Bhuvan valley: ‘Stay hungry and shut up’ seems to be the food security policy of Assam government

Waliullah Ahmed Laskar[1]

Those whose near and dear ones reportedly died of hunger and lack of medical care in Assam are now being told to shut up and say only what they are told to say. In a tea garden in the North East Indian state where more than 14 people died of hunger, malnutrition and lack of medical care are now being harassed and pressurized into signing papers stating that all is well with them. With the help of their husbands and other male members of their families, workers and helpers of the Anganwadi centres under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in the Bhuvan valley tea garden of Cachar district took signatures of the labourers and other villagers on 31 March 2012 on a paper that stated that the beneficiaries were being provided with sufficient nutrition and other services as required under the scheme and that they did not have any complaint regarding functioning of the centres. They took signatures of particularly those residents who provided the Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), the local rights group that brought the cases of hunger deaths in the garden into the light, with information about their situation during its fact-finding study.

The BHRPC reported that the Bhuvan Valley Tea Estate, a tea garden owned by a private company based in Kolkata, which employed about 500 permanent and another 1000 casual workers, was abandoned by the owners in October 8, 2011 without paying the workers their outstanding wages and other dues. It resulted in loss of means of livelihood of the workers and pushed them into the condition of starvation and famine that led to the deaths of ten people till 27 February 2012. According to the fact-finding report[2] issued on 1 February, the workers were deprived of their rights as they were forced to do overwork and were paid very low wages (Rs. 41.00 for casual workers and 50.00 to 55.00 for permanent workers) without being provided with any medical treatment while working and, after closure, had the payment of their wages, provident fund and bonus suspended. The rights of plantation workers to fair wage, bonus, provident fund, housing and basic medical facilities in accordance with the Plantation Labour Act, 1951 have not been implemented. In the course of closure, the government failed to make any intervention to guarantee their fundamental rights to live with dignity. It is further found that basic medical care and food distribution for the poor under the government schemes including the ICDS have not properly reached even those workers who lost their livelihoods and that it was one of the causes that led to the deaths. 

Even after publication of the disturbing reports, the authorities did not take any effective actions except re-opening of the garden on 9 February 2012 while maintaining that the deaths were not caused by starvation[3]. The situation, therefore, continued to worsen. The BHRPC again on 11 February reported about critical health conditions of 43 other people[4]. Among them two more people died on 18 and 22 February[5]. The chief minister of Assam wrote a letter on 29 February giving details of actions taken by the government while at the same time he still maintained without any proper inquiry that these deaths were not caused by starvation. Actions of the government were, at beast, inadequate and misleading, said the BHRPC in a statement[6]. As a result, deaths continued unabated in the tea garden and on 10 March the BHRPC had to report two more deaths[7]. 

Ramashish Dushad on 27 February lying on a bedstead,
his legs are apparently swelled and infected. He died on
28 February.

On the other hand, after publication of the reports some human rights groups, individual rights defenders and section of national media conducted independent investigations and took up the issue. Among the groups the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), a Hongkong based rights body, taking up the case wrote to the United Nations special rapporteur on the right to food and issued two hunger alerts world wide[8]. The Varansi (in Uttar Pradesh) based rights group People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) also sent letters to the authorities in India. Another civil society team from Guwahati visited the tea garden on 22 and 23 February. The group was comprised of Saito Basumatary, coordinator of the People’s Rights Forum, Wilfred Topno, president of Adivasi Sahitya Sabha- Assam, Stephen Ekka, director, of the PAJHRA, Godfrey Here, secretary of the Nawa Bihan Samaj and Rejan Horo, organizing secretary, central committee of the AASAA  and issued a statement corroborating the findings of the BHRPC after they made an extensive study of the situation. New Delhi based noted social activist Swami Agnivesh also engaged with the government in dialogue and pressed for the amelioration of the situation[9].

Apart from carrying stories on the situations in the garden by some national media outlets such as Indo-Asian news services, press trust of India and papers like the Asian Age, Times of India and the Telegraph (Kolkata), the CNN-IBN[10] and the Tehelka magazine conducted their own inquiry. The CNN-IBN continuously aired news on the situation and held a talk show while the Tehelka magazine published an in-depth story[11].

Meanwhile, on the complaint of the BHRPC the Supreme Court commissioners on the right to food took cognisance of the matter and asked their Assam state advisor for a report.[12] The national human rights commission also registered cases and started proceedings.[13]

These interventions generated certain amount of heat that was felt by the relevant quarters in New Delhi and Dispur. And reportedly even the prime minister’s office was asked to look into the reports forcing the Assam CM to act[14]. But instead of taking substantial and prompt actions, he ordered an additional chief secretary Mr. PK Choudhury to conduct an inquiry and minister for excise and sports Mr. Ajit Singh to keep vigil on the situation. He held a meeting to discuss their feedback and decide further actions on 11 March. From the reports in the press it seemed that the government was trying to shift the entire blame on the estate management who, according to the chief secretary, was not responding to official communiqués from the deputy commissioner as well as the labour department and “neglecting” the garden[15].  The reports were totally silent about the stand of government on the role of its officers, particularly those who were responsible to ensure that the gardens were run in accordance with law, and those who were responsible for proper implementation of the flagship schemes. However, it is learnt that the CM instructed the officials to cause some ring wells dug in the gardens to make drinking water available for the residents and to take some other ameliorating measures[16].

Bablu Bauri lying in his courtyard.
His father died of hunger recently.

But the woes of the labourers were far from over. There was complaint that labourers were not getting loans from provident fund to get over their cash crunch as the authorities did not released the fund even though the management had already paid 50% of the arrears of PF through the district administration. Even the PF claims of the dead labourers were also not being cleared. It was also alleged that the Anganwadi centres were not providing food staffs and other services of their mandate, doctors were not available in the estate hospital and problems of drinking water, sanitation and electricity worsened. When the BHRPC drew attention of the district magistrate/deputy commissioner (DM/DC) Mr Harendra Kumar Devmahanta he ordered two separate inquiries into the grievances about functioning of Anganwadi centres and release of PF giving the responsible officers 10 days time. And he said that he was active in ensuring potable water, medical facilities and electricity in the tea estate. A water supply plant will be set up and till it is done water would be supplied daily by tanks. Besides, a doctor from the nearby primary health centre (PHC) would visit the estate hospital once a week, till a permanent doctor was be appointed, he assured.[17] The meeting between the BHRPC members and the DC took place on 30 March and it was attended by two additional DCs, assistant labour commissioner and district social welfare officer. The last mentioned officer is responsible for running ICDS in the district.

The Supreme Court of India directed the central and state governments to universalise the functioning of ICDS and stated that “(t)he universalisation of the ICDS involves extending all ICDS services (Supplementary nutrition, growth monitoring, nutrition and health education, immunization, referral and pre-school education) to every child under the age of 6, all pregnant women and lactating mothers and all adolescent girls”.[18]

The central government formulated a Nutritional and Feeding Norms for SNP[19] in ICDS and it was approved by the Supreme Court.[20] It states that “children in the age group of 6 months to 3 years must be entitled to food supplement of 500 calorie of energy and 12-15 gm of protein per child per day in the form of take home ration (THR). For the age group of 3-6 years, food supplement of 500 calories of energy and 12-15 gm of protein per child must be made available at the Anganwadi Centres in the form of a hot cooked meal and a morning snack. For severely underweight children in the age group of 6 months to 6 years, an additional 300 calories of energy and 8-10 gm of protein would be given as THR. For pregnant and lactating mothers, a food supplement of 600 calories of energy and 18-20 gm of protein per beneficiary per day would be provided as THR”.[21]

It can be shown in a table more conveniently with money ear-marked for each beneficiary in each category:

Category	Rate in rupees per beneficiary per day	Calories	Proteins in gm
Children below 6 years	4.00	500	12-15
Severely malnourished children	6.00	800	20-25
Pregnant and lactating mothers	5.00	600	18-20

Table-I[22]

Rs. 4.00 is ear-marked for every adolescent girl per day.

It is another question as to whether this money can still buy that much calories and proteins even after three years of severe food inflation from the time of approval of the Supreme Court and particularly in this part of the country which is known for high prices of food staffs.

As per the Supreme Court rulings, this nutritional support shall be provided 300 days in a year by providing for 25 days per month.

Now, let us take a look on how all these get translated in the ground in the form of actual dietary intake by the beneficiaries. A famous(!) statement of the then Prime Minister Mr Rajiv Gandhi may be remembered that only Re. 0.15 would reach the actual beneficiary from Re. 1.00 meant for the poor and the remaining Re. 0.85 would get siphoned off by those who were entrusted with the task of reaching the beneficiaries with the benefit of the money. Still the situation is same if not worse. The BHRPC team were told during their fact-finding study visit on 27 February by the residents of the Bhuvan valley that there were 7 Anganwadi centres in the garden but none of them were properly functioning. They were opened only once or twice in a month. It indicates that the children and women of the tea garden were receiving about 0.01 per cent of the money allotted for their nutritional support and some health services. The situation has certainly improved since.

But how much improved? A typically ‘well-functioning’ Anganwadi centre in Cachar district gets approximately Rs. 1,200.00 per month. The break-up may be shown in a table:

Category	Total number. of beneficiary	Rs. per head per day	Total amount per category per day
Children below 6 years	50	4.00	200.00
Severely malnourished children	Nil	6.00	Nil
Adolescent girls	38	4.00	152.00
Pregnant and lactating mothers	22	5.00	110.00
Total	-----	------	462.00

Table-II[23]

For one month the amount stands at Rs. 462.00 x 25 days = Rs. 11550.00, say 12000.00. When this scribe talked with the worker of such a typical centre she confided with the condition of anonymity that Rs 3000.00 is taken away by the supervisor apparently for himself/herself, child development project officer (CDPO), the district social welfare officer and other higher-ups, Rs. 1000.00 by the president of the centre management committee and another Rs. 1000.00 by the member secretary of the committee and Rs. 500.00 by each worker and helper from this 12000.00 and the remaining Rs. 6000.00 is spent on the beneficiaries.

The worker of a centre is ex-officio member-secretary of the centre management committee and in most cases her husband or any other member of her family or any relative is the president, though the rule book says the president should be the member of the Gaon Panchayat elected from the area covered by the centre.

If the 7 Anganwadi centres in the Bhuvan valley tea garden function as per rules in the book apparently a worker will incur a loss of Rs. 1500.00 (1000.00 as member secretary and 500.00 as worker), president Rs. 1000.00 and helper Rs. 500.00 of their ‘extra-money’ per month. But it is not important for them that this ‘sacrifice of extra-money’ can go a long way to save some precious human lives. So, they coerced the labourers and other villagers to sign a paper stating that the beneficiaries were being provided with sufficient nutrition and other services as required under the scheme and that they did not have any grievances regarding functioning of the centres.

The presence of the district social welfare officer in the meeting of 29 March and he being ordered to submit a report within 10 days about the complaint regarding function of the ICDC, and the incident of taking forcible signature of the Bhuvan valley residents on the very next day can not be a mere co-incidence.

It is a very sorry and sad commentary on the sense of responsibility as well as humanity of some of the officers and public servants who govern the people and implement the government policies, laws duly passed by legislative bodies and orders made by law courts.

It also shows that the Assam government has not only failed to protect the right to life with dignity of the tea workers in the Bhuvan valley by ensuring availability of adequate food, water, sanitation and health care but it is now also  taking away right to make noise, yell, cry and weep at the time of dying from hunger.

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Note: The Article is also published at other places including the NewsBlaze, BHRPC site with the title of Assam Government Fails to Protect Right to Life With Dignity of Tea Workers and Bhuvan valley: don’t take away right to cry and weep! respectively.

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[1] The writer is a human rights defender based in Guwahati, Assam can be reached at wali.laskar@gmail.com

[2] Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC). “Tea labourers die of starvation due to exploitation of garden management and government apathy in Assam.” Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), 2012. Web. 1 February 2012 <http://bhrpc.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/hungeralert1/>

[3] “Bhuvan Valley: no hunger deaths.“ Sakalbela 18 February 2012 Silchar ed. Print.

[4] Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC). “Situation of hunger deteriorates in Assam tea garden.” Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), 2012. Web. 11 February 2012 <http://bhrpc.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/situation-of-hunger-deteriorates-in-assam-tea-garden/>

[5] Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC). “Two more people died in Assam tea garden.” Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), 2012. Web. 23 February 2012 <http://bhrpc.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/hungeralert3/>

[6] Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC). “Assam government’s actions regarding starvation deaths are inadequate and misleading.” Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), 2012. Web. 3 March 2012 < http://bhrpc.wordpress.com/2012/03/03/assam-governments-actions-in-starvation-deaths-are-inadequate-and-misleading/>

[7] Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC). “Deaths continue unabated in Assam tea garden.” Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), 2012. Web. 10 March 2012   <http://bhrpc.wordpress.com/2012/03/10/hungeralert4//>

[8] (a) Asian Human Rights Commission—Hunger Alert Programme. “INDIA: Assam government failed to ensure the right to life with dignity of tea plantation workers leading to ten deaths.” Asian Human Rights Commission, 2012. Web. 7 February 2012  <http://www.humanrights.asia/news/hunger-alerts/AHRC-HAU-001-2012/AHRC-HAC-002-201>

    (b) Asian Human Rights Commission—Hunger Alert Programme. “INDIA: Two more estate workers die from starvation while the government denies responsibility.” Asian Human Rights Commission, 2012. Web. 27 February 2012  < http://www.humanrights.asia/news/hunger-alerts/AHRC-HAU-001-2012>

[9] “Swami Agnivesh writes to Assam CM on starvation deaths.” The Sentinel. Web. 5 February 2012 Silchar ed.  <http://www.sentinelassam.com/cachar/story.php?sec=2&subsec=12&id=105944&dtP=2012-02-05&ppr=1>

[10]  Sen, Arijit. “Stay hungry: The story behind Assam tea”. IBNLive. Web. 21 February 2012. < http://ibnlive.in.com/blogs/arijitsen/148/63192/stay-hungry-the-story-behind-assam-tea.html>

[11]  Choudhury, Ratnadip. "Did they die of hunger? The Question Haunts Barak Valley." Tehelka 25 February: 10-11. Print.

[12]  “SC Commissioners take note of starvation deaths.” The Assam Tribune. Web. 2 March 2012 Guwahati ed.  <http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=mar0212/state07>

[13] NHRC Case No.  51/3/2/2012

[14]  “Dispur rap on garden for deaths” The Telegraph. Web. March 2012 Kolkata ed. <http://vv.telegraphindia.com/1120314/jsp/northeast/story_15246290.jsp>

[15] Ibid

[16] “Government will run the garden in case owners unable: Gogoi.” Dainik Samayik Prasanga 14 March  2012 Silchar ed. Print.

[17] Roy, Sipra. “Bhuban Valley TE labourers not getting loans from PF.” The Seven Sisters Post. Web. 1 April Guwahati ed. <http://sevensisterspost.com/?p=1944# >

[18] People’s Union for Civil Liberties Vs. Union of India and Others (Writ Petition (civil) 196 of 2001); date of Judgement: 13/12/2006 in IA Nos. 34, 35, 40, 49, 58, 59, 60, 61 and 62

[19] SNP stand for Supplementary Nutrition Programme.

[20] People’s Union for Civil Liberties Vs. Union of India and Others (Writ Petition (civil) 196 of 2001); Date of Judgement: April 22, 2009

[21] Ibid

[22] Ibid

[23]  It is a hypothetical table based on survey of several Anganwadi centres and meant to show break-up of a typical centre in Cachar district. It needs to be noted that they don’t maintain list of severely malnourished or underweight children.

বাচার লড়াই

বাচার লড়াই

আবিদ রাজা মজুমদার

কেনে অত নীরব তুমি! কিচ্চু কেনে মাত না?

কোন কারণে হতাশরে ভাই, নাই কেনে বোধ চেতনা!

কওনা কথা, মনের ব্যাথা রাখ কেনে ছাপাইয়া

সামনে আইয়া বুক ফুলাইয়া আওনা খাড়া ডাটাইয়া।

আওড়ে তনে চাও কেনে ভাই, মাত কেনে কুচাইয়া

কইবার ডরে মড্ডায় কেনে, থাক কেনে পিছাইয়া!

লাগাও জোরে হায়দরি হাক

একবার গলা ঝাড়িয়া

গুর্কি উঠি পষ্ট কথায়

দেওনা পিলই কাপাইয়া।

পাওনা পাতি, লনা বুঝি

পরোয়া কর কারে?

আওয়াজ তুল, আদায় কর

হিম্মত সহকারে।

বুক ভরা তোর সাহস আছে, মুখে ত নায় কমিনা,

আকল বুদ্ধি সবউ আছে, কমজোরি খান বুঝিনা।

শক্ত আতে শক্ত মাতে, শক্ত কামড় লাগাও চাই!

ইমান রাখি, কট্ট থাকি, জোর কদমে চল চাই!

কে আছে তোর সামনে দাঁড়ায়

কোন বাধা তর রোশ আটকায়?

কদম কদম আগ বাড়ি যা

হাজার বাধা কিচ্চু নায়।

বাচতে যদি চাচ টিকে ভাই

বাচার লাগি লাড়াই কর।

কান্ধে কান্ধে আঞ্জা করি

আত বাড়াইয়া আত ধর।

নিভাগি নাম লাগাইছ না রে

নিওড়া খান অইছ না;

সাচ্চা সাহস রাখিছ দিল

মনরে ছোট করিছ না।

অয়না কিচ্চু আপনাতনে

মুফতে শান বাড়ে না;

লড়িয়া নিবার কদর আছে

মুরাদর দাম কমে না।

পরর উপর গরা দিয়া

স্বপ্নে সময় গয়াইছ না

তাক্কত আছে খরছ কর

লেউংড় ধরি বাচিছ না।

(কবি আবিদ রাজা মজুমদার কাছাড় জেলার (আসাম) পয়লাপুলস্থিত নেহরু কলেজের প্রাক্তন অধ্যক্ষ। কবিতাটি শান্তির সোপান-র ২০০৩ সালের এপ্রিল সংখ্যায় প্রকাশিত হয়েছিল। কবির ব্যাবহ্রূত বানান যথাসম্ভব অপরিবরতিত রাখা হয়েছে।)

Survivors of torture honoured as a part of therapeutic intervention

A ten-day long workshop on Testimonial Therapy of the survivors of torture and organized violence was comducted at Silchar, Cachar, Assam. As a part of the workshop a ceremony to honour the survivors of torture and organized violence, who are struggling for justice was held at Banga Bhavan, Silchar on the 13^th September, 2011. The program was organized by the joint endeavors of Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), Peoples Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), Rehabilitation and Research Center for Torture Victims (RCT) and National Alliance on Testimony Therapy (NATT). Eminent personalities of the locality attended the Honor Ceremony. The meeting was presided over by Mr. Manindra Sankar Gupta (Retd. ACS), the Chairperson of BHRPC.

At the outset Mr. Sadique Mohammed Laskar , the Joint Secretary of BHRPC, delivered the welcome address, and also gave a brief idea on Testimony Therapy. The president took chair and thereafter Mr. Lenin Raghubanshi, Secretary General and Director of PVCHR, Ms Sirin Sabana Khan of PVCHR, and Mr. Imad Uddin Bulbul took chairs at the dais.

Mr. Neharul Ahmed Mazumder, Secretary General of BHRPC, delivered his speech on the purpose of Testimony Therapy and the Honor Ceremony. He dwelt on the need of psychological rehabilitation of the traumatized survivors of torture and organsed violence which aspect is neglected in human rights works. Hence, there was an urgent need for such type of trainings to serve the victims in a better way.

Ms. Shirin Sabana Khan in her very brief speech told about the experiences of working with BHRPC, and about the pattern of torture and human rights violation in the valley. She also added that there remained a lot to work with BHRPC. Ms. Khan further told about various aspects of testimony therapy.

Mr. Nirmal Kumar Das, member of BHRPC, read out the testimony of Mr. Kalam Uddin Choudhury, who is a survivor of torture by the personnel of the Indian Army. Though all the doors are shut by the human rights institutions of India, still Kalam is fighting for justice in legal forum and trying to attract the helping hands of the organizations and individuals. Mr. Kalam is a poor mason apprentice and lost his mental and physical strength to a large extent after the excruciating experience of torture. Kalam was called upon on the stage and honored with garlands and Uttaria (shawl), at the same time slogans against torture as well as slogans hailing Kalam’s struggle for justice raised in the hall. Mr. Lenin Raghubanshi handed over the beautifully printed testimony to Mr. Kalam Uddin Choudhury, The hall was filled with claps and slogans.

The testimony of Miss Mina Begum Choudhury, a secondary victim of organized violence was read by Miss Chaya Kumari, a member of PVCHR. Mina lost her brother in this incident, and her parents alongwith her uncle also faced inhuman torture. She lost her property and shelter. Still she is facing hard as her opponents are very close to the heavyweight political leaders of the locality. Mina got warm welcome when she appeared on the stage with loud slogans, claps, garlands and uttaria. Miss Sirin Sabana Khan handed over the testimony to Mina, which was beautifully printed.

The testimony of Mrs. Alimun Nessa, another survivor of torture, was read out by Sadique mohammed Laskar. Alimun Nessa lost her husband due to cruel inhuman torture in police custody. The torture to which her husband was subjected was witnessed by her. The human rights institutions has never paid heed to her complaints seriously, though all the enquiries conducted into the incident found the involved policemen guilty. Alimun, in spite of, all limitations such poverty and ignorance is still fighting for justice.

Mr. Parvez Khasru Laskar read out the testimony of Mr. Fariz Uddin Barbhuiya, who was tortured by the personnel of 147 Battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) with his family members. Fariz is a retired CRPF personnel himself and runs his business near his house situated opposite to the CRPF camp. Fariz got warm welcome with slogan against torture and praising his bravery. He was honored with garlands and uttaria (shawl). The Chairperson then handed over the beautifully printed testimony to Mr. Fariz. He then delivered a speech thanking the organizers. He added that he has got half justice after being able to express his feelings in such a forum, and that he has got energy to expedite his fight for justice.

Mr. Waliullah Ahmed Laskar, a member of BHRPC, delivered his short speech on various provisions of national and international laws against torture. He also added that the impact of torture on individuals and in society is very serious, it creates trauma in individual and mass mind.

After that Mr. Dholu Mia Choudhury, father of Mr. Kalam Uddin Choudhury was escorted to the stage by Mr. Abdul Rahman Laskar and Mr. Abul Hussain Barlaskar, members of BHRPC. He was welcomed with garlands, Uttaria (shawl) and loud claps and slogans from the audience. Mr. Dholu Mia, a secondary victim of torture had the bitter experience of torture, when he saw his son, the only earning member of his family paralyzed after torture by the personnel of Indian Army. He received his beautifully printed and decorated testimony from Mr. Imad Uddin Bulbul.

Mrs. Aftarun Nessa Barbhuiya, wife of Mr. Fariz Uddin Barbhuiya, a secondary victim was escorted to the stage by N. Kamalini and Sarmila Singha, members of BHRPC. She received warm welcome with garlands, Uttaria, claps and slogans. She received her testimony from Ms. Shirin Sabana Khan, which was beautifully printed and decorated.

Mr. Imad Uddin Bulbul, advocate and Legal Advisor of BHRPC delivered his speech. He told that torture victims must raise their voices and testimony therapy will help to uphold the suppressed voices. He also added that BHRPC has crossed many hurdles, and it will do a lot with PVCHR and RCT.

Mr. Anup Kumar Choudhury (Advocate) and Mr. Shyamal Dey (social activist) delivered their speeches and appreciated the organizers for arranging such a unique program in the valley.

Mr. Lenin Raghubanshi delivered a pithy speech where he expressed the experiences of working with BHRPC. He cited various examples of victims becoming activists after testimony therapy, and encouraged the survivors to raise their voice against torture. He also brought to light the various issues and problems in Barak Valley.

The meeting ended after the address by the chair and vote of thanks.

BHRPC urges administration to look into missing case

BHRPC urges administration to look into missing case

: From our Staff Reporter

SILCHAR, July 20: Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC), a human rights organization working in Asom, is deeply concerned over the report of disappearance of two labourers Paresh Das (55) and Dilip Das (45), both residents of Nandan Kanan Tea Garden area under the Jirighat Police Station in the district of Cachar-Asom. The two went missing on May 25, 2009.

Sources said the two missing persons used to buy damaged and unused utensils and other household things made of tin, steel and iron from the villages in the districts of East Imphal and Tamenglong in Manipur and sold them in Silchar.

The two left for work early on May 25 and never returned. The family members of Paresh and Dilip as well as people residing in Nandan Kanan Tea Garden are completely disturbed with the incident. They said both the missing persons were friends and partners in their small venture.

Paresh was the only bread winner of his family consisting of his 80-year-old mother Shefali Das, wife Unmoti Das (35) and a daughter Monika Das. Similarly, Dilip had to earn for his mother, wife Himani Das (29), a sister and two sons. Now they have been left to fend for themselves.

On May 26, both the Jirighat police station in Asom and Jiribam PS in Manipur were duly informed about the incident but till date no action has been taken on the matter. Local clubs and organizations got united and met the administrative and police authorities to press them into swift action.

Getting no satisfactory response, the people called for a 36-hour bandh of the NH-53 to demonstrate on June 4. Hundreds of people from neighbouring areas supported the demonstration. According to witnesses, when these unarmed peaceful people were demanding the administration to take proper actions by shouting slogans, a large number of armed para-military personnel from 72 Field Regiment of Assam Rifles camping nearby at Lalpani entered the spot and allegedly beat the demonstrators with sticks without provocations injuring about 40 people in the process including women and children, some of whom sustained serious injuries.

According to sources, when Assam Rifles personnel were threatening to open fire, a large force of Asom police reached the spot and brought the situation under control.

BHRPC has strongly condemned the action and urged the administration to pay adequate financial aid and other assistance to the family members of the missing persons and to order a prompt and impartial investigation into the hulabaloo created by Assam Rifles personnel into the peaceful demonstration.

Source: http://www.sentinelassam.com/state.php?sec=2&subsec=2&ppr=1&dtP=2009-07-21

LET’S MOURN THE DEATH OF MOYFAR RAJA

WALIULLAH AHMED LASKAR

A vegetable vendor named Moyfar Raja, aged about 45 years, son of late Tajamul Ali, of Village Baldabaldi Part-II, P.O. Jamira under the police outpost of Jamira within the jurisdiction of Katlichera Police Stattion in Hailakandi, Assam was arrested at about 11am on 10 June, 2008 by Pijush Kanti Roy, in-charge of Jamira outpost and allegedly was tortured to death at 5 pm the same day. This information was published in local newspapers on 11 June, 2008.

Having learnt from the newspapers about the incidence, Barak Human Rights Protection Committee formed a fact-finding team. The facts stated herein are based on the preliminary report of that team.

Moyfar Raja, the deceased belonged to the poorest stratum of the society. He worked as a daily wage labourer and sometimes as a vegetable vendor. He was supporting his wife, 3 sons and 3 daughters with livelihood. According to his relatives and neighbours, he was generally a peace loving and law abiding citizen, though there was a police case pending against him.

Family members of the deceased state that he, as usual, he went to Jamira Bazar in the morning on 10 June, 2008 to sell his vegetables. They were later informed that a police team comprising of constable Bashir Uddin and Home Guard Nijam Uddin Laskar led by Sub-Inspector Pijush Kanti Roy, in-charge of Jamira Outpost picked him up. According to them, the police team was going somewhere else but when they saw the deceased they nabbed him. Legal procedure of arrest was not observed properly. Requirements of arrest issued by the Supreme Court of India in D K Basu Vs. State of West Bengal (AIR 1997 SC 610) were not fulfilled. The guidelines regarding arrest issued by the National Human Rights Commission also were not complied with. Even no 'arrest memo' was prepared, it was revealed during the said fact-finding efforts of BHRPC.

Family members of the deceased and his other companion vegetable vendors alleged that the police team started to beat him with cane sticks in front of them. They continued to do so along the way to the police outpost and even in the lock-up. At about 2 pm when his condition became critical due to a serious head injury sustained during the beatings by police, he was taken to Jamira Primary Health Centre. Doctors at the health centre referred him to Hailakandi Sontosh Kumar Roy Civil Hospital due to the seriousness of his condition. Dr. Rehana Begum, a doctor at the H S K R Civil Hospital states that the deceased was received at the hospital at about 5 pm and he was found in coma and it was also observed that he had a serious injury in the head. He died on the stretcher while he was being taken to the ward.

On the other hand, the police alleged that the deceased was wanted in connection with Katlichera police station case No. 70/03 which was registered under sections 147, 148, 149, 323, 427 and 302 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. There was also a non-bailable warrant against the deceased issued by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate of Hailakandi in connection with G R Case No. 545/03, which was registered as a result of the said FIR. Constable Bashir Uddin and home guard Niajm Uddin laskar alleged that soon after the arrest the deceased complained of his ill-health. But there is no answer to the question as to why the deceased was not sent for medical examination and treatment as law also mandates it.

It appears that there were serious charges against the deceased. But allegations of offences, howsoever serious they may be, do not render a person bereft of his basic human rights. Crimes on the person of an accused or suspect are equally prohibited as in the case of any other persons. Facts alleged before the BHRPC team prima facie establish a case of torture and murder attracting punishment under section 302 and 34 of the IPC. Such cases fall under sections 154 and 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Section 154 mandates the officer-in-charge of a police station to register an FIR on receiving information about commission of a cognizable offence and section 174 enjoins upon such officer a duty to report the case to the nearest magistrate if he receives information that "a person has committed suicide, or has been killed by another or by an animal or by machinery or by an accident, or has died under circumstances raising a reasonable suspicion that some person has committed an offence" relating to the death. This procedure is prescribed by law to ensure impartial and prompt investigation into the incidence and thus to facilitate the prosecution and conviction of the offender.

This incidence of custodial death amounts to extra judicial killing, which flagrantly violates rule of law, basic features of the Indian Constitution and Articles 21 and 22 of the Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court of India.

This incidence is also a gross violation of the international obligation of the state of India, which has bound itself under various human rights treaties and other instruments, such as Articles 3 and 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. India is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966 and it is the obligation of the state of India under Article 2 of the covenant "to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present covenant". Article 6 of the Covenant recognizes right to life stating, "Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life." The present case clearly shows the failure of Indian state to respect its obligation under this Article. Moyfar Raja was deprived of his life arbitrarily by its agents. The case also attracts Article 7 of the covenant, which reads, "No one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment". The United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, to which India is a signatory, defines torture in its Article 1 as " any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity". No further analysis is needed to show that this case falls under the definition. In spite of the fact that torture is universally prohibited, the Supreme Court of India held that the right to freedom from torture is also inherent in Article 21 of the Constitution.

The phenomenon of custodial death was brought before the Supreme Court in many cases. The Court issued 11 requirements to be fulfilled in cases of arrest in order to mitigate this evil in D K Basu Vs. State of West Bengal (AIR 1997 SC 610). While issuing he requirements the Supreme Court observed, "the custodial death is perhaps one of the worst crime in a civilized society governed by the rule of law. The rights inherent in Articles 21 and 22 (1) of the Constitution require to be zealously and scrupulously protected. Court cannot wish away the problem. Any form of torture or cruel inhuman degrading treatment would fall within the inhibition of Article 21 of the Constitution. Whether it occurs during the interrogation or otherwise. If the government becomes law-breakers it is bound to breed contempt for law and would encourage lawlessness to become law unto himself thereby leading to anarchism. No civilized nation can permit that to happen". As stated above the requirements pronounced in this landmark judgment was not observed in the present case. No arrest memo was prepared as it is prescribed in requirement No 2.

The National Human Rights Commission has also dealt with the cases of custodial death and issued guidelines regarding arrest and also prescribed procedure in cases of custodial deaths/rapes. It is obvious that NHRC guidelines regarding arrest were not followed in this case.

Justice M N Venkatachalia, Chairperson (as he was then), NHRC sent letters to all chief ministers vide letter No. No. NHRC/ID/PM/96/57 dated March 27, 1997 reminding them of a circular of the commission issued on the 14th December, 1993 requiring all the District Magistrates and the Superintendents of Police to report to the Commission, incidents relating to custodial deaths and rapes within 24 hours of their occurrence. He also stated that "if post-mortem examination is not thoroughly done or manipulated to suit vested interests, then the offender cannot be brought to book and this would result in travesty of justice and serious violation of human rights in custody would go on with impunity." He continued, "with a view to preventing such frauds, the Commission recommended to all the States to video-film the post-mortem examination and send the cassettes to the Commission." The Commission also prescribed a model autopsy form and additional procedure for inquest, which were annexed to the said letter.

Justice Ranganath Misra, Cairperson of NHRC (as he was then), also sent "letters to Chief Ministers of States on the video filming of post-mortem examinations in cases of custodial deaths" dated August 10,1995. These recommendations require (i) informing NHRC regarding custodial deaths or rape within 24 hours of occurrence, (ii) Vedio-filming of post mortem and (iii) prompt and impartial magisterial enquiry. Usually these requirements are not followed in Assam. If a magisterial enquiry was ordered, the report never sees daylight in most of the cases. Where the report is made public, it happens in rare cases, it is too late to have any effect. Such magisterial inquiry is no longer seen by the people as having trustworthiness. As the saying goes, 'justice should not only be done but it should also seemed to be done', this incidence requires a prompt judicial probe.