torture by law enforcement officials, security forces, domestic violence and organised violence were honoured with garland, shawl by Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi and Shirin Saban Khan of PVCHR, Manindra Shankar Gupta and Imad Uddin Bulbul of BHRPC. The testimonies of the survivors were also read out and delivered to them. (Part-8)

Concerns over civil and political rights in Assam

2011-09-29T00:48:00.000-07:00

http://rightspeaks.blogspot.com/2011/09/concerns-over-civil-and-political.html

उत्तर प्रदेश के चन्दौली जिले मे परिवहनकर्मियो की पिटाई से ट्रक चालक की मौत के समबन्ध में

2011-09-26T23:35:00.001-07:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: PVCHR MINORITY <minority.pvchr@gmail.com>
Date: 2011/9/26
Subject: उत्तर प्रदेश के चन्दौली जिले मे परिवहनकर्मियो की पिटाई से ट्रक चालक की मौत के समबन्ध में
To: jrlawnhrc@hub.nic.in
Cc: akpnhrc@yahoo.com

सेवा मे, 26 सितम्बर 2011

      अध्यक्ष,

राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग

   नई दिल्ली,

विषय:- उत्तर प्रदेश के चन्दौली जिले मे परिवहनकर्मियो की पिटाई से ट्रक चालक की मौत के समबन्ध में।

महोदय,

       मै, आपका ध्यान 26 सितम्बर 2011 की दैनिक जागरण की खबर ' परिवहन कर्मियो ने ट्रक चालक को पीटकर मार डाला ' पर आकृष्ट करना चाहता हुँ।[i](लिंक-http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/national/crime/Truck-driver-murdered-bribe_5_18_8270760.html

    लेख है कि, कौशाम्बी जिले के थाना सैनी स्थित ग्राम सिराथू निवासी अनंत लाल गुप्ता अपने पुत्र अश्विनी कुमार के साथ ट्रक पर गाजियाबाद से दवा लोड कर कोलकाता जा रहा था। वह वाहन लेकर उत्तर प्रदेश के चंदौली जिले के सिंघीताली ओवरब्रिज के पास पहुंचा ही था कि परिवहन विभाग की एक जीप में सवार कर्मियों ने ट्रक को ओवरटेक कर अलीनगर के करीब रोक लिया। उन्होंने अनंत लाल से कागजात की मांग की।कागजात उपलब्ध नही करने पर उन्होने चालक अनंत की पिटाई कर दी जिससे अनंत की मौत हो गयी ।

          महोदय, इस सम्बंध में निवेदन/मांग है घटना की जांच की जाय तथा दोषियो पर कार्यवाही किया जाय।कृपया अतिशीध्र आवश्यक कार्यवाही करने का कष्ट करे ।

भवदीय

डा लेनिन

(महा सचिव)

मानवाधिकार जन निगरानि समिति

एस.ए. 4 /2 ए,दौलतपुर,वाराणसी
मोबा.न0:+91-9935599333

pvchr.india@gmail.com

www.pvchr.org

www.pvchr.net

[i] http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/national/crime/Truck-driver-murdered-bribe_5_18_8270760.html

Justice, Liberty, Equality Dalits in Independent India

2011-09-25T23:18:00.000-07:00

www.pvchr.net/2011/09/justice-liberty-equality-dalits-in.html

Open letter to Prime Minister of India for witch hunting practice in Mayourpur block of Sonbhadra district

2011-09-25T22:51:00.000-07:00

To,
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India,
Government of India
New Delhi

Honourable Sir,

Witch hunting is still prevalent and brutally practiced in the twenty-first century in the rural part of India. Almost every other day, a woman is branded a witch or victimised for witch-hunting in the hinterlands of Uttar Pradesh, where Government and NGOs deliberately keep mum on that issue. PVCHR came to know through local dailies and activists that witch hunting are committed in the remotest corner of the State as it is practiced in Mayourpur block of Dudhi tehsil in Sonebhadra district of Uttar Pradesh.

To probe into the fact that women branded ‘witch’, then a team of the psycho therapist reached Mayourpur and provided the psychological support through testimonial therapy to the two women (Please see Smt. Jagesari Devi’s testimony at www.testimonialtherapy.org/2011/09/i-think-am-i-really-witch.html and Smt. Somari Devi’s testimony at www.testimonialtherapy.org/2011/09/im-not-disturbed-by-fact-that-i-was.html) and a couple’s testimony such as Smt. Manbasiya testimony at www.testimonialtherapy.org/2011/09/if-i-am-witch-then-why-i-was-undressed.html and (Jodhi Lal’s testimony at www.testimonialtherapy.org/2011/09/my-wife-branded-witch-and- then.html) those who had to undergo the trials and tribulations emanating out of witch hunting.

Mayourpur, a place which is quite economically backward, where people have almost no access to the basic necessities of life be it education and health care. In this kind of situation, people tend to be steeped into obscurantism and superstition. And anything bad that might befall these villagers like bad crop, diseases, sudden and unexplained death of someone in the family, or drying of well tend to be considered the work of some evil ‘witch’. Thus begins a witch hunt to locate the person responsible. When daughter of Jagesari’s brother-in-law Sahdev died due to illness on August 1, 2010, she went to Sahdev’s house to condole the death, she saw that an ojha present there. He started branding Jagesari as a dayan (witch) and made her responsible for the death. The villagers gathered for the burial stood as mute spectators and her tongue was slashed as punishment.

PVCHR forwarded the cases to the National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi and Director General of Police (DGP) Lucknow and to Mr. Deepak Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Sonebhadra in a vide letter no. एस /शि - 26 ए/11 dated 9th May 2011 directed to be vigilant in preparing a list of actors, who brand women as witch, especially the Ojha, Sokha and the others involved in this type of activity. It requested to hold regular meetings with an effort to create awareness against the practice of witch hunting
We demand a national legislation and special empowerment programme for the women in the witch hunting- prone area and awareness campaign to promote education and health.

Thanking You
Sincerely,
Lenin Raghuvanshi
Secretary General

Meeting with local leaders of Dalit community (Mushahar)-Baragaon

2011-09-23T05:59:00.001-07:00

Meeting with local leaders of Dalit community (Mushahar)

Meeting with local leaders of Dalit community (Mushahar) on IPC & Cr.PC. and RTE, TOV, use of laws mechanism,fundamental rights & duties.(Regularly Mushahar community targeted by police).

2011-09-23T04:53:00.000-07:00

Honor ceremony-Pindra, Varanasi, PVCHR/RCT

Honor ceremony of TOV surviviors, Kuri mushahar Basti - PVCHR/RCT

2011-09-23T03:34:00.000-07:00

Honor ceremony of TOV surviviors, Kuri mushahar Basti - PVCHR/RCT

NHRC noticed to Superintendent of Police, Imphal Manipur

2011-09-22T04:01:00.000-07:00

Response from NHRC

I’M NOT DISTURBED BY THE FACT THAT I WAS BEING BURNT ALIVE

2011-09-20T04:41:00.000-07:00

I am Somari Devi. I am 40 years old. My husband’s name is Dinesh Gaur. We live in Balliaripur village, which in Sonebhadra district of Uttar Pradesh I have 3 sons and all of them are married. Eldest son is Sanjay, who is literate. Raghunath Prasad is the second son and the youngest is Deendayal. We till and plough our 2 bighas of land for running the household.

On 14th January 2010, at the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, people were happy and rejoicing. I went outside the home and then it came to my mind that the cow had to be tied in the rope. It was around 2 pm. I untied the cow from the stake and crossed the road to attach the rope to another pole and I was accompanied by my husband. He was calling the cows. When I had tied the cow to the post, suddenly Shivnarayan Gaur stood in front of me and tried to create mischief. I was not able to understand what’s was the matter. I had never talked to Shivnarayan nor had I quarrelled with him.

Within in no time I called me ‘witch’ and pushed me in the nearby burning fire. But the fire was not so virulent. Back side of my saree caught fire. I was wearing a cotton petticoat so it was a saving grace for me. My husband rushed and rushed me to home. Then also, my left and right arm got burnt. Even it affected the lower portion of my body. Shivnarayan ran away and my daughters-in-law applied balm in the burnt portion of my body and changed my saree. I was not worried that I got burnt but it always reverberated in my ears the word ‘witch’, which he branded me. Earlier nobody had called me a ‘witch’. Whenever I think about it, it has a repulsive effect in my body. I think, if my husband would not have been there, then I would have been killed. It enrages me like anything. Why did he call me ‘witch’ and I feel disgraced. People in their hush tone point out there must me something so only I was branded a ‘witch’ It disturbs me like anything. To whom I have to prove my innocence. I start crying thinking about it.

Next day, I went along with my husband to Dudhi police station and narrated the entire incident. A FIR was filed against the guilty. Policemen came and took Shivnarayan to the police station. In the police station he accepted his fault and told that he had committed the crime under influence of alcohol or intoxicant. He fell in the feet of the police officials. Though I had pardoned him but still I have not forgiven. Women in the society are abused, humiliated, and battered. Is this a civilised society? I am quite relieved sharing my woes with you. Whoever has committed the crime should be given an exemplary punishment.

Therapist: Farhat Shaba Khanam & Meena Patel

IF I AM A ‘WITCH’ THEN WHY I WAS UNDRESSED

2011-09-20T04:39:00.000-07:00
I am 45-year old Manbhasiya Gond. I live in Ghagri village, which falls under the jurisdiction of Bhabni police station in Sonebhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. My husband’s name is Jodhilal, who is a farmer. I have 2 sons and 7 daughters. One among my sons and 2 daughters are married. My children are Suratlal, Rajkumari, Rajpati, Hiramati, Sonamati, Sonekumar, Kanwalpati, Sitapati, and Ramsurat. Earlier I used to help my husband in tilling and ploughing the land. Now I am physically incapacitated to do the work.

Still it is etched in my memory when I was branded ‘witch’ and attacked with axe, whose pain still lingers on.

On July 2010, at 4.00 p.m. Ramroop, a cousin who belongs to our lineage called me. Just half kilometre away from our house lived his nephew, Deepak, who had lost his 1 year old son. I thought in such difficult situation I should rush immediately, my husband told that you go I am coming. When I reached there, Deepak started hurling abuse and shouted on me, “You ‘witch’ and I don’t know what you have done to my son?” Then, Ramroop entered the room and threw the dead child on my lap and said, “You are swallowing up each and every member of the family.” I was quite pained and was got infuriated at the allegations made against me. Responding to their allegations, I said, “Get it examined if I have done anything.” Then, Deepak clutched my elbow and Ramroop ran towards with an axe, shouting, “You bastard ‘witch’.” She should be eliminated immediately, then Ramroop attacked me with axe and I was unconscious. Deepak’s younger brother Devkushan and father Chhote Lal were raining incessant blows on me with wooden stick. I had fallen down. Blows were rained on my lips and my front tooth had broken. Then, axe was punched on my cheek, I was unconscious and blood started oozing out of my chest, lips, cheek and there injury in my private parts. My saree was thrown and I was undressed. What had happened to me I don’t remember. When my husband reached he saw what had been done to me. Seeing my husband, all who had gathered disappeared. Then, my husband took me to home with tears falling down his eyes. I was taken to Myorpur Government hospital at 10 a.m where I was unconscious for two days. After 2 days, when my husband and children came in front of me I could not control my tears.

When I was crying then my husband tried to make me understand that he could not do anything when heinous things were done to me. Then he told me to forget and not to worry. After 10 days, I was discharged from the hospital. I took medicine for one month from a Bengali medical practitioner. My husband filed a FIR and the guilty were put behind the bars. But later on, they were released on bail. Still the case is going on. My husband had to spend Rs. 20,000 on medicines and for 8 days I could not gulp a morsel of food. Now our financial condition had quite worsened. Due to physical weakness I am not able to work and there is constant headache. There is giddiness as the head goes on reeling. My vision has reduced and it haunts my mind that why those people thrashed by undressing me. If I was a ‘witch’ they could have beaten, then why they removed my clothes. In the hospital, the lady doctor asked me if I was sexually assaulted or not? What I could have told her I don’t remember anything. But there is constant body ache and I don’t know what they have done to me? Thinking about this, I spend sleepless nights and think that if I would have died than what would have happened to the family? Many a times I get infuriated. I fear to venture outside. We have to spend Rs. 2000 for filing the case.

Now even if I wish to do anything but I am not able to do that. Those who tortured and branded me as ‘witch’ say that this time they would kill me. I want that exemplary punishment should be given to the guilty.

Therapist: Barkha

Testimony translated by Mr. Tarun Kanti Bose

MY WIFE BRANDED ‘WITCH’ AND THEN INTIMIDATED AND TORTURED

2011-09-20T04:25:00.000-07:00
I am Jodhilal and 46 years old. I live in Ghagri village, which is in Sonebhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. My wife Manbhasiya is 45 year old. I am a farmer. I have 2 sons and 7 daughters. One among my sons and 2 daughters are married. She used to help me in tilling and ploughing the land. But now she is physically and mentally incapacitated. Now I am passing through most painstaking days of my life.

On July 2010, at around 4.00 p.m. Ramroop, my wife’s cousin belonging to same lineage called her as his nephew, Deepak, whose 1 year old son had died. When my wife reached there, Deepak started hurling abuse and shouted, “You ‘witch’ had gobbled up my son, and he has died.” Then, Ramroop threw the dead child on my wife’s lap and said, “You are swallowing up each and every member of the family. Turn him alive or otherwise we would undressed and shave off your hair. We would blacken your head and whiten your face with lime. Then round you up through out the village.” Ramroop clutched her elbow and pushed her inside. My wife was crying incessantly but 40 people, who had gathered there stood as a mute spectator. She was taken inside and then, Deepak caught my wife’s arm and hammered the axe over her head. Still, then she was conscious. Again he incessantly ironed the blow with the axe and then she fell down. Blows were rained on her lips and her front tooth broke. Then, he punched the axe on her cheek, she was unconscious and blood started oozing out of her chest, lips and cheek.

When I reached there I was quite shocked to see what had happened to my wife. Villagers were standing as mute spectators. Seeing the condition of my wife, my daughter-in-law Rajmati and daughter Suman Devi wept uncontrollably. Villagers lend their helping hand to carry my wife up to my door. Villagers thought that Manbasiya had died but some of them said that she is alive and immediately take her to the hospital. At that moment, I was confused where the money would come from as I had no single paise in my pocket. Then, Jaimangal called for a vehicle from Bhabni. I mortgaged my land and 13 mahua trees and got Rs. 1,000 as a loan. Then I rushed to the Government Hospital in Myorpur. Seeing my wife, the doctor said she is in a very critical state, rush her to BHU Hospital. I told the doctor I have no money, please admit her. Then, the doctor asked me to arrange for some money. I rang up my son and told him to bring the money. Then, the doctor asked the nurse to admit my wife and start the saline drip. When my son reached in the morning, then stitching was done. After an hour my wife was responsive to the medicine and regained her consciousness. Then she narrated the entire incident to us. She was discharged from the hospital after 10 days.

We went to the police station for filing a FIR but police refused to do that. After that, when I carried the medical report to Bhabni police station then, the police abused us with choicest epithets and drove us away. I got panicky and feared that they might eliminate my daughter-in-law or daughter. Distraught and dejected, we used to think would they attack us again.

After 2 days, villagers suggested us to talk to a lawyer. I had to go to Dudhi for purchasing wife’s medicine and then I went to the court. The lawyer helped in issuing a warrant against the guilty. Then, the police took my wife to Bhabni police station and then a FIR was filed. Sub Inspector Mishra filed FIR against Deepak, Dev Kushan, and Hoti Lal.

Earlier, they had tried to grab my land and trees. But those who have done detestable act to my wife should be given exemplary punishment. I am quite relieved after narrating the entire incident to you. I am feeling relaxed after the meditation.

Therapist: Pintu

I THINK AM I REALLY A WITCH?

2011-09-20T04:13:00.000-07:00
I am 32 –year old Jageshari Devi and wife of Ramashankar. I have 4 sons. Eldest is 11 year old Tejbali, second son is 6 year old Rambali, third one is 4 year old Shyamnarayan, and youngest is 1 year old Rajnarayan. I live in Kariya village, which falls under the jurisdiction of Dudhi police station in Sonebhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. My marriage took place in Zubeida (Aasandih) and I lived in in-laws house for 4 years. Then, I came back to Kariya to take care of my ailing father. 3 sisters are elder to me and they live along with their spouses in their ancestral house. We own 8 bighas of land on which I and my husband till the land for eking out of our living.

Just after 3 houses my cousin Dhullar lives along with her husband Sahdev She has 5 sons and 2 daughters. She lost her two sons. On 31st July 2007, Sania died. After hearing the news of his death I rushed to my cousin’s house. When I reached there, I saw 4 women and the ojha were busy trying to ward off the spirit using jhar –phook (healing ritual employed to expel the malevolent spirit). I sat inside. My brother-in-law sat stretching his legs with stick, rod, and hunter at the door. Seeing me he was continuously muttering ‘witch’, who has gobbled up my son. Staring at me he threatened ‘I won’t spare you. I would see how you leave this place and go outside’. Seeing his behaviour, I got scared. Baffled at that I was wondering what he was blabbering. I just spent the night there and then in the morning, when I saw Sahdev had moved away from the door then I rushed back to my home. If he would have been there then he would not allowed me to come. After reaching home I completed the household chores of sweeping the floor and washing the utensils. At around 12.00 noon, people started gathering for the burial of the boy. I was busy working at home. Then Sahdev called me ‘come here’. I was quite terrified at his behaviour in the previous night then also I gathered courage and went there.

Round about 60 people had gathered the boy’s last journey. Ojha was busy with his jhar-phook ritual. I also sat amongst the villagers huddled together with gloom writ large on their faces. Sahdev asked me to come in the front. Then, I thought why he was especially calling me. I was shivering with fear and heeded to his call. ‘What’s the matter’, I asked Sahdev. Then, he handed over Sania’s body and shouted on me, “You ‘witch’ turn him alive or otherwise I won’t spare you.” The ojha encircled me and started the jhar-phook ritual. Frightened I was sitting tight with Sania’s body in my lap. After a long jhar-phook ritual, Sahdev asked me to open the tongue and then I got nervous. Villagers were mute spectators to all what was happening. Then Sahdev told me to open the tongue so that he could throw some grains of rice, which would be ploughed up by a cock. Shivering with fear, I opened my mouth, Sahdev who was carrying a blade and slit my tongue.

I started screaming in pain and cried incessantly. Neither among those sitting along with me came to console me nor did they stop Sahdev. Blood started oozing out my mouth and within few moments it was splattered in the floor. My husband was scared and he did not say anything. All my cloth got soaked in blood. It crossed over my mind am I really a ‘witch’. In front of my eyes, ojha and Sahdev slit my tongue into small pieces and threw the grains of rice and ploughed by a cock. Then, all those who had gathered went to the burial ground and my husband also followed them. After the burial, they left the cock at the graveyard. Without caring about me I was left alone to suffer. Women living nearby my house also had in their mind that I was a ‘witch’ and left me to suffer. I cried through out the night without medicine or food. Since morning I had not taken any food. After my tongue was slashed I was not able to drink water. Throughout the night I groaning in pain but nobody came to my rescue.

Who would have taken care of my children if I would have rushed to the hospital? Today whenever I remember that I burst into rage for those who were standing as a mute spectator to such a ghastly incident. I think am I really a ‘witch’. In the morning, whatever had happened in the evening, everyone was talking about that. Accompanied by my husband, I went to the doctor at Myorpur Community Health Centre. He asked my husband what had happened. My husband narrated the entire incident. Then a Sub Inspector and a constable from Dudhi police station came in a jeep. I was admitted in the hospital. The Sub Inspector was time and again asking what had happened. Whenever I was trying to speak, there was excruciating pain in my tongue. Then, my husband narrated the facts to the police.

I was in the hospital for 4 days and my children were left alone. My husband stayed at the hospital. Nobody from my neighbour came to see me at the hospital. I was quite worried about my children. I was always something untoward should not happen with them. When I returned home then I came to know that Sahdev’s youngest son who had a prolonged illness had also died. Listening that, I started shaking in fear. Then I used to keep mum at the fact that the ojha and Sahdev were behind the bars. Ten, I used to shudder at the fact when they would be released what would be their behaviour towards me. My husband is quite simple and straight forward. They want to grab our land by branding me as ‘witch’. Earlier also, in our area a family was dispossessed from their land by putting up a quarrel. They also want to assiduously dispossess us from our land by branding me as a ‘witch’ and slashing my tongue. Driving us away they want to grab our land. I was quite worried and spent sleepless nights. I was able to swallow the food, neither I was able to drink. Whenever I used speak, it was incoherent. I want that whoever has done that and branded me a ‘witch’ should be given exemplary punishment. Fearing reprisals from Sahdev, neighbours do not turn up to see me. Whenever any one visits us they us what’s use of narrating it to others. I am quite infuriated at the fact whenever I think that nobody could do anything to me. I am quite relieved while narrating the entire incident to you.

Therapist: Farhat Shaba Khanam

Book on Dalit discourse in Independent India

2011-09-18T21:39:00.000-07:00
http://www.pvchr.net/2011/09/book-on-dalit-discourse-in-independent.html

Newsletter - Voice of Voiceless Vol. 2 No. 2

2011-09-17T00:19:00.000-07:00

Voice of Voiceless

BVHRPC to continue its fight for human rights

2011-09-13T23:58:00.000-07:00

http://www.sentinelassam.com/cachar/story.php?sec=2&subsec=12&id=89712&dtP=2011-09-14&ppr=1#89712

SILCHAR, Sept 13: Barak Valley Human Rights Protection Committee (BVHRPC) since its inception in 2002 has been fighting for upholding the cause of human rights and its protection. Whenever, there is report of violation of human rights, the Committee through its fact finding team after thorough investigation takes up the case at the national and international forums for effective check and initiation of action against the guilty and justice to the victim of torture, pointed out Neharul Ahmed Mazumdar, secretary general of the Committee, while addressing the gathering on the occasion of the ‘honour ceremony of the torture victims’ held at Banga Bhavan here today in association with the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), Varanasi, and Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victim (RCT), Copenhagen, Denmark.

BVHRPC has been working against all odds, but it is universally acknowledged that ‘truth ultimately prevails’. With the active support of PVCHR and RCT, Barak Committee after receiving specific complaints goes deeper into the circumstances and related facts to unravel the truth and works out strategy to give justice to the victims. At this ceremony, ten men and women who were victims of domestic violence, torture by security forces as well as other forms of human rights abuses were honoured. These victims of torture were enlisted after their ‘testimonial therapy’ in a eight-day-long session for point to point scrutiny and examination of their statements.

Neharul Ahmed Mazumdar added to say that the sense of security infused in them, in fact, empowers them to the bold and assert their rights for self-defence. He pointed out most of the victims are from the economically backward and minority communities. It is most unfortunate, as he said, laws are used and misused for oppression and suppression. Security forces are often misguided and misused by persons with malafide intentions to score personal gain. The ‘Honour Ceremony’ pointed out Manindra Shankar Gupta, chairman of BVHRPC, said would embolden the victims to join the fight against injustice and torture caused by the various forms of violence. Chief Guest on the occasion Lenim Raghuvanshi, secretary general PVCHR, and Shirin Sabana Khan of PVCHR, addressing the assembly said that with the cooperation of people in general, the crusade against violation of human rights could be more strengthened and a world could be created through mass awakening and resolve free from torture and violence. It was their optimism that with the world wide voice against such criminal acts, it could become a reality, and not remain a dream.

Giving voice to fake encounter survivor

2011-09-13T06:40:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsSMGR-h3pw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsSMGR-h3pw

In the Footsteps of the Mahatma: DR LENIN RAGHUVANSHI

2011-09-12T03:19:00.000-07:00
http://www.cyberax.eu/book/1104731/dr-lenin-raghuvanshi

Honour Ceremony of Survivors of Torture and Organised Violence

2011-09-11T04:19:00.003-07:00
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=122473137853142

Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), Assam; People s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), Varanasi and Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Victims of Torture (RCT), Denmark are going to hold an Honour Ceremony of Survivors of Torture and Organised Violence to honour some survivors from Barak valley.

Your presence is solicited to strengthen the fight for elimination of torture and violence.

Controversy on AHRC(Asian Human Rights Commission) report

2011-09-08T02:00:00.000-07:00
http://www.pvchr.net/2011/09/controversy-on-ahrcasian-human-rights.html

गरीब मुसहर की पिटाई एवम पुलिस दारा सहयोग नही करने के समबन्ध मे

2011-09-06T00:38:00.001-07:00

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: PVCHR MINORITY <minority.pvchr@gmail.com>
Date: 2011/9/6
Subject: गरीब मुसहर की पिटाई एवम पुलिस दारा सहयोग नही करने के समबन्ध मे
To: jrlawnhrc@hub.nic.in, DIG Varanasi <sspvns-up@nic.in>, IG Zone Police Varanasi <igzonevns-up@nic.in>
Cc: akpnhrc@yahoo.com, "pvchr.india" <pvchr.india@gmail.com>

सेवा में,                                                                      05 सितम्बर, 2011

            अध्यक्ष

राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग

     नई दिल्ली

विषय: गरीब मुसहर के साथ मारपीट एवम पुलिस द्दारा सहयोग नही करने के सम्बन्ध में।

महोदय,

              03 सितम्बर, 2011 को गुड्डु, पुत्र-लख्खन ग्राम-खरगपुर, थाना-फुलपुर, वाराणसी को लल्ली राजभर पुत्र-होरी राजभर (भट्ठा मालिक) जगदीशपुर तथा नत्थु (भट्ठा का मुंशी) ने बेवजह मंगारी बाजार से अपने घर आते समय भट्ठे पर रोका और काम करने को कहा। जब गुड्डु ने कहा कि ''मैं कही और काम करता हूँ और काम करके वापस घर जा रहा हूँ, आपका काम नही कर सकता,'' दोनो लोगों ने मिलकर गुड्डु पटककर लातो-जूतो तथा लाठी से पीटा। जिससे उसकी आँख सूज गयी है तथा शरीर पर कई जगह जख्म के निशान है। जब वो फूलपुर थाना पर शिकायत करने गया तो दरोगा जी ने गाली देकर भगा दिया और प्राइवेट डाक्टर से दवा ले लेने को कहा। पैसे के अभाव मे वह स्वास्थ्य केन्द्र पिण्डरा पर दवा लेने गया तो डाक्टर से अनुरोध किया कि उसका मेडिकल भी बना दीजिए तो डाक्टर ने कहा कि एफ0आई0आर0 की कापी लाओ तभी बनाऊगा और तभी दवा दूँगा। 05 सितम्बर, 2011 को वह पुनः फुलपुर थाना गया तो दरोगा ने उसे प्राइवेट डाक्टर से दवा लेने की सलाह दी और केस बाद में देख लेने का आस्वासन ।

          लेख है कि लल्ली राजभर, पुत्र-होरी राजभर, जगदीशपुर, थाना-फुलपुर, वाराणसी का एक दबंग भट्ठा मालिक है। लल्ली राजभर पर कुछ अपराधिक मुकदमें भी दर्ज है जबकि कई गम्भीर आरोपो में उसने स्थानीय फुलपुर थाने की मदद से अपने को बचा लिया है। लल्ली ने 2005 में एक व्यक्ति बसन्त मुसहर को उसके घर से उठाकर मरवा दिया था। मामले में एफ0आई0आर0 तक नही हुआ। बसन्त मुसहर के परिवार वाले लल्ली के भय से कुछ नही कर पाते, जबकि पुलिस ने बसन्त की लाश का पोस्टमार्टम भी नही कराया।

            लल्ली पर बंधुआ मजदूरी के भी कई मुकदमें दर्ज है। परन्तु उसके खिलाफ कोई भी कार्यवाही नही हुई। कानूनी कार्यवाही नही होने से जहाँ बसन्त और गुड्डू जैसे मुसहर लल्ली और थाना-फुलपुर, वाराणसी से भयभीत है, जबकि पुलिस की निष्क्रियता से लल्ली जैसे लोगों द्वारा शोषण करने की प्रवृत्ति बढ़ती जा रही है।

        महोदय से अनुरोध है कि कृपा करके लल्ली राजभर, नत्थू एवं दोषी पुलिसकर्मियों के खिलाफ अति शीघ्र कानूनी कार्यवाही करने की कृपा करे।

भवदीय

डा0 लेनिन

(महासचिव )

मानवाधिकार जन निगरानी समिति







Heard to unheard voice of Dalits among the norwegian policy makers

2011-08-26T01:26:00.000-07:00
http://www.pvchr.net/2011/08/heard-to-unheard-voice-of-dalits.html

Promoting psycho-legal framework to reduce TOV in India

2011-08-24T21:16:00.001-07:00

http://rct.org/programmes/asia/promoting-psycho-legal-framework-to-reduce-tov-in-india.aspx

Promoting psycho-legal framework to reduce TOV in India

International project in India

Country: India

Contact person: Erik Wendt

Partner: People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) works towards a democratic India in respect of human rights. The organization does advocacy work and works with campaigns to increase awareness at an international-, national- and at grass-root level. PVCHR works to educate communities about their human rights, and focuses especially on the rights of marginalized groups. They also work to prevent police torture, and to secure the right to food and education. PVCHR has developed a special capacity as a knowledge centre promoting testimonial therapy for psycho-social rehabilitation of torture survivors.

Context: International monitors report widespread violations of human rights, including the use of torture in India, the world's second most populous country.

India has signed the United Nations Convention against Torture (on 14 October, 1997), but the country has not ratified the convention. The Constitution, adopted in 1950, guarantees fundamental rights, such as the right to life and personal liberty, equality before the law, procedural rights, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, cultural and educational rights, and the right to redress in courts. However anti-terror legislation and the cast system in particular have contributed to a culture of impunity. The caste system continues to survive in modern India, and social structure prevents someone from a lower caste to enforce their rights.

Torture is not criminalized in domestic Indian law, and security forces and police perpetrate human rights violations frequently. Despite constitutional guarantees, legal protection and reports in the media, beatings, rape and torture seem to be part of a routine continuing unabated. Police torture has been documented and torture and organized violence (TOV) by both state and non-state parties against minorities occurs in India. Torture is used as standard operating procedure in police investigations of crime. Prisoners are one of the weakest constituencies in the society. They have no voting rights, have very limited access to the outside world, and are under the complete control of the prison authority. Trials can take years, and prisoners wait in overcrowded detention centers. Often, they have no lawyers, live in miserable conditions, do not have access to adequate medical care, and are likely to be tortured or exploited. Individuals who are poor and socially and politically marginalized are especially vulnerable to prolonged detention and ill-treatment. A significant number of torture cases, ill treatment and inhuman behaviour take place every year in the hands of the police. Under Indian law, there is no enforceable right to rehabilitation for torture survivors.

Project:
In a context of impunity, limited access to justice, and limited rehabilitation services, the PVCHR and RCT introduce a psycho-legal approach. The overall objective is a strong and well organized testimonial campaign, which contributes to eliminate impunity for perpetrators of torture in India

The project will work with rehabilitation, community empowerment and sustainable organizational strategies. The rehabilitation work will focus on Testimonial Therapy (TT) and the project will eventually serve as a platform for a scientific research project for validation of the TT approach.

The aim is to increase capacity for delivery of testimonial therapy among the organizations and institutions of the newly created National Alliance of Testimonial Therapy (NATT). NATT has been organized to provide an administrative structure for TT activities in India, including training and research. Information derived from testimonial therapy narratives will constantly be used to shape and strengthen advocacy campaigns supporting the prevention and elimination of torture.

Main activities of the RCT and the PVCHR partnership:

Member organizations of NATT will be trained on Testimonial Therapy (TT)

Direct support to survivors of torture through TT.

Community based honor ceremonies & folk school will be organized to foster community awareness and empower of survivors of TOV.

Initiation of advocacy campaigns against torture through NATT.

Setting up of consultation meeting with organizations allied with NATT, as to share knowledge and conduct the TT campaign.

Prepare and publish information materials about the testimonial approach.

Lobby with policy makers and governmental agencies, using testimonies to create awareness of the negative impact of torture.

Publish regular newsletters, pamphlets and reports through the NATT.

Draw national and international attention to torture in India through the use of web advocacy to disseminate testimonial narratives to a wider range of stakeholders.

Support victims in court.

http://rct.org/programmes/asia/about-testimonial-therapy.aspx

About Testimonial Therapy

Testimonial Therapy (TT) is an individual psychotherapy for survivors of torture and other types of organised violence involving the narration of survivors' traumatic experiences. The trauma stories are recorded, jointly edited by the therapist and survivor, and compiled into a document, which maybe used by the survivors to raise public and international awareness about human rights violations. Over the decades TT has been successfully adapted and used in diverse cultural and political contexts.

In 2008, the testimonial method was introduced to People's Vigilance Committee for Human Rights (PVCHR) - a human rights organisations providing legal assistance to torture survivors in one of the most socioeconomically marginalised regions in India Unique features of the TT version developed during this process included: (1) a brief format (three to four sessions) including psycho-education, monitoring and evaluation; (2) conducted by non-professional counselors; (3) a testimony ceremony; (4) a meditative exercise; and (5) a context-specific manual and training course for counselors. The testimony delivery ceremony is considered the 'turning point' of this brief-format TT and involves presentation of the testimony document to participants before significant others. It symbolises the transition of the survivors' private and subject pain into the public, legal and political sphere.

A preliminary study conducted in India indicated a positive effect of TT as assessed by increased well-being scores and information obtained from interviews with survivors and the trained human rights workers. Also in 2008, the brief-format TT was introduced to Sri Lanka for survivors of torture and ill-treatment. A manual was compiled and Sri Lankan human rights activists and community workers were trained in taking testimonies, as well as in monitoring and evaluation. In 2009 TT was introduced to The Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation Cambodia (TPO Cambodia)and in 2010 to Balay in the Philippines.

TT is not one, clinical counseling or rehabilitation method amongst many others, but a specific form of "political" therapy which should be conducted within the framework of a justice process, a human rights movement, or a political or feminist movement. This requires that counselors are convinced of the struggle for human rights and justice, and that some counselors are more suited to conduct TT than others.

Read more: Homepage dedicated to Testimonial Theraphy