Fwd: MASUM's Journey - February 2012

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kirity Roy <kirityroy@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Mar 3, 2012 at 5:21 PM
Subject: MASUM's Journey - February 2012
To: MASUM <masumindia@gmail.com>

MASUM's Journey – February 2012

 

Banglar Manabadhikar Surtakksha Mancha (MASUM) conducted 5 fact findings during the month of February 2012 and made requisite complaints before the relevant authorities and institutions. Out of these fact findings, 4 incidents are of severe police torture and subsequent procedural violations regarding arrest and registering complaint. In all these incidents, respective police personnel violated procedures, domestic as well as international legalities. One incident is related to torture by Border Security Force; connived with local police to shield the errant. Another is extra judicial execution of a person with Maoist orientation and subsequent procedural violation.

 

MASUM observed grave procedural violations regarding arrests and detentions in West Midnapur district and made several complaints to authorities in previous occasions. It has been also observed that the security force and police are shamelessly justifying their illegal acts on the pretext of curbing 'Maoist' menace in the district. In this regard another complaint has been made to National Human rights Commission and higher ups of administration including police administration. The victims belong to socio- economically marginalized section of the society. This incident of illegal arrest and detention was also reported by us in West Midnapur district.

 

The killing of one Maoist leader by joint force operatives at Madhupur village under Belpahari police station of West Midnapur district has been investigated by a joint fact finding team of different civil rights organizations. MASUM was part of the team. The team has findings that joint force executes the person in a cover up of an encounter and subsequently not fulfilled the National Human Rights Commission's mandatory guidelines in case of encounter deaths.

 

24 Parganas (North) is a district with high incidents of human rights violations by police and Border Security Force, experienced another sequel of savage torture upon father son duo by Border Security Force personnel in numbers and in presence of higher ups of the force. The victims belong to minority community. The shameful incident occurred in Swarupnagar police station area of the district. The victim was physically tortured, intimidated and bullied while he made complaint to local police. The police failed to extend protection and security to the family result the complainant flee from his house and living under constant threats.

 

In another incident a person voicing against environmental degradation causing by brick kilns in his locality, faced inhumane police torture in Deganga and Baduria police stations of 24 Parganas (north) and being falsely implicated with criminal charges of possessing narcotics. The victim belongs to minority community and still under judicial remand. His wife complained about poor prison condition and denial of basic requirements inside the prison. He made complaints before the National Human Rights Commission and Commission transferred the issue before West Bengal Human Rights Commission but till date no corrective measures have been taken and the victim, a human rights defender in true sense languishing in prison.

 

In an incident from Basirhat area of 24 Parganas (North), it has been reported that two persons from minority community has been falsely implicated in a criminal case of possessing narcotics and both faced brutal police torture at the place of arrest and subsequently at the said police station. Police personnel came down heavily on the victims to extract confessions from the supposedly innocents. Police framed the charges by hatching conspiracy to extort bribes from the victims. The said police violated the legal requisites of an arrest during arresting the persons.

 

A woman from minority community made a complaint before MASUM to investigate an incident related to refusal of proper registration of a complaint, subsequent demand for bribe and later fabrication of false charges against the victims after showing their inability to meet their demands. Fact finding revealed that the police personnel of Baduria Police Station in 24 Parganas (North) are indulged with all the said offences in one hand and in other the complainant and her family are not living at their residence out of fear of police atrocities. The said police warned them with dire consequences. It has also came into light that the police has connivance with person against whom the woman wants to made complaint.

 

An update has been made and complaints sent to National Human Rights Commission and other appropriate authorities regarding intimidation made by police personnel from Swarupnagar police station after a marginalized farmer made a complaint against posted Border Security Force personnel related to physical torture upon him. The victim made a complaint before Sub Divisional Police Officer of Basirhat sub division of 24 Parganas (North). The wife of the complainant has been intimidated and asked to withdraw the said complaint. 

 

 

MASUM organized two sensitization meeting with Civil Body Organizations and individuals at sub urban localities in 24 Parganas (North) and 24 Parganas (South). The topics of interactions were Indian Constitution and Constitutional Rights, criminal justice system, laws related to civil rights of populace and procedure of police arrest. Numbers of organizations as well as individuals participated during the interactions. During the month of February, organization conducted a medical camp to extend medical and psychological treatments to torture victims at Jalangi in Murshidabad district in the auspices of United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture assisted programme. Nearly 54 patients comprising victims and their dependents received treatment and medicines. In its legal support portion, 4 legal proceedings have been initiated in appropriate court of law at Murshidabad. All the petitioners has two common identities, first they belong to marginalized socio- economic groups and secondly they are victims of torture perpetrated by state agencies.

 

MASUM also documented important media reports related to human rights abuses published in regional as well as national media during the month of February. During this period 16 incidents of police torture from West Bengal and 3 from rest of the country and 1 incidents of torture perpetrated by the BSF personnel in West Bengal have been documented. Two incidents of custodial deaths in West Bengal has been recorded and 1 case from rest of the country has been documented. Out of 2 custodial deaths in West Bengal, one happened in Krishnagar and another in Midnapur district prisons. We have also documented 1 media report on Extra Judicial Killing (encounter killing). The killing of Maoist activist; Judhistir Mahato occurred in the hands of joint force operatives in West Midnapur district. In national plain 2 incidents of extra judicial killings have been reported and number of causalities in these occurrences has been recorded as 2.

 

74 media reports on violence against women have been documented for the month in which 13 incidents of murder and in 19 rapes have been committed against the women in West Bengal. 2 incidents of rape were get wide media coverage; and in both the incidents, role of state government has been under scanner and widely criticized. 7 reports on starvation deaths have been documented; all are related to suicides committed by the indebted farmers in West Bengal.  9 incidents of trafficking of women have been recorded for the past month in West Bengal. 37 incidents of child right violations are documented from West Bengal for the timeline. Another major happening of present West Bengal is political violence and in this category 66 media reports have been recorded in February. Two important leaders of Communist Party of India (Marxist) have been killed during the past month in Burdwan district. 3 incidents of lynching took place during February 2012, in which 4 persons were killed by irate mobs.

--
Kirity Roy
Secretary
Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha
(MASUM)
&
National Convenor (PACTI)
Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity
40A, Barabagan Lane (4th Floor)
Balaji Place
Shibtala
Srirampur
Hooghly
PIN- 712203
Tele-Fax - +91-33-26220843
Phone- +91-33-26220844 / 0845
e. mail : kirityroy@gmail.com
Web: www.masum.org.in