Varanasi Report on the World Day Event against death penalty

http://www.amnesty.org.in/articles/Varanasi_Report_on_the_World_Day_Event.aspx

Varanasi Report on the World Day Event
PVCHR organized a protest against death penalty on 10th October, at Azad Park, Lahurabir, Varanasi, to mark the World Day Against Penalty in solidarity with Amnesty International India. PVCHR and other organizations protested against death penalty by lighting candles, holding out banners and posters. Along with the members and core group members of PVCHR the members of Bunker Dastakar Adhikar Manch (A Forum for Weavers and Artisan), Voice of People (VOP) from Chunar and Janghai, People’s Watch, Citizen Front, Sagar Society Jounpur, Dawa Manch, Bhagat Singh Youth Brigade and the journalist of some news paper, took part in the protest against death penalty and expressed their opinion.

On this occasion the Convener of PVCHR Dr. Lenin said that any person can be falsely implicated in a case as a consequence given death penalty. He also added that the death penalty is often given to a person who cannot defend his case properly due to poverty not being able to afford a lawyer. Lawyers provided by the state do not defend due to lack of interest.

After declaration of death punishment, the family members and relatives of the victim become isolated from society. They acquire stigma for rest of their lives and may be even boycotted by the society. Once the death punishment is declared, the rest of the life of the accused becomes full of fear and he dies every moment thereafter.

PVCHR has posted an article on death penalty on 9th October 2008, which can be seen on http://www.mynews.in/fullstory.aspx?storyid=11163

The details of the protest protest at Azad Park, Lahurabir, Varanasi on 10th October 2008 along with the mercy petition to the President of India against the death penalty of Suresh Chouhan and his wife’s brother Ramji Chauhan of Varanasi can be seen on http://www.mynews.in/fullstory.aspx?storyid=11461

Date: 29 Jun 2002 23:08:56 -0000
Subject: This is our MERCY PETITION to the President of India to save the lives of two Men convicted of Death Sentence. Please appeal to the President of India (pressecy@alpha.nic.in) and also ask your friends & colleagues to do so.

Supreme Court Criminal Appeal Nos: 821 of 2000 & No: 160 of 2001.
Appeal for mercy for Mr. Suresh Chauhan & Mr. Ramji Chauhan convicted & sentenced to death by hanging under section 302IPC, 307 IPC & 449 IPC.

Mr. Suresh Chauhan and his wife’s brother , Ramji Chauhan have been accused of murdering his(Suresh) own brother Mr. Ramesh Chauhan (Younger brother of Suresh) and four members of Ramesh‘s family (Wife and three children ) over a dispute over property belonging to their father Late Mr.Panalal. The Accused Mr. Suresh however says that his conviction was based on the false evidence of witness (PW1) Mr. Lalji (paternal uncle of the accused Suresh) who had repented later and told the family members of Accused Ramji that he (Lalji) would reveal the truth at appeal hearing in the Allahabad High Court .However four days before the appeal hearing, he was mysteriously burnt to death in his own room. His body was quickly cremated without any police report or post mortem. Both the Accused insist that they were taken from their homes and not arrested near Railway station. The weapons claimed by the police to have been recovered from the house of Suresh did not match the wounds of the murdered victims described in the Medico legal report. Besides this the manner of recovery claimed by the police was rejected by the High Court. There are also discrepancies in the FIR, the Inquest report etc.

The only person benefiting from the whole incident is Ram Naresh who is the elder brother of Accused Suresh and Deceased Ramesh. In Childhood Ram Naresh had been adopted by paternal uncle, Lalji (PW1) who was issueless. Prior to his death, the father, Late Panalal divided his property only between accused Suresh and the deceased Ramesh. He did not include the elder son Ram Naresh (adopted by Lalji ) since he is the sole inheritor of his adopted father, Lalji ‘s property. However after the death of the father, Mr.Panalal, the elder brother Ram Naresh demanded share from his two brothers (accused Suresh and deceased Ramesh) which they refused unless Ram Naresh agreed to share with them the property of his adopted father, Mr.Lalji(PW1). Now with Suresh convicted to death sentence , Ramesh dead , and adopted father Mr.Lalji (PW1) mysteriously burnt to death , Ram Naresh is the sole claimant/owner of the property of late Mr.Lalji and Late Panalal.

The police cannot be trusted as it is widely known and documented that they can be bought and the discrepancies in the FIR & INQUEST point to a possibility of a cover-up and miscarriage of justice.

Of the accused Mr. Suresh Chauhan is the father of 7 children, the youngest being 5 years old with two daughters of marriageable age. He is the bread winner for his family. The future of the children is at stake. There is no one to look after them, and if the allegation of the accused is true than they face possible harassment from their uncle, Mr. Ram Naresh. Similarly Mr. Ramji Chauhan is from a very poor family, selling balloons. In the process of fighting the case they have sold their belongings, are living in rented homes and struggling to make ends meet. Ramji Chauhan’s wife face premature widowhood at such a prime age. The whole family has been brought to the brink of ruin.

Prominent citizens and peoples’ representatives have extended their support after seeing the plight of the dependents of the two convicted. They include Shri Shankar Prasad Jaiswaal, MP-Parliament; Shri Ajay Singh, Chairperson –National Bal Bhawan; Shri Amarnath Yadav, Nagar Pramukh; Shri Shiv Nath Yadav – MLC; Shri Shamdev Roy Chaudhur, MLA; Shri Ajay Ray, MLA; Shri Abdul Kalam, MLA; Shri Ajay Kumar Singh, Sabhasad; Smt. Dhanno Devi, Sabhasad; and Shri Ambrish Keshari, Sabhasad and so on.

Thanking You


Dr. Lenin
(Ashoka Fellow, Convener-PVCHR)