In the Jansa police station under Varanasi district, the struggling Musahar ghetto of Peduka, whose life was ordinary, was engaged in daily labor to sustain themselves. However, they were falsely accused of theft by the local people and police, without any basis. The police raided their homes in the ghetto without a warrant, disrupting their household and creating chaos. Subsequently, two individuals were detained at the police station based on suspicion. During this period, if another theft occurred in the village, the police again went to the Musahar ghetto and took two more people to the police station.
Police Brutality and Violation of Supreme Court Guidelines: Violating the guidelines of the Supreme Court in the case of D.K. Basu versus the Government of West Bengal, the police subjected these four individuals to torture for four days. When the residents of the ghetto protested at the district headquarters, the four were released after signing statements on plain paper. This incident instilled fear among the victims, worrying that the police might mistreat them again. The entire ghetto was affected by this.
On December 6, 2023, the People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), with the assistance of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture and International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims(IRCT) , honored the victims by reading their narratives and presenting them with dignity through clothing and their stories. This reconnected them with the mainstream of society.
Personal Testimonies: Two individuals, Karmu Musahar and Sangita, shared their harrowing experiences. Karmu described the relentless mental and physical torture inflicted by the police for four days, forcing false confessions. Sangita expressed the fear instilled in everyone in the Musahar Basti, emphasizing the need for a fair investigation into the matter.
Recognition and Symbolic Planting: Leonardo Verzaro, an Italian volunteer, highlighted the unjustified retaliation faced by the Musahar community. An honor ceremony took place, and mahogany trees were planted, symbolizing resilience and growth. The victims, through telling their stories, transformed into advocates of human rights, fighting for justice and truth.
This incident underscores the systemic issues in India's policing system, emphasizing the need for reforms to ensure justice, dignity, and security for marginalized communities.
"In the Shadows of Injustice: A Testimony of Unjust Accusations and Torture in Musahar Basti"
"I endured continuous mental and physical torture for four agonizing days at the hands of the police, coercing us into confessing to crimes we never committed. My name is Karmu Musahar; I am 50 years old, toiling as a laborer in the brick kilns, a resident of Gram-Peduka Musahar basti, Rameshwaram Chowki, Jansa Police Station, Varanasi District.
The morning of August 9, 2023, started like any other, with everyone engrossed in their daily work. Suddenly, the peace was shattered by the arrival of the police, the village head, and some villagers. The revelation that theft had occurred at Santosh Yadav's place prompted the police to descend upon our basti in search of evidence. Upon their arrival, they stationed their dog at my door and commenced searching my son's house. Despite finding nothing, the police extended their search to the entire Musahar basti.
In the guise of a search, the police callously tossed clothes, utensils, and household items, even disrupting stored grains (rice, wheat, and flour). Despite the relentless invasion, the police found nothing, yet their threats persisted – unless we confessed to the theft, things wouldn't be okay."
As they uttered these ominous words, the police departed. Subsequently, the residents of the basti, now shaken, began gathering their belongings. Around three o'clock, the police returned to the Peduka Musahar basti, forcefully taking me and my son Sanjay to the Rameshwaram police outpost for questioning about the alleged theft. Faced with unjust treatment, we boldly told the police that they should either burn my house with petrol or hang us, as we were innocent. Despite our protests, the police took us into custody.
Inside the Rameshwaram police outpost, my son and I endured torment. The in-charge forcibly seized our hair, pressuring us to admit to a crime we vehemently denied. We held firm, reiterating our innocence. The pain inflicted upon us during those moments remains etched in my memory, resurfacing even now, unfortunate and haunting.
The following day, another theft occurred in a different village, and the police unjustly pinned the blame on us. The subsequent day, after scouring the basti, they apprehended two more of my children, escalating the fear among the basti residents. Four days of relentless custody ensued, marked by mental and physical torture until, out of fear, we confessed to a crime we did not commit.
Despite the tremendous pressure, we, the residents of Musahar basti, maintained our courage, collectively protesting the police's behavior in court. Hunger and thirst became our constant companions as we tirelessly demanded our release. The day the police took such drastic action in the basti, no one had food for days, and children suffered from hunger.
Around ten o'clock on August 12, 2023, the police released us, compelling us to sign on plain paper. Yet, nothing is the same. Lingering fear and a shattered trust in the police haunt us. This incident has left us weakened. When I close my eyes at night, the scenes of those harrowing days replay in my mind.
All I seek is a fair investigation by the police into these baseless accusations, ensuring justice and security for us – a chance for healing and a restoration of trust."
"Voices from Musahar Basti: A Cry for Justice Amidst Fear and Injustice"
"My name is Sangita; I am 26 years old, married to Rajesh, and we have three children – two sons and a daughter. We work as laborers in brick kilns throughout the season and engage in agricultural work when there is no brick kiln work. This is how we sustain our family. I am a resident of the Musahar Basti in Gram Peduka, police out post Rameshwar, under the jurisdiction of Jansa Police Station in Varanasi district.
We were unaware that the police would create such havoc in our basti today. It was the morning of August 9, 2023. Some people in the basti had gone out for their morning chores, while others were still asleep. Suddenly, the police, along with the village head and some villagers, arrived, leaving everyone in shock. People wondered why the police had come to the basti so early in the morning, accompanied by a dog. They began breaking locks at Sanjay's house, alarming everyone.
Sanjay had been staying at his in-laws' house for about a month, taking care of his wife's medical treatment. Everyone questioned why the police were conducting a search in the basti. It was then revealed that theft had occurred at Santosh Yadav's place in the village, and the police were searching for the stolen items. When nothing was found at Sanjay's house, the police began searching every home in the basti, even scattering grains stored in people's homes.
Despite the extensive search, the police found nothing. Frustrated, they resorted to using vulgar language and threats. The police left after finding nothing, but later returned to forcibly take Karmu and Sanjay to the police station for questioning. The unjust behavior of the police left everyone in the basti fearful. The fear that if theft occurred anywhere, the police would arrest us haunted everyone's minds. People collectively decided that the police's treatment towards us was wrong, and we would raise our voices against it.
Protests were organized, and people sat in dharna (peaceful protest) at the court. Only a few people were present in the basti. People were afraid to go to the basti because the police might arrest them. On the same day, at around 10 PM, the police released Karmu and Sanjay, having them sign papers. However, the atmosphere in the basti was never the same. The fear lingered, and people feared that if anything happened in the basti, the police would hold them responsible.
This incident created a sense of fear in everyone's hearts. Even children were affected, and hunger and thirst forced us to sit in protest for days. Being poor and belonging to the Musahar community, the police knew it would be easy to arrest us. After the protest, on August 12, 2023, the police released those four individuals by having them sign papers around 10 PM.
Since this incident, a constant fear has settled in people's minds. Nothing is the same as before. Sleepless nights and an unwillingness to go anywhere have become common. We want a fair investigation into the entire matter so that in the future, the police do not mistreat us again."
Links for Hindi stories and testimonies:
https://selfsuffering.blogspot.com/2023/12/blog-post_6.html
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