Article published by the prominent Hindi news portal Jan Chowk, translated by PVCHR. Please find the link to the original article below:
Kiran Devi, residing near the Hinduwari Baram Baba Temple in
the Robertsganj Kotwali area of Sonbhadra district, recalls, "It was
October 17, 2022, a Monday. It was around 7 in the evening, and she wasn't home
at that time. Two police officers on a motorcycle came to her house. Since she wasn't
at home, the neighbors informed the police officers that her in-laws lived near
the Baram Baba Temple. After hearing this, the police officers went to her
father-in-law's house."
Kiran continues, "At home, her mother-in-law, Nifni
Devi, was present. The police officers told her that they had received some
papers from the police station and if she signs them, her son, who is also
known as Mangal, would be released. To this, my mother-in-law replied, 'We
don't know how to sign, sir.' After a while, they called my father-in-law and,
lying to him, the police officers took his signature on a plain paper. After
signing, my father-in-law was summoned to the police station. When we went to
the station, we were told that our son, Sanjay, also known as Mangal, had died.
He was kept in the district hospital mortuary."
With tears in her eyes, Kiran questions, "What had we
done to the police that they have let him die in such a brutal way and get away
with it?"
Amidst her grief, Kiran shares, "After my husband's
death due to police torture, my entire family has been shattered. We have young
children who constantly ask about their father. They make various demands. In
this situation, I don't know how to answer them; it feels like my heart is
breaking. My world has crumbled."
She recalls October 16, 2022, and says, "Around 4:30 in
the evening, my husband Sanjay's call came to my mother-in-law's phone. He was
crying and said, 'Mother, save me, or the police will kill me.' Remembering
that day, Kiran breaks down. She sobs and says, 'I am so unlucky that I
couldn't even talk to my husband. Now, I worry about my children's future. I
can't sleep at night, and I'm always anxious.'"
The pain expressed by Kiran Devi, a resident of Robertsganj in Sonbhadra district, truly shakes the soul and reveals the cruelty of the police. Kiran Devi's plea remains the same even today – she calls for strong action against the police officers responsible for her husband's death so that justice can be served and her husband's soul can find peace.
Amidst Sobs, the Lives of Torture Victims Are Being Torn
Apart
The agony of victims of police brutality, comprising the
suffering of the poor, Dalits, marginalized, tribals, and Muslims, isn't an
isolated case. Such instances are prevalent across various regions, including
Prime Minister's parliamentary constituency Varanasi, and in tribal majority
areas like Sonbhadra and Mirzapur. These cases can't be justified from both a
human rights and legal perspective. The pain of families who have fallen victim
to police torture persists, as they continue to live in the memory of their
loved ones. Despite the promises of government assistance, they have received
little, and even elected representatives haven't shown interest in knowing
their situation.
Long-engaged in the struggle to uplift the oppressed,
victims, Dalits, and the marginalized, Bachao Ram "Jan Chowk,"
reveals, "The oppression on the poor, oppressed, victims, and Dalits
hasn't lessened; it continues to grow. Looking at cases related to police
torture and harassment, such instances are numerous. If we examine cases
related to police torture/harassment, we'll find many such instances. In the
tribal-dominated region of Sonbhadra, incidents of police torture leading to
the deaths of Dalit-tribal individuals in the past years also hold the
political parties responsible, who have only used their deaths for their own
political gains."
Husband Beaten to Death in Jail
Usha Devi from the Balliyari village in the Myorpur police
station area of Sonbhadra district shares a pain that is no less than Kiran's.
Having seen more than half her life, Usha Devi has dried up in the grief of her
husband's death. Speaking to "Jan Chowk," Usha Devi reveals that she
has a son and a daughter in her family. Her husband, Sandeep, was a skilled
worker, and their household expenses were being managed somehow through his
earnings. She says, "We might be poor, but my husband and I were leading a
content life with our family. But suddenly, in the ill-fated moments of
February 2009, our joyful family was scarred to an extent that we have never
been able to overcome."
According to Usha, "One day, my husband went to the
forest to collect firewood. He got into an argument with a girl there, which
later led her to file a complaint at the police station. The police came to our
house based on the complaint and arrested my husband, taking him to the Myorpur
police station. The police didn't provide any information when asked. Upon
seeing the police take my husband away, the children began to cry. A crowd of
people had gathered around. I rushed to the police station as well and found
out that a girl from a neighboring village had filed a molestation
complaint."
Usha further explains, "I held the feet of the
sub-inspector and said, 'Sir, the girl is making false accusations. My husband
has been sick for about a week. He went to the forest to collect firewood to
cook food. He has been bedridden for a while. The car and even the horse
weren't functional. But the sub-inspector didn't listen to me and sent my
husband to jail. He was already sick when he was taken to jail. The police
didn't provide proper medical attention. While our home situation was
deteriorating, his condition in jail worsened."
Usha continues, "We didn't have enough money to hire a
strong lawyer to get my husband out of jail. After much difficulty, we managed
to get bail. But in 2012, he was sentenced. He was in jail when we suddenly
received news on July 17, 2016, that he had committed suicide in jail. The news
was a catastrophe for our family. Upon receiving the information, I went to the
hospital with my in-laws and saw that there were no signs of strangulation
around his neck, but there were cut marks on his hands and other parts. It
seemed like he had been brutally beaten in jail. He was tortured."
Tearfully, Usha Devi pauses, wipes her tears with her saree's
edge, and says, "It feels good that after so many days, someone is
listening to the tragedy that befell me. Before this, no one tried to hear my
pain." As the conversation comes to an end, she poses a question,
"Sir, can my husband still get justice?"
Livelihood Support Through Goat Farming
Every caste and religion in society has the right to live a
dignified life. However, police torture has destroyed the lives of the victims.
Due to the lack of support from the government for economic self-sufficiency
and holistic rehabilitation, those affected by torture are often marginalized
within society. It's fortunate that there are organizations that provide
economic support and assistance for the economic self-sufficiency and
rehabilitation of torture victims.
Recently, in Varanasi, the "Janmitra Nyas" and the
"Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)" provided goats
to torture victims for the purpose of economic self-sufficiency in context of resilience
for justice & dignity, with financial support from the "International
Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)" and the "UN United
Nations Trust Fund for Victims of Torture." This initiative aims to
empower the victims and their families economically through goat farming.
Under the economic self-sufficiency program for impoverished
and marginalized communities, 20 families in Sonbhadra and Varanasi districts
received goats for goat farming to secure future economic benefits.
Additionally, in the Badagaon block of Varanasi district, goats were provided
to six families in Gram Deenapur, and to families from Bajardiha and Bhelupur
police station areas who had suffered torture.
Managing Trustee, Shruti Nagvanshi, emphasized the importance
of continuous efforts for the development of the knowledge and behavior of
torture victims through folk schools. This approach enables marginalized
victims to achieve sustained development and happiness in their lives.
Lalita Prasad, one of the beneficiaries, expressed that
organizations like these provide essential support to uplift torture victims
economically and help them become self-reliant. She stated, "Goat farming
will provide a way to overcome various financial difficulties in the future. These
organizations constantly work to share the pain and suffering of torture
victims, ensuring they don't feel neglected."
The directors of "Janmitra Nyas" and the "Peoples’
Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)," Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi, and
Shirin Shabana Khan, respectively, discussed their commitment to economically
empowering and enabling tortured families to lead prosperous lives. They
emphasized the importance of not just seeking justice for torture victims but
also supporting their self-sufficiency and holistic rehabilitation efforts as
realization of sustainable development goals (SDGs) at grassroots level.
Supporting the organization's initiatives, various
individuals including Rajendra Prasad, Jyoti Kumari, Sanjay Kumar, and Pintu
Gupta praised their efforts. They highlighted the challenges faced by the
tribal communities in Sonbhadra and stressed the significance of timely support
from organizations for economic self-sufficiency and sustainable rehabilitation
of torture victims. This support is akin to a lifeline for those struggling.
A Ray of Hope Amidst Pain: Livelihood Support and Empowerment
In Sonbhadra district, 12 families of victims who suffered
police torture, including three families who lost a member due to police
custody, have received a strong show of support from the "Peoples’
Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)" and "Janmitra
Nyas." These organizations have distributed goats and sewing machines to
empower these families towards self-sufficiency. Similarly, in Varanasi, six
families from the Dalit community who were affected by police torture have been
provided with sewing machines and goats to encourage sewing and goat farming,
along with sharing their pain and suffering.
Santosh Kumar, a Dalit resident of Kudi village in the district
of Varanasi, expresses his deep emotions while describing the pain caused by
police torture. He says, "The suffering inflicted by police actions is
unforgettable. However, the provision of goats and sewing machines has given us
a glimmer of hope and alleviated some of our pain."
This initiative highlights the efforts of these organizations
to not only address the immediate trauma caused by police torture but also to
provide a means of sustainable livelihood and empowerment. By offering avenues
like goat farming and sewing, the aim is to uplift the affected families and
help them rebuild their lives with dignity and self-sufficiency.
Jail Is No Lesser Suffering
After spending 24 days in jail, I was granted bail on January
14th, and I was released on January 15th. When someone from my family came to
meet me in jail, the police officers would demand money. They would say,
"We have brought someone from your family to meet you, and we need half of
the money you received." I would give them the money out of fear for my
life. When I would say that this is all the money I have, they wouldn't believe
me and would search me.
My family had given 1,000 rupees to the jail authorities to
ensure that I wouldn't be forced to work. Due to this, they wouldn't make me
work. I didn't feel like sleeping on the bed in jail. Instead of sleeping where
people took off their slippers, I had to sleep there. There were around 150
people in a barrack, which made it more difficult. There was no privacy. People
couldn't even find a place to sleep, so they spent the nights sitting. They
would use their hands as pillows and sleep on the floor.
The conditions were harsh, and life inside the jail was no
better than the suffering I experienced outside. The struggle continued, both
physically and mentally.
Police Framed, Jail Torture, Son's Life Lost
Janati Devi, a resident of Markundi village in the Chopan
police station area of Sonbhadra, carries the pain of losing her son, Mahendra
Prasad. She alleges that the police first beat up her son on the instructions
of a middleman and then sent him to jail. In the year 2021, he was sent to a
reformation home that is referred to as a "Sudhar Ghar" in local
terms. There was hope that her son would be fine and after a few days of legal
proceedings, he would be released. However, that did not happen. Instead, the
news of her son's death continues to haunt her heart. This pain will only
diminish when the jailer and the police officers who sent her son to jail are
held accountable and face justice.
(Reported by Santosh Dev Giri from Sonbhadra/Varanasi.)
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