Lenin in Brussels(Belgium)

Lenin Raghuvanshi of PVCHR is going  Brussels to Participate in European Union Visitors Programme (EUVP) from 4 -8 March 2013.The EUVP was established in 1974 by the European Parliament and the European Commission.

The EUVP is jointly sponsored and administered by the European Parliament and the European Commission. An EUVP visit consists of an individual 5 to 8 day programme of meetings with EU officials at the EU institutions in Brussels and/or Strasbourg. All programs are coordinated and arranged by the EUVP Secretariat rather than by individual participants. EUVP will cover the participants' travel, accommodation expenses and health insurance throughout the trip.

http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/afghanistan/press_corner/all_news/news/2011/20110224_01_en.htm

Rape of human rights,Human Rights defender getting threats.

http://realindianews.blogspot.in/2013/02/rape-of-human-rightshuman-rights.html

 Monday, February 25, 2013

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times

Lucknow, February 13, 2013

First Published: 15:12 IST(13/2/2013)

Last Updated: 15:21 IST(13/2/2013)

Rights violation: UP tops in disposal of cases too

Uttar Pradesh may be No. 1 in human rights violations, but what comes as a ‘pleasant surprise’ to policy-makers here is the fact that the state also tops the charts in speedy disposal of such complaints. “In 2012, we received one lakh complaints — of which roughly 55,000 were from UP. I must say that the decisions of the NHRC in majority of the cases from UP have been accepted by the state and compensation paid to the victims, which gives them the first position in disposal of cases too,” said Anil Kumar Parashar, joint registrar (law), NHRC.

As per the data accessed from the NHRC, the number of cases pending in 2012 was only around 13,000, which included cases from all over the country.

“When a state puts a question on our decision, it delays justice. But this has never happened in UP,” said Parashar, who was in the city on Tuesday to release a report on child sexual abuse- ‘Breaking The Silence: Child Sexual Abuse In India’ -by Human Rights Watch and People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR).

The 82-page report examines how government responses are falling short, both in protecting children from sexual abuse and treating victims. Many children are mistreated a second time by traumatic medical examinations and by police and other authorities who do not want to hear or believe their accounts.

“It is time things like human rights be included in school curriculum. This is because 95% cases still remain unidentified because quite a few incidents happen within families,” said Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi of the PVCHR.

Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director, Human Rights Watch, said a lot is being said about sexual exploitation of women but little about sexual exploitation of children. Even police officials are not sensitised on how to deal with victim children who often fear to speak up against exploitation.

“You might have selected the best school and the best mode of transport for your child, but if something happens to the kid then parents get to know about it through friends and not the child directly,” she said. The Indian government should improve protection of children from sexual abuse as part of broader reforms following the gangrape case in Delhi, said Meenakshi.

“India’s system to combat child sexual abuse is inadequate because government mechanisms fail to ensure protection of children,” said Meenakshi, adding: “Children who bravely complain about sexual abuse are often dismissed or ignored by the police, medical staff, and other authorities.”

Human Rights Watch conducted interviews of more than 100 victims of child sexual abuse and their relatives, government child protection officials and independent experts, police officers, doctors, social workers, and lawyers who have handled such cases.

The report uses detailed case studies, rather than a quantitative analysis, to examine government mechanisms to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/1011079.aspx

© Copyright © 2012 HT Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.

’’मेरा विश्वास है कि, मेरे पति की मृत्यु दंड की सजा माफ होगी’’

मेरा नाम उषा चैहान है मेरी उम्र 45 वर्ष है मैं अशिक्षित हूॅ। मेरे पति रामजी चैहान 16 वर्षो से मुझे हत्या के झूठे आरोप में नैनी जेल में बन्द है। वह पहले गुब्बारा बेचने का काम करते थे उनके जाने के बाद अब मै अपने ससुराल में ही देवर के साथ कागज का खिलौना बनाकर अपना और अपने परिवार का जीवन यापन कर रही हूँ। मेरी दो बेटिया गुडिया 19 वर्ष और ज्योति 17 वर्ष की है जो पास के ही एक सरकारी माध्यमिक विद्यालय में कक्षा 8 में पढ़ती है। मैं 58/126 बी नवापुर, मैदागिन, थाना- कोतवाली, जिला-वाराणसी की रहने वाली हूँ।


 अभी दो दिन पहले (15-2-2013) मुझे यह खबर मिली कि मेरे पति को फॅासी की सजा हो जायेगी, यह सुनकर तो मेरी सारी दुनिया की जैसे उजड़ गयी। आज 16 साल से मै इसी आस में हॅू कि आज नहीं कल तो मेरे पति को न्याय मिलेगा। उन्हें इस झुठे मुकदमे से बाइज्त बरी कर दिया जायेगा लेकिन अब तो मेरे आॅखों के सामने पूरा अंधेरा दिखाई दे रहा है। सोलह साल से हम लोग भूखे प्यासे रहकर इस उम्मीद से लड़ रहे थे कि मेरा सुहाग और मेरे बच्चियों के उपर उनके बाप का साया रहे अभी सोचती हूँ तो दिल दहल जाता है। कि किस तरह रात भर रो रोकर गुजारा है, मेरी बूढ़ी सास जो बेटे के सदमे में बिमार रहती है और रोती रहती है उनके कानो तक सह बात को सुनने के बाद मेरे अन्दर यह डर सा हो गया है कि अगर उन्हें कुछ हो गया तो हमारा क्या होगा।
 मैंने सोलह साल की कड़ी तपस्या से उनका इन्तजार किया है। मेरी इस तपस्या में मेरा परिवार मेरा सहारा बना और मै उनकी हिम्मत मेरी सास भी इसी उम्मीद में है कि पहले की तरह वह मेरे पति और अपने परिवार में वापस देखना चाहती है। मेरी बेटिया भी सवाल पूछती है कि उनके पापा कब आयेगें मैं उन्हे यही ढाढ़त बधाती हूँ कि वह जल्दी ही आ जायेगे ईश्वर इतना बड़ा अत्याचारी हमारे उपर नहीं कर सकता यही उम्मीद मैने अब भी नही छोड़ा है मैं सरकार से भी इल्तिजा करती हूँ कि वह मेरे फरियाद को सुने और मेरे पति के साथ इंसाफ करे नही ंतो न्याय से लोगो का विश्वास हट जायंगाॅ।

 मै इस बातो से बिल्कुल अन्जान थी कि इतना बड़ा हादसा मेरे परिवार के साथ होगा यह घटना(6-10-1996) की है। अक्टूबर का महीना था जुतिया त्योहार के तीसरे दिन की सुबह मै शौच के लिए उठी थी इस समय सुबह के पाॅच बज रहे थे तभी काफी संख्या में पुलिस की भीड़ आते दिखाई दी मुझे लगा कोई आस पास घटना हुई होगी पुलिस इसी लिए आयी है मैं सही सोच रही थी तभी उन लोगो की भीड़ मेरे घर की तरफ आते हुए दिखी मै बिल्कुल अन्जान थी उस समय मेरे पति घर पर सोये थें उस रात उन्हें तेज बुखार था वह दवा खाकर सोये थे तभी वह लोग आये और इन्हें पकड़कर ले जाने लगे बोले इस पर इसके बहनोई के भाई के परिवार का हत्या का आरोप है यह सुनकर हम लोग घबरा गये कि अभी पैर टुटने के कारण छः महीने से यह बिस्तर पर थे आखिर से ऐसा क्यों करेंगें, इसी घबराहट मे हम लोगो ने उनका एक्सरे दिखाया तब उन पुलिस वालो ने कहा हम पूछताछ कर छोड़ देगे और उन्हें भेलूपुर थाने ले गया। चैबीस घंटे तक उन्हें थाने में रखा फिर उन्हें चैकाघाट जेल भेज दिया उस दिन हम लोग पूरे दिन रातभूखे प्यासे रोते रहे कि यह क्या हो गया पुलिस उन्हें क्यों फसा रही है। आखिर वह उनकी हत्या क्यों करेगें। जीजा के भाई से उनकी क्या दुश्मनी होगी यह बात दिन रात दिमाग मे चल रही थी मुझें नहीं पता था कि उन लोगो के आपस में जमीनी विवाद के चक्कर मे मेरे पति को फसाया जायेगा मेरे जीजा के भाई ने बेकसुर, पलिस को पैसा देकर मेरे पति और मेरे नन्दोई को फसाया हैं।

 तीन साल तक चैकाघाट जेल में मै जब भी उनसे मिलने जाती तब वह यही कहते माँ और बच्चों का ख्याल रखना मैं जल्दी ही घर वापस आऊगाँ मैने कुछ भी नही किया है। यह कहकर वह रोने लगते यह देखकर मै अन्दर से रोती थी क्योंकि अगर सामने रोऊँगी तो उन्हें तकलीफ होगी। यह कहते हुए उसकी आँख भर आयी। यह कहते हुए कि किसी तरह तीन साल बीत गये यहाँ नजदीक था थोडे़ पैसो में मैं उनसे मिलने चली जाती थी लेकिन अब तो वह पुर नैनी बड़े जेल इलाहाबाद मेें उन्हें भेज दिया गया है। हम गरीब लोगों के पास इतना पैसा कहा होता है कि हम उनसे मिलते बार-बार जाये। जब मिलने का मन करता था कही से इंतजाम करके उनसे मिलने जाती थी। कम से कम एक भर निगाह देख लेने से मन को संतुष्टि मिलती थी। घर की हालत इतनी खराब हो गयी है। कि एक-एक चीज इनका केस लड़ने और उन्हें छुड़ाने में सब बिक गया। इसी उम्मीद से कि यह हमारे पास आ जाये सामान का क्या है। पहले भी हम जी खा रहे थे अभी भी थोड़ा बहुत में किसी तरह जीवन गुजार रहे हो हम गरीब लोगो को तो हर रोज कुआॅ खोदना और पानी पीना है।

 मुझे अपने पति और परिवार की चिंता दिन रात सताये जा रही है हर समय दिमाग मंे यही बात घुमता रहता है कि कब यह जेल से छुट कर आयेगे और हमारे साथ फिर से पहले की ही तरह रहेगे मै अकेले थक गयी हूँ परिवार का साथ है लेकिन एक पत्नी के लिए उसके पति का साथ होना ही उसका सबसे बड़ा सहारा होता है। यह सहारा मुझसे छिन गया है इस झुठे आरोप के कारण मेरे पति कही मुझसे बहुत दूर चले जाये सही डर दिन रात मुझे सता रही हैं। रात को जब सोती हॅू तो मन में बुरे-बुरे ख्याल आते है। गरीबी के कारण मैं उनसे बार-बार मिलने भी नही आ पाती अपने मन को मार कर अपने दिल को तसल्ली देकर कि आज नही तो कल उनके साथ न्यास होगा और वह मेरे साथ होगें।

 उनकी अच्छाईया ही मुझे हिम्मत देती है। वह जेल में भी रहकर हमारी फिक्र करते है अपनी बूढ़ी माॅ की चिंता उन्हें दिन रात सताती रहती हैं।


साक्षात्कारकर्ता: फरहत

सोलह वर्ष से माँ की आँखे तरस गयी बेटे को देखने के लिये,

अभी भी हमारा समाज और कानून व्यवस्था इतनी अन्धी है कि कुछ कहा नही जा सकता गुनाह करने वाला खुले आम घुमता है और एक बेगुनाह सलाखो के पिछे सडाया जाता है। ऐसे ही एक माँ अपने बेटे के लिए जिन्दा लाश बनकर इन्तजार में आॅचल बिछाये हुये बैठी है, आइये पढ़ते हैं। एक माँ की दर्द और ममता भरी कहानी।

 मेरा नाम मुला देवी उम्र 70 वर्ष हैं। मेरे पति का नाम स्व0 शोभनाथ है। मै जाति की चैहान हूँ। मेरे पाँच बेटे हैं, बेटे का नाम रामजी,लक्ष्मण, भरत, शतुध्न, श्याम है। मेरी बहु का नाम ऊषा देवी है। मै ा 51/12 ठ नवापुर, थाना-कोतवाली, जिला-वाराणसी कि निवासी हूँ।

 मेरे परिवार की आर्थिक स्थिति अच्छी नहीं हैं। मेरा छोटा बेटा कागज का खिलौना बनाकर बेचता है। किसी तरह गुजर बसर हो जाता है। इस समय मैं किराये के टिन सेट के मकान मे रहती हँू। क्या पता था कि एक दिन ऐसा तुफान आयेगा कि मेरे घर परिवार को बर्वाद कर के रख देगा। घटना दिनांक 05-06-1996 को खोजवा जिउधीपुर थाना-भेलूपुर में मेरी बेटी की शादी हुयी है। उन्ही के देवर मन्नू चैहान पत्नी गंगा देई व तीन बच्चांे की हत्या हो गयी थी।

 इसी घटना के मामले में दिनांक 06/10/1996 को भेलूपुर की पुलिस मेरे घर चार बजे भोर में आयी, उस समय मेरा बेटा रामजी,और मेरा पुरा परिवार सो रहा था, पुलिस आयी दरवाजा खटखटाने लगी,मै जब दरवाजा खोली तो देखी कई पुलिस हाँथ में डंडा, बन्दूक लिये गाली देते हुये पूछे कि बुढि़या बताओ रामजी खूनी कहाँ है।
मै सुनकर चैक गयी, हिम्मत जुटाते हुये बोली साहब ये क्या कह रहे है, भला मेरा बेटा खुन क्यो करेगा, इतना सुनते ही दूसरा पुलिस हमको धक्का देते हुए कमरे में घुसकर तलाशी लेने लगा।

 मै रोने चिल्लाने लगी, मेरे बेटे रामजी को पुलिस वालो ने मारकर जगाया और जबरजस्ती धकेलते हुए मेरे बेटे को जीप में बैठाकर ले गयी।

 उस समय ऐसा लग रहा था जैसे मेरे घर में मातम छाँ गया हो, मेरी बहू, पोती लपट कर रोने लगी। मुझे कुछ समझ में नही आ रहा था, मै क्या करू मेरे बेटे को भेलूपुर थाने में कोई पुछताछ नहीं किये। मेरा छोटा बेटा आकर बताने लगा, उस समय मै सुनकर बेहोश हो गयी, मेरी बहू बिलख-बिलख कर रोने लगी, कहाँ का कहर मेरे परिवार पर टूट पड़ा। इसी तरह करते-करते सोलह वर्ष बित गये, लेकिन बेटा घर नहीं आ पाया रात दिन चिन्ता लगी रहती है कि कब मेरा बेटा आयेगा बेटा को छुड़ाने के चक्कर में मेरे घर का कल्छुन तक बिक गया, लेकिन मेरा बेटा जेल से छुटकर आ नहीं पाया, जब से पता चला है कि मेरे बेटे को फाॅसी की सजा होने वाली है, अब तक तो इन्तजार था कि मेरा बेटा आ जायेगा लेकिन अब किस उम्मीद से कहूँ, मेरी अन्दर की आत्मा मर चुकी है, बेटा के बदले मुझे ही लोग फाॅसी की सजा देदे। लेकिन मेरे बेटे को छोड़ दे, बेटे की चिन्ता में लगता है, कि मेरे प्राण निकल जायेगा। रात-रात भर रोती रहती हूँ, भगवान की दुहाई माँगती रहती हूँ। हे प्रभु मेरे बेटे को मेरे आॅचल में भेज दो कौन सुनता है मुझ गरीब को अमीरो की दुनिया है।

 बस किसी तरह मेरा बेटा आ जाये, मै यही चाहती हूँ। आपको अपनी सोलह वर्ष की सच्ची घटना बता रही हूँ। मेरा मन अभी भी शान्त नहीं है।

मन मे बहुत घबराहट हो रही है। आप लोगो से मिल कर बहुत अच्छा लागा। बस मेरे बेटे को फाॅसी की सजा होने से बचा लिजिए। क्यों कि मेरा बेटा बेगुना है।

साक्षात्कारकर्ता: छाया देवी    

 Link for the mercy petition: http://www.pvchr.net/2006/04/campiagn-against-death-penalty.html

Lucknow tops in crime against children

Lenin Raghuvanshi of the People Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) stated that stigma is further aggravated by the way police and other stake holders such as government doctors behave. "They have no idea of how to handle the situation in case a small girl has been raped. The way in which they deal is insensitive to the core and illogical at times," he said. Citing an example, Lenin said, the two finger test of virginity is something which has been done away for being unreasonable and unscientific. But that's a piece of evidence in UP.

Then, systemic slackness fails to set a precedent. About two years ago, a group of 15 mothers lodged a complaint with a police station in Allahabad that the headmaster in local school called their daughter one by one under the pretext of health exam, took their clothes off and touched their private parts, while talking to them in a lewd manner. Though a case was registered, the trial is yet to begin.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Lucknow-tops-in-crime-against-children/articleshow/18522153.cms

LUCKNOW: Parents need to be more cautious, if they wish to save their children from the trauma of sexual abuse. Answers to an RTI ( right to information) query has shown that cases of child abuse have doubled in the last one year. The document reveals that some 3,324 cases were reported between 2007 and 2011. A district wise break-up of the same suggests that Lucknow recorded the maximum number of such cases - with the tally reading 147. The state capital was followed by Kanpur (114), Meerut (108), Sitapur (103), Allahabad (101), Agra (98), Moradabad (97), Shahjahanpur (94), Ghaziabad (89) and Gorakhpur (89).

This happens when social activists are confident of an 80% under-reporting of cases of child sexual abuse. They also say that parents get out of their homes to lodge a police complaint in extreme cases only. The stoic silence over child abuse has been lamented by social activists who documented the issue in the form of a report called 'Breaking the Silence'. Brought out by Human Rights Watch and endorsed by the National Human Right Commission, the report underlines the need to accept that child abuse exists, so that a concrete strategy can be formed to address the problem.

Meenakshi Ganguly, director of Human Rights Watch, South Asia, said that over 80% parents were averse to legal action against the perpetrator, as he is usually known to them, mainly due to fear of stigma. "There is a straight denial not only in case of girls, but even in case of boys," she said. This happens when more boys than girls fall prey to sexual abuse. "Parents also dismiss the problem because of their disbelief. And those who accept feel that ignoring the matter is better than facing stigma," informed Ganguly. Lenin Raghuvanshi of the People Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) stated that stigma is further aggravated by the way police and other stake holders such as government doctors behave. "They have no idea of how to handle the situation in case a small girl has been raped. The way in which they deal is insensitive to the core and illogical at times," he said. Citing an example, Lenin said, the two finger test of virginity is something which has been done away for being unreasonable and unscientific. But that's a piece of evidence in UP.

Then, systemic slackness fails to set a precedent. About two years ago, a group of 15 mothers lodged a complaint with a police station in Allahabad that the headmaster in local school called their daughter one by one under the pretext of health exam, took their clothes off and touched their private parts, while talking to them in a lewd manner. Though a case was registered, the trial is yet to begin.

Joint registrar, NHRC, Anil Parashar, who unveiled the report, said that not only parents, every sensitive individual living in the society must know what children are at the risk of abuse. "Those living in homes are comparatively safer than their counterparts living in slums, streets and homes," he said adding that UP is home to one-fifth missing children, who are highly vulnerable to abuse. Providing a probable solution to the problem, Anshumali Sharma of Childline said that sex education could be an effective means to generate consciousness among children about sexual abuse. "There is something called a 'good touch' and a 'bad touch'. Then the children can always be told that anyone touching their genitals or asking them to act in an abnormal way is not right," he said. Unfortunately, parents in UP, including those belonging to high educational and socio-economic status realms have reservations to the idea of sex education.

साझा-संस्कृति की विरासत को पुनर्स्थापित किया जाय:डा0 लेनिन

मानवाधिकार जननिगरानी समिति पिछले 20 वर्षो से पिछड़े, वंचित, महिलाओं, बच्चो और मुस्लिम अल्पसंख्यको के मानवाधिकार को स्थापित करने की लड़ाई लड़ रही है | साथ ही पिछड़े, वंचित, महिलाओं, बच्चो और मुस्लिम अल्पसंख्यको को उनके अधिकारों के प्रति जागरूक करके क़ानून का राज स्थापित करने हेतु प्रयासरत है | जिसका प्रभाव पिछले 20 वर्षो में वहां देखने को मिला है जिन समुदायों ने प्रश्न करना शुरू किया है वहां स्थितियाँ बदली हैं|

समिति ने प्रयास और तथ्य परक पैरवी करते हुए कई पीडितो को न्याय से जोड़ते हुए समाज की मुख्यधारा से जोड़ा है | वाराणसी में लगातार प्रयास और पैरवी से आज पिछले 3 वर्षो से कोइ भे फर्जी ईन्काउन्टर नहीं हुआ है | समिति मानवाधिकार आयोग, महिला आयोग, बाल संरक्षण आयोग और अन्य मानवाधिकार संस्थानों के साथ मिलकर लगातार उत्पीडन के केसों को इन आयोगों और स्थानीय प्रशासन के सामने लाती रही है | साथ ही तथ्य परक पैरवी से प्रशासन को भी न्याय दिलाने के लिए बाध्य करती है | क्योकि समिति का मानना है कि इस देश में क़ानून का राज स्थापित हो और क़ानून से बड़ा कोइ भी व्यक्तित्व न हो |

समिति ने चंदौली, मलोखर, फारबिसगंज, सहसपुर, मुरादाबाद, मेरठ और अलीगढ में हुए दंगो की तथ्य परक जांच करते हुए अपनी महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाते हुए सौहार्द्य कायम करने का काम किया है और साथ ही पैरवी की जिसके बाद लगभग सभी जगहों पर मुआवजा मिला और प्रशासन ने निर्दोष लोगो पर से केस हटाया है|

आम तौर पर देखा जाता है कि जो भी इस तरह के साम्प्रदायिक घटना होती है उसमे कुछ कट्टर पंथी लोग ही शामिल होते है | धर्म के नाम पर कुछ अफवाह फैलाकर पूर्वनियोजित तरीके से पूरी घटना को अंजाम दिया जाता है | साथ ही यह भी बहुत चौकाने वाली बात है की जो भीड़ उपद्रव करती है वो स्थानीय बहुत कम होती है बाहरी ज्यादा होती है |

समिति ने जब फैजाबाद में हुए इस अमानवीय घटना की खबर सुनी तो समिति ने इस घटना की बारीकी से तथ्य खोजते हुए पैरवी की | इस तरह की हर घटना में स्थानीय प्रशासन की लापरवाही और सुरक्षा व्यवस्था की पोल खुलती है | लेकिन जिनका संसार लुटता है वो पूरी जिन्दगी पुनर्वास नहीं कर पाते है | फैजाबाद में हुए फसाद से जुड़े कुछ सवाल ये कोई नई बात नहीं कि यूपी पुलिस व प्रशासन अपने ही खुफिया तंत्र की रिपोर्ट को गंभीरता से न लें। इनकी इसी हरकत का नतीजा आज सबके सामने है। वह फैजाबाद, जहां के लोग बाबरी मस्‍जिद विध्‍वंस के वक्‍त खामोश थे, पुलिस व प्रशासनिक की लापरवाही से भड़क उठे । ये हैं वो पांच सवाल जो अगर गंभीरता से लिए जाते तो शहर में शांति कायम रह सकती थी... 

पहला सवाल- यूपी पुलिस की अपनी खुफि‍या एजेंसी और इंटेलिजेंस ब्‍यूरो की रिपोर्ट में फैजाबाद में दुर्गा पूजा, मूर्ति विसर्जन के दौरान बवाल होने की आंशका जताई गई थी तो इस पर कोई ठोस कार्रवाई क्‍यों नहीं की गई?

दूसरा सवाल- पिछले 10 दिनों से धारा 144 लागू थी तो विसर्जन के दौरान छेड़खानी और पत्‍थरबाजी की घटना कैसे हो गई ? बवाल भड़कने के दौरान मौके पर पुलिस क्‍या कर रही थी ?

तीसरा सवाल- रकाबगंज में हुए बवाल के पीछे एक सभासद और एक ब्‍यूटी पार्लर के मालिक का हाथ होना सामने आया है, पुलिस ने अब तक उनकी गिरफ्तारी क्‍यों नहीं की। लोगों का आरोप है कि इस पूरी घटना के पीछे इन्‍हीं के गुर्गों का हाथ है।

चौथा सवाल- लोगों का आरोप है कि घटना के दौरान चौकी प्रभारी ने बेवजह गोलियां चलाईं, जबकि एक इंस्‍पेक्‍टर ने अपनी बयानबाजी से धार्मिक भावनाएं भड़काने का काम किया। इन दोनों के खिलाफ क्‍या कार्रवाइ की जा रही है।

पांचवा सवाल- रात भर पूरा शहर जलता रहा, कई जगह उपद्रव हुए। रोडवेज  बसों, दमकल गाड़ियों और दर्जनों दुकानों में आगजनी हुई, पथराव हुए। और करीब 12 घंटे बाद फैजाबाद में कर्फ्यू लगाया गया।

       यह वह सवाल है जो इस मार्मिक घटना के बाद प्रशासन पर उठ रहे है | साथ ही प्रशासन की संवेदना को दर्शाते है |

       इस घटना की पैरवी संस्था ने राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग नई दिल्ली, माननीय प्रधानमंत्री नई दिल्ली, राष्ट्रीय अल्पसंखक आयोग नई दिल्ली, गृह मंत्रालय भारत सरकार  नई दिल्ली, मुख्यमंत्री उत्तर प्रदेश और पुलिस महानिदेशक लखनऊ को पत्र भेजा जिसमे तथ्य को दर्शाते हुए यह मांग की गयी की इस साम्प्रदायिक एवं निंदनीय अमानवीय घटना की जांच स्वतंत्र एजेंसी से कराई जाय और दोषियों के खिलाफ कठोर कानूनी कार्यवाही की जाय | मृतकों के परिवार और घायलों को जल्द से जल्द मुआवजा दिलाया जाय | साथ ही दीपावली व मुहर्रम के त्यौहार को ध्यान में रखते हुए कड़ी सुरक्षा प्रदान की जाय |

       जिसके बाद इस पर आयोग ने प्रदेश सरकार को नोटिस देते हुए घटना की रिपोर्ट माँगी है | इसके बाद समिति को यह जानकारी हुयी कि 68 लोग ऐसे थे जिनकी आगजनी व लूटपाट में पांच लाख तक की क्षति हुयी, 20 लोग ऐसे थे जिनकी आगजनी व लूटपाट में पांच लाख से बीस लाख तक की क्षति हुयी और 11 लोग ऐसे थे जिनकी आगजनी व लूटपाट में बीस लाख से ज्यादा की क्षति हुयी | इसमें दोनों सम्प्रदाय के लोगो की क्षति हुयी | जिसे देखते हुए समिति ने पुनः माननीय प्रधानमंत्री मांग की कि प्रधानमंत्री द्वारा 15 सूत्रीय कार्यक्रम अल्पसंख्यको के कल्याण के लिए चलाई जा रही उसका हवाला देते हुए अल्पसंख्यको को मुआवजा और पूर्ण पुनर्वासन की मांग की गयी है | साथ ही प्रधामंत्री आपातकालीन राहत कोष से बहुसंख्यक समुदाय को भी उचित मुआवजा व सम्पूर्ण पुनर्वासन की मांग की गयी है |

       इसके अलावा प्रदेश स्तर पर मुख्यमंत्री से भी मुख्यमंत्री आपात राहत कोष से अल्पसंख्यको और बहुसंख्यको को निष्पक्ष जांच कराते हुए पूर्ण मुआवजा व पुनर्वासन के व्यवस्था तुरन्त कराई जाय |

       इसके साथ ही हमारी पाँच मांगे है जिसके पूरा होने से बहुत संभावना है कि साम्प्रदायिक हिंसा होने से रोकी जा सकती है, मांग निम्नवत है :-   

1)     हमारे स्लेबस में इतिहास की पुनः समीक्षा करके नई किताब लाई जाय | खासकर मध्यकालीन इतिहास और आधुनिक इतिहास क्योकि इतिहास में जिस तरह साम्प्रदायिक हिन्दू मुस्लिम के विषय में पढ़ाया जा रहा है वह गलत है, जो भी इतिहास में युद्ध हुए है वो किसी धर्म को लेकर नहीं बल्कि सल्तनत व राज्य को लेकर हुए है |

2)     हमें शिक्षा के मूल्य पर केन्द्रित शिक्षा देने की जरूरत है | आज शिक्षा का मूल उद्देश्य पूरी तरह से व्यवसाय आधारित है मूल्य आधारित नहीं |

3)     तीसरा महत्वपूर्ण बिन्दु पुलिस की कार्य प्रणाली में बदलाव की जरूरत है | हमारी पुलिस भी उसी शिक्षा प्रदाली की पैदाईस है और अल्पसंख्यको और समाज के अन्य कमजोर वर्ग के प्रति उनका नजरिया भी साम्प्रदायिक ही है |

4)     सांप्रदायिक हिंसा लक्षित विधेयक अधिनियमन बनाना | अगर यह क़ानून बन जाता है तो सम्बंधित अधिकारियों की जिम्मेदारिया निर्धारित की जा सकती है | यह विधेयक जिम्मेदार धर्मनिरपेक्ष कार्यकर्ताओं द्वारा बहुत सावधानी से तैयार किया जाय |

5)     विभिन्न धर्मो व जातियों के लोग एक साथ रहे, उनमे मेल मिलाप हो और साझा-संस्कृति की विरासत को पुनर्स्थापित किया जाय |      

This is strength and fortitude

Lenin Raghuvanshi, an atheist and activist, head of the People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh, India).

The pope's resignation shows the perfection of truth, confirming all his teachings and prayers. This is the spirituality of truth. The extraordinary step taken by the head of the Catholic Church is a powerful message of detachment and simplicity to the world. This is real power. It is in keeping with the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. In a world that clamours for power and status, the pope leads the way to the truth as the first pope to resign in over 600 years.

This historic event is a lesson for the international community, that the greatest power is found in truth and the courage of conviction for the good of the whole world.

It is amazing. His Holiness, not only through his spiritual leadership, but also through his frailty, has become the leader of world with insight and wisdom, challenging the logic and sensibilities of the world. This is real power. This is truth. This is strength and fortitude.

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/More-reactions-in-Asia-to-Benedict-XVI's-resignation-27113.html

Invitation

Event on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/514416458614575/

India: Child Sex Abuse Shielded by Silence and Neglect

We know that a lot of abuse is happening, but people don't talk about it.

—Anand Prakash, People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights, Varanasi,

May 2012.

Please find report of Human Rights Watch:

http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/india0113ForUpload.pdf

the Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh, is asked to direct his officers to forward to the Commission all available information in the first instance in future

Case Details of File Number: 40809/24/19/2011
Diary Number	145153
Name of the Complainant	DR. LENIN, GENERAL SECRETARY
Address	MANAVADHIKAR JAN NIGRANI SAMITI, S.A. 4/2A, DAULATPUR,
	VARANASI , UTTAR PRADESH
Name of the Victim	ANANT LAL GUPTA S/O ASHWINI KUMAR
Address	VILLAGE. SIRANTHU,
	KAUSHAMBI , UTTAR PRADESH
Place of Incident	NAUBATPUR
	CHANDAULI , UTTAR PRADESH
Date of Incident	9/26/2011
Direction issued by the Commission	These proceedings are in continuation of the earlier proceedings of the Commission on the death of truck driver the late Shri Anant Kumar Gupta, who was allegedly beaten to death by four Constables and an RTO employee after he refused to pay the demanded bribe of Rs.5,000/-. Initially FIR No. Nil/11 U/S 304 IPC and Section 13 (1) D of the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered on the incident at Police Station Sayyed Raja. However, the place of occurrence being in the jurisdiction of Police Station Alinagar, the case was transferred there and FIR No. 318/11 was registered. A chargesheet has already been filed against all the accused persons except two accused, who were absconding. Considering these facts, the Commission, through its proceedings dat 16.04.2012, ordered issuance of a notice U/S 18 (a) (i) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, to the Government of Uttar Pradesh. The show cause notice has been responded to by the Principal Secretary to the Government of Uttar Pradesh, Transport Department, vide his letter dated 30.07.2012. He says that a compensation of Rs.50,000/- has already been paid to the next of kin of the deceased in compliance of an order dated 27.09.2011 passed by the Uttar Pradesh State Human Rights Commission. This Commission took cognizance in the matter on 29.09.2011 on the basis of a news report carried by the English daily `Hindustan Times' of 27.09.2011. The State Government never informed the Commission earlier that the State Human Rights Commission had also taken cognizance in the matter prior to this Commission. Had the Commission been informed of this fact earlier, it would not have continued with this case. This lapse on the part of the officials of the State has resulted into wastage of a lot of time. Hence, the Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh, is asked to direct his officers to forward to the Commission all available information in the first instance in future. As the State Commission has already ordered compensation and the same has been paid to the next to kin of the deceased, this Commission need not pursue the matter any further and the case is closed. The criminal case filed shall be pursued in accordance with law. A copy of these proceedings be sent to the Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh, for information and necessary action. LINK CASE NO. : 40567/24/19/2011 43275/24/19/2011 46220/24/19/2011
Action Taken	Concluded and No Further Action Required (Dated 12/17/2012 )
Status on 2/7/2013	The Case is Closed.

Note: For further details kindly contact National Human Rights Commission, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi, PIN 110001 Tel.No. 23385368 Fax No. 23384863 E-Mail: covdnhrc@hub.nic.in

HRD Alert-India - Urgent Appeal for Action – Uttar Pradesh/Varanasi: Death Threats and Intimidation to human rights defenders of PVCHR and Women Survivors

Human Rights Defenders Alert - India

National Coordination Office

No.6, Vallabhai Road, Chokkikulam, Madurai 625 002, Tamil Nadu, INDIA

Tel: +91-452-2539520 Cell Phone: +91-9994368540 Email:hrda.india@gmail.com

January 28, 2013

Front Line - The International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders 
Head Office, Second Floor, Grattan House, Temple Road, Blackrock,
Co Dublin, Ireland, Tel: +353 (0)1 212 3750, Fax: +353 (0)1 212 1001 
E-mail: info@frontlinedefenders.org, caitrionarice@frontlinedefenders.org

Dear Sir,

Sub: HRD Alert-India - Urgent Appeal for Action – Uttar Pradesh/Varanasi:  Death Threats and Intimidation to human rights defenders of PVCHR and Women Survivors – Reg

Greetings from Human Rights Defenders Alert - India!

HRD Alert - India is a Forum of Human Rights Defenders for Human Rights Defenders. It endeavours to initiate actions on behalf of Human Rights Defenders under threat or with security concerns.

We are now writing to express our grave concern over the Threats to human rights defenders of PVCHR and Women Survivors in Varanasi. We are submitting this complaint based on the information received from the Urgent Appeals Desk of the Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR).

 Incident:

Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) Secretary General / Executive Director Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi received a notice from police station of Catt in Varanasi on January 24, 2013 at around 2.30 pm on complain of perpetrator  Mr. Sunil Kumar Gupta on 16 January 2013, the day when the news were published after the press conference of survivor Mrs. Sapana Chaurasiya. But no action on complain on 3 December and 5 December 2012 about violence against woman, threat on December 16 and 20, 2012 by husband of Mrs. Sapana to Shruti Nagvanshi & Lenin Raghuvanshi respectively and again threat on Lenins’ mobile on 16 January 2013.

Background Information:

   PVCHR office received a 23-year-old woman Sapana Chaurasiya who was in trouble due to the atrocities by her husband. He used to abuse her every now and then, attacked her dignity in public by humiliating her in front of people, sexually assaulted her and made MMS. She suffered all this at the hand of her husband. She was not allowed to talk to any of the relatives, friends or neighbours and was threatened of dire consequences if she would speak to someone.

    It is possible that his previous wife too was tortured like this and out of frustration she committed suicide in the house. However he could convince the in-laws and there was no case filed against him therefore he has a high spirit to commit such offences against the woman he marry. He would take names of musclemen while talking and flaunt their names as in close proximity. One the victim tried lodging a complaint with the Khojwa police-out-post but instead of listening to her woes the cops there tried to convince and threaten her to go back.

    Once when she was upset with the torture of her husband she escaped to her mother’s house. But then he sent her a packet in which there were her clothes that were cut in to tiny pieces. He told her that I have sent your clothes now but if you do not return back soon I will do the same with your children so if she wanted has children to live she should come back. Even then she refused to go back. Then her brother Shyamsunder was lifted by cops and held captive in the police station. He was set free only when she went back.

 Testimony of Sapana Chaurasiya:

     I am Sapana Chaurasiya age 23 years. My mother is Munni Devi and father late Ramnarayan Chaurasia, a resident of Samne Ghat (Shivaji Nagar Colony) police station Lanka, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. We are a family with two brothers and four sisters, of which I am the youngest sister.

    I was sent by my mother along with a neighbourhood woman Kiran, who used to frequent our place often in Shivaji Nagar to get a picture clicked for my marriage. After getting the picture clicked the woman took me to Sandesh restaurant telling she wanted to offer me some sweets. But after some time there came a man called Sunil son of Kanhaiya Gupta, resident of B24/151, Kashmiri Ganj, Ram Mandir, Khojwa, police station Bhelupur along with few other friends. He came with friends Vinod, Dhobi, Banti and Lamboo and a lawyer and asked me to sign a paper. I started crying when they forced me to do so and I said how could I do this how could I marry like this? I told them my mother was not here and I cannot sign but Kiran forced me to sign. This was June 26, 2005.

     Four days later I was forced to marry with him at a Shiv temple and he then took me home. As soon as I reached his home he started misbehaving with me in front of his other family members and when I resisted he slapped me in front of them. I was not aware about his family till then. It was after reaching his house that I got to know he had a son and a daughter (who were 17 and 15 years of age by then). I was not aware of all this till then. By the evening I told him that I will not stay any more with him then he convinced me to stay on making an excuse of illness. I thought it to be fait accompli and became ready to stay.

     But my husband was a horrible man who abused me every now and then. There was nothing in between us as there is a sweet relationship between husband and wife in common. He never treated me like wife. Whenever I asked to leave for my mother’s house he would refuse permission. He made sure I do not talk to anyone in his family, among his relatives or friends. He had asked everyone and threatened them to stay away from me.

     He never treated me like a wife is treated by her husband and neither did his family members considered me their daughter-in-law. In fact I never got treated as human in that house. My parents were not allowed to some and see me either.

     My husband made MMS of our physical relationships and whenever I refused to make a relationship he threatened me that he would make those MMS public and defame me. He regularly threatened me that he would kill my brother.

    His previous wife too had committed suicide probably out of this behavior in the house. However in absence of a legal case he is thinking himself safe.

    My husband has been involved in many criminal activities. He takes names of musclemen while talking and flaunt their names as in close proximity. Once I had gone to lodge a complaint with the Khojwa police-out-post but instead of listening to her woes the cops there tried to convince and threaten me to go back.

    Once when I was upset with the torture and escaped to her mother’s house he had sent me a packet in which there were clothes that was cut in to tiny pieces. He told me that I have sent your clothes now but if you do not return back soon I will do the same with your children so if I wanted children to live I should come back. Even then I refused to go back. Then my brother Shyamsunder was lifted by cops and held captive in the police station. He was set free only when I went back.

    Sunil used to inject me medicines meant for mentally challenged person to make me mentally weak. My face went dry and I could not even take care of my little son who is 5 years old. When I became very ill due to the adverse impact of the medicines I was admitted to Banaras Hindu University (BHU) under a famous psychiatrist. There at the hospital the counselor asked me why I was not willing to live with my husband but out of fear I could not tell them the exact situation. Sunil has already fed the doctors and staff that his wife was not willing to live with him neither did she wanted to go anywhere with him.

  Sunil used to change his behavior in front of others and acted as if he loved me a lot. His acting could have confused anyone. Sunil continuously tried to make me mentally weak and often said if I die he would get enormous money. He had got my life insurance done.

  Once when I was under serious impact of the medicine he gave me a horrible hair cut and then called up everyone to show me and said see she has gone mad and done such a haircut. I was unable to understand anything then and thought what was going on with me. Even today thinking of those days gives me chill.

   If I go back my husband will kill me. I love my son a lot and want to live for him. To all I plead that if they want me to live I shall not be sent back to my husband’s house as I cannot live with him in any condition. I shall be given divorce and my son should be saved.

Addittional Information:

   On 5^th December, 2012 PVCHR sent letter to Director General of Police, National Women Commission, National Human Rights Commission, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Home Secretary, Central Home Secretary, Senior Superintendent of Police and Shri Rahul Gandhi.

   DGP complaint cell took cognizance and NHRC issued notice to Senior Superintendent of Police in case no. 42218/24/72/2012/UC dated 15 December, 2012 http://www.pvchr.net/2012/12/heard-to-unheard.html. In spite of taking action police is giving threat to Sapana Chaurasiya’s brother Shyam Sunder and due to fear he ranged to Sapana and said that she had to produce in Bhelupur police station for making statement.

    Sunil Gupta along with one person came to PVCHR office on 16^th December, 2012 at 8:30 pm when Lenin Raghuvanshi was in Mumbai. He talked with Ms. Shruti Nagvanshi, Managing Trustee of PVCHR for more than 45 minutes and continuously making pressure and willingness to meet his wife. Again Sunil Gupta came nearly 8.30 AM of 20^th December, 2012 to office and threaten to Dr. Lenin.  Lenin received treat call on his mobile +91-9935599333 from mobile number +91-9452302585 on 11:52 AM of 16^th January 2013 and Lenin immediately filed complain to NHRC and SSP, Varanasi by registered letter and email. http://www.petition-nhrc.blogspot.in/2013/01/fwd-0.html

After all interventions and no action or negative action by Varanasi police, Survivor Sapana organized press conference on 23 January 2013 and media published in very sensitive way.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/121959479/News-related-cases-of-Sapana-Chaurasiya

    On 24 January 24, 2013 Lenin received notice from police on complain of perpetrator Mr. Sunil Kumar Gupta on 16 January 2013 to superintendent of police (City).SP (City) Varanasi immediately issued letter to Circle office of Cantt area in Varanasi to inquiry against letter by letter number S.T./Nagar-05/13 Dated 16 January 2013. It is a threat to the security of Sapana and the activists of PVCHR. Immediately again Lenin petitioned to NHRC, Home Secretaries at central and state, Governor of UP, Chief Minister, DGP, IG,SSP and SP City. http://www.pvchr.net/2013/01/blog-post_24.html

 Testimony Of Lenin Raghuvanshi:

 The victim Sunita Chaurasia had conducted a press conference on January 23, 2013 and the related news items got published the next day.On January 24, 2013 the day when the news were published a constable from the Cantonment police station reached my place at around 2.30 pm and gave a notice.

The notice read that on the basis of the complaint filed by perpetrator Mr Sunil Kumar Gupta on January 16, 2013 a probe is being conducted by the SP (city) Varanasi.

It may be mentioned that on December 20, 2012 Sunil Kumar Gupta had come to my office and threatened me and after that I had filed a complaint letter with the senior superintendent of police, Varanasi through registered post ( Registry Number: EU13130760IN dated December 21, 2012).

But there has been no action on my letter. In the letter I had written that Sunil Kumar Gupta has threatened to get the organization trapped viciously. Not only this the women cell of the Varanasi police has been threatening and pressurizing after the victim Sapna Chaurasia wrote a letter on December 03, 2012 and the letter sent by me on December 05, 2012. After this the victim Sapana again sent a letter on January 19, 2013 against misbehave of women cell of district police and myself on January 22, 2013 to the senior superintendent of police about mal-treatment by patriarchal women cell of police in Varanasi.

   Not only this, the National Human Rights Commission(NHRC) has directed the SSP, Varanasi through its letter on December 15, 2012 to probe the matter and sent back a report in 4 weeks (case number 42218/24/72/2012/UC). Apart from this the Varanasi police has hushed up the matter of unnatural death by hanging of Soni Gupta the first wife of Sunil Kumar Gupta in 2002 (post mortem report number 1280/2002). This indicates the connection and power of Sunil Kumar Gupta and the role of Varanasi police.

If the statement of Sapna Chaurasia in affidavit given before the SSP, Varanasi is read  and her video statement is viewed http://vimeo.com/55757055, then it is clear that Sapna Chaurasia has named Sunil Kumar Gupta to be involved in several illegal actions and she has also said that he used to name mafiaso. I have also got calls from several white collar people in the city to get myself away from this case.

I fully understand that the police-mafia nexus might make attempt to kill me or my family members or try to get me trapped in bogus case. I have been threatened so on December 20, 2012 and January 16, 2013.

Therefore, I request that I, my family, Sapna Chaurasia and her family be protected and a probe should be conducted at high level by the CBCID or CBI due to involvement of corrupts in all sectors such as media, police, NGOs, lawyers, relatives etc, because I received many calls and advises from them to withdrawal my petition and support. First time in my life, I am feeling that my death is so near. I believe in life before death like Jesus, so I am going to fight up to my death against corrupt and patriarchal elements. If I will be died, please support to people of PVCHR and provide care to my son. It is my testimony on the birthday of my son Kabeer karunik on 24 January 2013.     

 More information:

It has been 65 years since India — the largest democracy in the world — attained independence.

Yet, justice for all is still a far cry in the country where the caste system continues to determine political, social, and economic lives of a billion people.
Money and muscle power, together with political string-pulling, often result in denial of justice for the hapless ‘have-nots’, especially the Dalits (untouchables), ravaged by poverty and illiteracy.

Atrocities and extortion on the Dalits, fake encounters, refusal to register complaints against the well-heeled, arbitrary arrests on false charges, illegal detention and custodial deaths are in commonplace.

In the absence of a modern social audit system, the keepers of the law often unleash a ‘police raj’, especially in rural India. A crippled National Human Rights Commission and its state subsidiaries with limited recommendatory control and a dysfunctional Legal Aid System depict a gloomy picture indeed.

In a unique way, Lenin Raghuvanshi, a veteran human rights activist, fighting the case-studies primarily drawn from Uttar Pradesh, registering the highest rate of crime against the Dalits, chronicles how with implicit support from the administration, the Dalits are tortured and subjected to humiliation by the higher castes, like being garlanded with shoes, their faces blackened or being forced to ride an ass; yet, in most of the cases, violence, deaths or custodial tortures that are committed against the marginalised and deprived castes go unrecorded.

Ironically, even after having shed the colonial yoke, its legacy continues in the administrative framework of our independent India marked with widespread corruption which has rendered many government-sponsored schemes in rural India a failure.

Lenin Raghuvanshi, an Ayurvedic physician by profession, has been working for the rights of bonded and child labourers and other marginalised people in Varanasi and eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, India. In 1996, he and his wife Shruti founded People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Right (PVCHR), a community-based organisation, to break the closed, feudal hierarchies of conservative slums and villages by building up local institutions and supporting them with a high profile and active human rights network.

He has become the symbol of nonviolent resistance among millions of Dalits fighting for dignity. For his commitment in favour of marginalized people, he has periodically suffered death threats.

Already an Ashoka Fellow, Lenin was the President, United Nations’ Youth Organisation (UNYO),Uttar Pradesh (India) Chapter. Lenin’s work has been recognised with Gwangju Human Rights Award for 2007. In 2009, in collaboration with the Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victim (RCT), Denmark, Lenin developed Testimonial Models for torture survivors in India. City Council of Weimar in Germany selected Lenin Raghuvanshi for the International Human Rights Award for 2010.

Appeal

We, therefore, urge you to immediately take necessary steps to

1. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi as well as all human rights defenders in India;

2. Order an immediate, thorough, effective, transparent and impartial investigation into the issue of death threats against Dr. Lenin, the result of which must be made public, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunal and apply to them the penal sanctions provided by the law;

3. Put an end to acts of harassment and threats against Dr. Lenin more generally, against all human rights defenders in India;

4. Ensure that protection and security be provided to Human Rights Defender Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi;

5. Conform to the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1998, especially:

- its Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”;

- its Article 6(a), which provides that “everyone has the right, individually and in associations with others, to know, seek, obtain, receive and hold information about all human rights and fundamental freedoms”;

- and its Article 12.2, which states that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”.

6. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by India.

Looking forward to your immediate action in this regard,

Yours sincerely,

Henri Tiphagne

Hon. National Working Secretary,

Human Rights Defenders Alert - India

 Useful Links:

Testimony of Sapana Chaurasiya in Video:  http://vimeo.com/55757055

Urgent appeal by PVCHR in Hindi: http://www.pvchr.net/2012/12/heard-to-unheard.html

Testimony in Hindi: http://myselfsuffering.blogspot.in/2012/12/blog-post.html

  MODEL APPEAL

(Your Organization / Individual Letterhead)

Date:

Address:

Sir / Ma’am,

(A line introducing yourself / your organization)

We are now writing to express our grave concern over the Threats to human rights defenders of PVCHR and Women Survivors in Varanasi. We are submitting this complaint based on the information received from the Urgent Appeals Desk of the Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR).

 Incident:

Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) Secretary General / Executive Director Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi received a notice from police station of Catt in Varanasi on January 24, 2013 at around 2.30 pm on complain of perpetrator  Mr. Sunil Kumar Gupta on 16 January 2013, the day when the news were published after the press conference of survivor Mrs. Sapana Chaurasiya. But no action on complain on 3 December and 5 December 2012 about violence against woman, threat on December 16 and 20, 2012 by husband of Mrs. Sapana to Shruti Nagvanshi & Lenin Raghuvanshi respectively and again threat on Lenins’ mobile on 16 January 2013.

Background Information:

   PVCHR office received a 23-year-old woman Sapana Chaurasiya who was in trouble due to the atrocities by her husband. He used to abuse her every now and then, attacked her dignity in public by humiliating her in front of people, sexually assaulted her and made MMS. She suffered all this at the hand of her husband. She was not allowed to talk to any of the relatives, friends or neighbours and was threatened of dire consequences if she would speak to someone.

    It is possible that his previous wife too was tortured like this and out of frustration she committed suicide in the house. However he could convince the in-laws and there was no case filed against him therefore he has a high spirit to commit such offences against the woman he marry. He would take names of musclemen while talking and flaunt their names as in close proximity. One the victim tried lodging a complaint with the Khojwa police-out-post but instead of listening to her woes the cops there tried to convince and threaten her to go back.

    Once when she was upset with the torture of her husband she escaped to her mother’s house. But then he sent her a packet in which there were her clothes that were cut in to tiny pieces. He told her that I have sent your clothes now but if you do not return back soon I will do the same with your children so if she wanted has children to live she should come back. Even then she refused to go back. Then her brother Shyamsunder was lifted by cops and held captive in the police station. He was set free only when she went back.

 Testimony of Sapana Chaurasiya:

     I am Sapana Chaurasiya age 23 years. My mother is Munni Devi and father late Ramnarayan Chaurasia, a resident of Samne Ghat (Shivaji Nagar Colony) police station Lanka, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. We are a family with two brothers and four sisters, of which I am the youngest sister.

    I was sent by my mother along with a neighbourhood woman Kiran, who used to frequent our place often in Shivaji Nagar to get a picture clicked for my marriage. After getting the picture clicked the woman took me to Sandesh restaurant telling she wanted to offer me some sweets. But after some time there came a man called Sunil son of Kanhaiya Gupta, resident of B24/151, Kashmiri Ganj, Ram Mandir, Khojwa, police station Bhelupur along with few other friends. He came with friends Vinod, Dhobi, Banti and Lamboo and a lawyer and asked me to sign a paper. I started crying when they forced me to do so and I said how could I do this how could I marry like this? I told them my mother was not here and I cannot sign but Kiran forced me to sign. This was June 26, 2005.

     Four days later I was forced to marry with him at a Shiv temple and he then took me home. As soon as I reached his home he started misbehaving with me in front of his other family members and when I resisted he slapped me in front of them. I was not aware about his family till then. It was after reaching his house that I got to know he had a son and a daughter (who were 17 and 15 years of age by then). I was not aware of all this till then. By the evening I told him that I will not stay any more with him then he convinced me to stay on making an excuse of illness. I thought it to be fait accompli and became ready to stay.

     But my husband was a horrible man who abused me every now and then. There was nothing in between us as there is a sweet relationship between husband and wife in common. He never treated me like wife. Whenever I asked to leave for my mother’s house he would refuse permission. He made sure I do not talk to anyone in his family, among his relatives or friends. He had asked everyone and threatened them to stay away from me.

     He never treated me like a wife is treated by her husband and neither did his family members considered me their daughter-in-law. In fact I never got treated as human in that house. My parents were not allowed to some and see me either.

     My husband made MMS of our physical relationships and whenever I refused to make a relationship he threatened me that he would make those MMS public and defame me. He regularly threatened me that he would kill my brother.

    His previous wife too had committed suicide probably out of this behavior in the house. However in absence of a legal case he is thinking himself safe.

    My husband has been involved in many criminal activities. He takes names of musclemen while talking and flaunt their names as in close proximity. Once I had gone to lodge a complaint with the Khojwa police-out-post but instead of listening to her woes the cops there tried to convince and threaten me to go back.

    Once when I was upset with the torture and escaped to her mother’s house he had sent me a packet in which there were clothes that was cut in to tiny pieces. He told me that I have sent your clothes now but if you do not return back soon I will do the same with your children so if I wanted children to live I should come back. Even then I refused to go back. Then my brother Shyamsunder was lifted by cops and held captive in the police station. He was set free only when I went back.

    Sunil used to inject me medicines meant for mentally challenged person to make me mentally weak. My face went dry and I could not even take care of my little son who is 5 years old. When I became very ill due to the adverse impact of the medicines I was admitted to Banaras Hindu University (BHU) under a famous psychiatrist. There at the hospital the counselor asked me why I was not willing to live with my husband but out of fear I could not tell them the exact situation. Sunil has already fed the doctors and staff that his wife was not willing to live with him neither did she wanted to go anywhere with him.

  Sunil used to change his behavior in front of others and acted as if he loved me a lot. His acting could have confused anyone. Sunil continuously tried to make me mentally weak and often said if I die he would get enormous money. He had got my life insurance done.

  Once when I was under serious impact of the medicine he gave me a horrible hair cut and then called up everyone to show me and said see she has gone mad and done such a haircut. I was unable to understand anything then and thought what was going on with me. Even today thinking of those days gives me chill.

   If I go back my husband will kill me. I love my son a lot and want to live for him. To all I plead that if they want me to live I shall not be sent back to my husband’s house as I cannot live with him in any condition. I shall be given divorce and my son should be saved.

Addittional Information:

   On 5^th December, 2012 PVCHR sent letter to Director General of Police, National Women Commission, National Human Rights Commission, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Home Secretary, Central Home Secretary, Senior Superintendent of Police and Shri Rahul Gandhi.

   DGP complaint cell took cognizance and NHRC issued notice to Senior Superintendent of Police in case no. 42218/24/72/2012/UC dated 15 December, 2012 http://www.pvchr.net/2012/12/heard-to-unheard.html. In spite of taking action police is giving threat to Sapana Chaurasiya’s brother Shyam Sunder and due to fear he ranged to Sapana and said that she had to produce in Bhelupur police station for making statement.

    Sunil Gupta along with one person came to PVCHR office on 16^th December, 2012 at 8:30 pm when Lenin Raghuvanshi was in Mumbai. He talked with Ms. Shruti Nagvanshi, Managing Trustee of PVCHR for more than 45 minutes and continuously making pressure and willingness to meet his wife. Again Sunil Gupta came nearly 8.30 AM of 20^th December, 2012 to office and threaten to Dr. Lenin.  Lenin received treat call on his mobile +91-9935599333 from mobile number +91-9452302585 on 11:52 AM of 16^th January 2013 and Lenin immediately filed complain to NHRC and SSP, Varanasi by registered letter and email. http://www.petition-nhrc.blogspot.in/2013/01/fwd-0.html

After all interventions and no action or negative action by Varanasi police, Survivor Sapana organized press conference on 23 January 2013 and media published in very sensitive way.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/121959479/News-related-cases-of-Sapana-Chaurasiya

    On 24 January 24, 2013 Lenin received notice from police on complain of perpetrator Mr. Sunil Kumar Gupta on 16 January 2013 to superintendent of police (City).SP (City) Varanasi immediately issued letter to Circle office of Cantt area in Varanasi to inquiry against letter by letter number S.T./Nagar-05/13 Dated 16 January 2013. It is a threat to the security of Sapana and the activists of PVCHR. Immediately again Lenin petitioned to NHRC, Home Secretaries at central and state, Governor of UP, Chief Minister, DGP, IG,SSP and SP City. http://www.pvchr.net/2013/01/blog-post_24.html

 Testimony Of Lenin Raghuvanshi:

 The victim Sunita Chaurasia had conducted a press conference on January 23, 2013 and the related news items got published the next day.On January 24, 2013 the day when the news were published a constable from the Cantonment police station reached my place at around 2.30 pm and gave a notice.

The notice read that on the basis of the complaint filed by perpetrator Mr Sunil Kumar Gupta on January 16, 2013 a probe is being conducted by the SP (city) Varanasi.

It may be mentioned that on December 20, 2012 Sunil Kumar Gupta had come to my office and threatened me and after that I had filed a complaint letter with the senior superintendent of police, Varanasi through registered post ( Registry Number: EU13130760IN dated December 21, 2012).

But there has been no action on my letter. In the letter I had written that Sunil Kumar Gupta has threatened to get the organization trapped viciously. Not only this the women cell of the Varanasi police has been threatening and pressurizing after the victim Sapna Chaurasia wrote a letter on December 03, 2012 and the letter sent by me on December 05, 2012. After this the victim Sapana again sent a letter on January 19, 2013 against misbehave of women cell of district police and myself on January 22, 2013 to the senior superintendent of police about mal-treatment by patriarchal women cell of police in Varanasi.

   Not only this, the National Human Rights Commission(NHRC) has directed the SSP, Varanasi through its letter on December 15, 2012 to probe the matter and sent back a report in 4 weeks (case number 42218/24/72/2012/UC). Apart from this the Varanasi police has hushed up the matter of unnatural death by hanging of Soni Gupta the first wife of Sunil Kumar Gupta in 2002 (post mortem report number 1280/2002). This indicates the connection and power of Sunil Kumar Gupta and the role of Varanasi police.

If the statement of Sapna Chaurasia in affidavit given before the SSP, Varanasi is read  and her video statement is viewed http://vimeo.com/55757055, then it is clear that Sapna Chaurasia has named Sunil Kumar Gupta to be involved in several illegal actions and she has also said that he used to name mafiaso. I have also got calls from several white collar people in the city to get myself away from this case.

I fully understand that the police-mafia nexus might make attempt to kill me or my family members or try to get me trapped in bogus case. I have been threatened so on December 20, 2012 and January 16, 2013.

Therefore, I request that I, my family, Sapna Chaurasia and her family be protected and a probe should be conducted at high level by the CBCID or CBI due to involvement of corrupts in all sectors such as media, police, NGOs, lawyers, relatives etc, because I received many calls and advises from them to withdrawal my petition and support. First time in my life, I am feeling that my death is so near. I believe in life before death like Jesus, so I am going to fight up to my death against corrupt and patriarchal elements. If I will be died, please support to people of PVCHR and provide care to my son. It is my testimony on the birthday of my son Kabeer karunik on 24 January 2013.     

 More information:

It has been 65 years since India — the largest democracy in the world — attained independence.

Yet, justice for all is still a far cry in the country where the caste system continues to determine political, social, and economic lives of a billion people.
Money and muscle power, together with political string-pulling, often result in denial of justice for the hapless ‘have-nots’, especially the Dalits (untouchables), ravaged by poverty and illiteracy.

Atrocities and extortion on the Dalits, fake encounters, refusal to register complaints against the well-heeled, arbitrary arrests on false charges, illegal detention and custodial deaths are in commonplace.

In the absence of a modern social audit system, the keepers of the law often unleash a ‘police raj’, especially in rural India. A crippled National Human Rights Commission and its state subsidiaries with limited recommendatory control and a dysfunctional Legal Aid System depict a gloomy picture indeed.

In a unique way, Lenin Raghuvanshi, a veteran human rights activist, fighting the case-studies primarily drawn from Uttar Pradesh, registering the highest rate of crime against the Dalits, chronicles how with implicit support from the administration, the Dalits are tortured and subjected to humiliation by the higher castes, like being garlanded with shoes, their faces blackened or being forced to ride an ass; yet, in most of the cases, violence, deaths or custodial tortures that are committed against the marginalised and deprived castes go unrecorded.

Ironically, even after having shed the colonial yoke, its legacy continues in the administrative framework of our independent India marked with widespread corruption which has rendered many government-sponsored schemes in rural India a failure.

Lenin Raghuvanshi, an Ayurvedic physician by profession, has been working for the rights of bonded and child labourers and other marginalised people in Varanasi and eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, India. In 1996, he and his wife Shruti founded People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Right (PVCHR), a community-based organisation, to break the closed, feudal hierarchies of conservative slums and villages by building up local institutions and supporting them with a high profile and active human rights network.

He has become the symbol of nonviolent resistance among millions of Dalits fighting for dignity. For his commitment in favour of marginalized people, he has periodically suffered death threats.

Already an Ashoka Fellow, Lenin was the President, United Nations’ Youth Organisation (UNYO),Uttar Pradesh (India) Chapter. Lenin’s work has been recognised with Gwangju Human Rights Award for 2007. In 2009, in collaboration with the Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victim (RCT), Denmark, Lenin developed Testimonial Models for torture survivors in India. City Council of Weimar in Germany selected Lenin Raghuvanshi for the International Human Rights Award for 2010.

Appeal

We, therefore, urge you to immediately take necessary steps to

1. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi as well as all human rights defenders in India;

2. Order an immediate, thorough, effective, transparent and impartial investigation into the issue of death threats against Dr. Lenin, the result of which must be made public, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunal and apply to them the penal sanctions provided by the law;

3. Put an end to acts of harassment and threats against Dr. Lenin more generally, against all human rights defenders in India;

4. Ensure that pprotection and security be provided to Human Rights Defender Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi;

5. Conform to the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1998, especially:

- its Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”;

- its Article 6(a), which provides that “everyone has the right, individually and in associations with others, to know, seek, obtain, receive and hold information about all human rights and fundamental freedoms”;

- and its Article 12.2, which states that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”.

6. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by India.

Looking forward to your immediate action in this regard,

Yours sincerely,

Address:

1.     The 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

2.     Shri A. K. Parashar

Focal Point - Human Rights Defenders

National Human Rights Commission

Faridkot House

Copernicus Marg

New Delhi-110001

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

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

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

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

9.     OMCT International Secretariat
PO Box 21
8, rue du Vieux-Billard
1211 Geneva 8
Switzerland
Phone: + 41 22 809 4939
Fax: + 41 22 809 4929
E-mail: omct@omct.org

10.  Front Line - The International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders 
Head Office, Second Floor, Grattan House, Temple Road, Blackrock,
Co Dublin, Ireland, Tel: +353 (0)1 212 3750, Fax: +353 (0)1 212 1001 
E-mail: info@frontlinedefenders.org, caitrionarice@frontlinedefenders.org

11.  Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development

Baan Vichien, Apartment 3B,

220 Sukhumvit 49/12 Klongton Nua, Wattana,

Bangkok, 10110, Thailand

Email: hrd@forum-asia.org

yap@forum-asia.org

12.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