BURNING
LIVES IN BARKAGOAN VILLAGE: A NON-VIOLENCE STUGGLE TO PROTECT FERTILE LAND- A
STRUGGE TO SAVE HUMAN DIGNITY
India-
A group of vulnerable villagers are being forcefully displaced in the district
of Hazaribagh, located in the state of Jharkhand. These people primarily are
minorities, backward caste, and their villages (thirty five villages in eight blocks
in Hazaribagh) are deeply affected (traumatized) by police firing and state violence.
Issue-
Forceful land acquisition (on negligible lower rates) from
backwards, minorities and poor villagers by State, police and NTPC; Displaced person
being victimized instead of providing livelihood.
17th
May 2016, Jharkhand
Dear friends,
A NTPC power plant is being
built in the area of Chatra, located in the district of Hazaribagh of Jharkhand
state- obviously they require coal to function the plant. For this purpose a contract
has been allocated to extract coal to Thriveni Earthmovers and Sainik Mining. And coal will be extracted from Barkagaon village
in Hazaribagh. Concerned land is very fertile and considered life line of
villagers since villagers are able to grow many crops within a year. Smell of gudhe (a sugar cane product) from
this village is well known. Thus, villagers are reluctant to sell their land,
and have been protesting and staging a non-violent movement against forceful
land grabbing.
Villagers blame government who
is forcefully grabbing their land without their consent through gram sabhas, as is mandatory under the
Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest
Rights) Act, 2006. Meanwhile process of coal extraction
has been speed up. Since 2004 the local people are proactive and
united to protect their lands from these companies. In
order to protest, on 15th September, 2016, affected villagers under
the leadership of M.L.A Nirmala Devi started KAFAN SATYAGRAH, non – violent
Gandhian struggle in the Dadi Kala on Barkagaon village. After few days of the protest on 1st
October, 2016 the police did firing in which four villagers were killed and more than 20
injured.
1. On 2nd October, 2016, a police case
registered against the unknowns vide Barkagaon PS case no. 228/16 under section 147, 148, 149, 341,
342, 323, 324, 325, 326, 307, 332, 333, 353, 188, 427, 109, 224, 337, 338, 120
B. The complainant is ASP Kuldeep kumar.
2. On 17th May, a police case registered
against the unknowns vide Barkagaon PS case no. 135/16 under section 147, 148, 149, 341,
342, 323, 332, 333, 337, 353, 153 AA, 307, 120 (B), 407, 504. The complainant
is Executive Magaistrate, Sadar, Hazaribaghh.
3.
On 30/07/16, a police case was
registered against the party leaders and 450 unknowns for entering the mining
area vide Barkagaon PS case no 178/16 u/s 143, 109, 186, 447, 34 u/s 57(3) of
Coal Mines Regulation Act and u/s 46(8) of Mines Act. The complainant is the
NTPC Manager.
On
28th January, 2017, a team from People
Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) and Sangram Samiti went to assess
the severity of situation in affected area (by police firing and violence) in Hazaribagh-
an incidence in which many villagers have lost their lives. Combined team of
NGO have provided psychological and social support to fifty one victims. Although
this incidence of police violence has been widely reported in media, however, a
visit to the affected area was considered necessary in order to have clearer
picture of the situation. Some people, after receiving compensation- due to the
fear of police- run away from the village and some-to save their lives-left
without anything. However, what is more painful is that women-who are senior
citizens-have to take shelter in agricultural fields. They are living in fields
due to the fear from police but still have continued their struggle. People in
large numbers, are participating in this struggle. Since government is forcefully
grabbing their lands thus villagers are compelled to struggle for justice.
Irony is that, rather than
helping villagers political parties are indulged in blame game among
themselves. Affected villagers- families of Dalits, women, children, and
minorities have been deprived from their minimum human rights. There is lack of
security, protection and rehabilitation efforts. I want to draw your attention towards India
as a State of emerging corporate fascism https://www.upr-info.org/sites/default/files/document/india/session_27_-_may_2017/pvchr_upr27_ind_e_main.pdf
Silencing
the voice by bullets-
Government authorities and
NTPC administration has breached all moral limits on the 16th Day of
Satyagrah andolan- in order to dismantle the villagers andolan, police
indiscriminately opened fire killing and wounding helpless villagers including
children and women. Some children suffered bullet shot while going to coaching
institute, some men and women received bullet wounds while working in
agricultural field. Many villagers suffered bullet injuries on head, chest and
badly wounded. In this painful incident, many mother has lost their children,
some have lost their loved one. Humanity has lost humane touch in this
shameless event.
Narrative
of victims-
Name- Majdan Khatun. Age- 70,
Village- Chepakhurd, Post- Chipakala,
Police station- Badakagao,
District- Hazaribaghh (Kodrma, Jharkhand), Name of my husband is Muhmmod Ali. I am
Muslim. My economic situation is very poor. Somehow we are surviving. It was
truly painful to lose my child during Kafan Satyagrah. I never knew I would
lose piece of my heart in such a manner.
I
remember the unfortunate day, when my 27 years old son, Mehtab was shot dead by
police while returning to home after natures call. I remember our peaceful
Satyagrah andoln was going on; then- in order to stop andoln- police opened
firing. We were at home at that time. Some people from my village informed me
that my son has been shot. I was shell shocked. Our family went to search for my
son. There was absolute chaos everywhere in the village. People were running to
save their lives. There were voices of cries. My husband, who was crying, went
to police to inquire about my son, but they did not respond. After sometime, my
husband was able to find the dead body of my son; His body was in police van.
When my husband demanded my son’s body, police men told him to get lost
otherwise he will be shot too, police ignored my husband’s plea to return the
body of our son and they took his body for post-mortem.
Next
day, when my son’s body bought to home, we were all full of sorrow and sadness;
there was feeling of gloom everywhere in our home. All villagers have assembled
in front of our home. We have lost our senses on seeing the dead body of our
young son. Our daughter-in-law was shell shocked. We did not know what to do.
Villagers helped us to bury the body of our son.
I
never imagine losing my young son in front of my eyes- in such an old age. If
police have provided him timely medical treatment he would have been saved; his
children would have never lost their father. I feel sorry and pity when I see
my son’s children. How they are going to live; how I am going to spend life. I
had sleepless night and constantly worry just thinking about the uncertainties
about the future.
Horn
of police-vehicle: enough to scare women in village-
Women in village are so
scared hearing any sound of vehicle they run away towards agricultural field;
even if some journalist come to meet them, these women do come out of their home
fearing the terror of police violence. Only when journalist assured women about
their professional identity then they come out to meet them. Those who dared to
talk to journalist, are terrorized and traumatized by the terror of police;
they say their lives are in danger and most of them are injured; and some of
them have lost their lives; even some of the bodies could not be traced [shot
during the police firing].
Narrative
of the victim
Name- Mujija Khatu- wife of
Rakeeb Ansari, Age- 50 years
Village- Dandi Kala, Post-
Chipa Kala, Police station- Badkagaon, District- Hazaribagh
This extremely poor family
has to go through the horrors and trauma of police violence- event after police
firing. In order to break the unity of protestor and supporters of Satayagrah
andoln, police attacked on their home in night and outraged the modest of their
women.
I
sat on the Satyagrah andoln on that day, in the night and day. Rest of my
family members were at the home. During the night, around 10-15 policemen started
beating their lathi against my door. When my son opens the door, they started
abusing him; some of policemen begin to through our household stuff; when
protested by my son police threatened him to shoot; afterwards my daughter and
daughter-in-law came to help my son; police also hit them on their private
parts with their stick; while they were crying and asking for help police said,
“the more you will cry more we will beat”.
Upon
hearing such news from villagers, I ran towards home; when I saw police men at
home I ran towards the field thinking that if I’d seen by police, I will be
shot, too. I went to home after police left; I get shocked when I saw horrible
situation of my children; their clothes were torn, they were bleeding and there
were bruises were all over their bodies; they kept crying and were traumatized;
households stuff were scattered; food and ration were thrown by police; when I
saw outside of my home some women [who also suffered police beatings] were
crying and running due to police terror. Some of them have bruises on their
head while some suffered injury in their internal organs; their clothes were
torn.
We
could not protect our land; we lost our homes, too. I feel extreme sorrow and
sadness when I see the situation of my home. We live under constant fear
thinking that police could raid our home anytime and would destroy our property
and beat us.
Fifty
homes in Chepakhurd did not cook meals- days of gloom –
After the tragic death of
Methab Ansari in police violence, in his village Dadi Kala in Chepakhurd,
people are in state of state of gloom and sadness. In order to morn his death,
in fifty home, people did not cook their meals. They are fearful of police
atrocities. Savitri Davi who has lost her son during the police violence, said,
“they took our land and life of my son too... now where shall I go?
Same situation has prevailed in Sonbersha village, where Abhishek kumar
roy (son of Pawan kumar roy) killed by police bullet. His family including
villagers are still in state of shock. People are in a state of anger against
government and police. Situation like these have dominated in the affected
areas of land grabbing.
An utter disregard to Indian Constitution by
the administration-
Who are held to be responsible for these atrocities? Does Constitution
give the licence to administration to oppress people in their home for one
month- by intruding into their homes; misbehaving and sexually oppressing women
and girl? It is indeed very sad state of affair and shame that administrative
machinery has hurt women in a manner that that they are unable to show their
internal injuries to anyone. Not only pregnant women were hurt in police
violence, but also, officials of NTPC has sexually exploited women and girl on
the pretext of offering job. Due to the shame, victims were unable to share
their ordeal with public.
Another police victim
Mohammad Mehtab, age- 30 years,
Father- Moh. Muzzam, Village-
Chepakurd, Ranjan kumar Das, age- 17
years, Father- Pawan kumar, village- Sonbersa. Parent of Moh. Mehatab were
shocked to see dead body of their son. His brother, Alim also expressed his
anger on merciless killing of his brother. He said he brother used to work in
Badakagaon Duraga mandir temple; he came home in night at 11 pm; he was shot by
police when he was returning home in morning after natures call.
People were beaten in closed room-
In Hazaribagh town hall, there was public grievances meeting related to
Coal extraction was organized. Some people were beaten in closed room. These
people were demanding the implementation of rehabilitation and compensation
policy. Coal Company threatened those who were not ready to accept their offer.
Police also threatened to beat dissenter in closed room.
Depressive situation in Badkagaon-
After the police firing incidence in Badakagaon, for months people
hardly dared to venture out on the main streets and road (due to fear of
police); heavy police petrol in day and night been increased. Whole village has been transformed into a
police barrack.
People migration due to the fear of police-
After the police firing incidence, people in Dadi kala, Badakagaon is
full of anger and sadness; affected people are started migrating to another
place. People claimed that if they stay in village, police may implicate them
in false cases. They said they are afraid that police might enter their home
again to beat them. Due to fear of police some people hide into their-home most
of the time. Among those who are migrating are mostly men from Dadi Kala (of
Badkagaon) and Chirudeeh.
Sadar Hospital was full of cries of people-
Jibriel Ansari, who was injured due to police violence claimed that
police oppressed and beat innocent people. He said, “M.L.A. is on strike since last fifteen day; in order to vacate andoln
sthal (place) police fired upon us; I couldn’t even barely wake up and I was
shot in the back. Government has riddled our heart with bullets.
Police firing without warning-
Injured Amit Das informed us that when M.L.A was taken by police, also
some villagers joined her, and then suddenly police fired upon on them.
Police kept firing –
Vikas , who was injured in police firing informed that, “we were sitting
in protest near the mining area, suddenly police arrested M.LA. When people
protested, police started firing.
Loosing livelihood has deeply affected
people’s lives-
Due to the police violence and oppression, affected people and their
families are on the verge of starvation.
State, administration and NTPC, by grabbing their land have forced them
to starve. One villagers complained that his children has to starve for many
days, had to eat stale food, “we don’t have
money to feed our children; those are injured don’t have money to receive
medical treatment and sent their children to school”.
Required immediate attention-
There is urgent need to hold those responsible for police firing.
Political parties need to stop blame game and shall not try to seek advantage
out of this tragedy. There is immediate need to heal the wounds of victims and
restore their dignity. For the sake of human dignity and honour-without any
discrimination- affected people are required to provide long term
rehabilitation and psychological support.
List of people killed and injured in police firing:
S. no
|
Name
|
Age
|
Address
|
detail
|
1
|
Pawan Kumar
|
17 years
|
Vill: Sindhuaari,
Post – Chepkalan, Thana: Barkagaon Hazaribagh, Jharkhand
|
Dead in police
firing
|
2
|
Rajesh Kumar
|
17 years
|
Vill: Dandikalan,
Post: Chepkala, Thana- Barkagaon Hazaribagh, Jharkhand
|
Fracture in leg
|
3
|
Alijan Miya
|
18 years
|
Vill: Chepakhurd,
Post: Chepakaln, Thana- Barkagaon Hazaribagh, Jharkhand
|
Bullet firing in
hand
|
4
|
Siti Devi
|
70 years
|
Vill: Dandikalan,
Post: Chepkala, Thana- Barkagaon Hazaribagh, Jharkhand
|
Bullet firing in
hand
|
5
|
Mehtab Alam
|
30 years
|
Vill: Chepakhurd,
Post: Chepakaln, Thana- Barkagaon Hazaribagh, Jharkhand
|
Dead in police
firing
|
6
|
Amir Khusro
|
34 years
|
Vill: Dandikalan,
Post: Chepkala, Thana- Barkagaon Hazaribagh, Jharkhand
|
Bullet firing in
hand
|
7
|
Ranjan Kumar
|
17 years
|
Vill: Sinduwari,
post: Chepkalan, Thana: Barkagaon Hazaribagh, Jharkhand
|
Dead in police
firing
|
8
|
Mohammad Jibraiel
|
25 years
|
Vill: Kanki Dandi
Kalan, post: Chepkalan, Thana: Barkagaon Hazaribagh, Jharkhand
|
Broke the hand
|
9
|
Jahudi Ansari
|
43 years
|
Dandi Kala, post:
Chepkalan, Thana: Barkagaon Hazaribagh, Jharkhand
|
Beaten till half
dead
|
10
|
Sukari Devi
|
37 years
|
Vill: Dandikalan,
Post: Chepkala, Thana- Barkagaon Hazaribagh, Jharkhand
|
Beaten by lathi on
head and fainted
|
11
|
Vikas Kumar
|
26 years
|
Vill: Dandikalan, Post:
Chepkala, Thana- Barkagaon Hazaribagh, Jharkhand
|
Bullet fired in
right leg
|
12
|
Rameshwar bhuiya
|
70 years
|
Vill: Dandikalan, Post:
Chepkala, Thana- Barkagaon Hazaribagh, Jharkhand
|
Broken hand with
lathi beating
|
Please send your letter in the favour of victims for the demands given
below:
1. A justice inquiry commission shall be
established to probe into police firing in the affected area of Hazaribaghh
where people are being displaced for NTPC power project
2. Displaced person must be adequately
compensated and their consent must be taken before their land acquisition
3. Legal cases must be filed against police
responsible for firing and violence; victims of forced eviction, dead and
injured must be adequately compensated.
Address:
Hon’ble President
President of India
Rastrapati Bhawan,
New Delhi, 110001, India
Email: presidentofindia@rb.nic.in
The prime minister,
Prime minister of India,
South Block, Raisina hill,
New Delhi-11011, India
Tel- +91-1123012312
Fax- +91-1123012312/23016857
Email: pmosb@nic.in
The Ministry of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs, North Block,
Central Secretriat,
New Delhi-110001
Email: jscpg-mha@nic.in
The Chairperson,
National Human Rights Commission,
Manav Adhikar Bhawan,
Block-C, GPO Complex, INA
New Delhi-110023
The Minister,
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment,
Sardar Patel Bhawan Sansad Marg
New Delhi- 110 001 India
Fax: +91- 11 23742133
Chief Minister,
Government of Jharkhand,
Chief Minister Office
Kanke road, Ranchi
Tel: 0651- 2281500
Director General of Police
Jharkhand
#Barkagaon #Hazaribagh, #policefiring #pvchr
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