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January 28, 2013
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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 5th 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 16th 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 20th 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 16th 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.
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
(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 5th 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 16th 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 20th 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 16th 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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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