annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights

INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Jharkhand
Maoist Communist Centre. The police
alleged that he was planning to loot trucks
loaded with grains, and claimed to have
seized receipts of MCC relief fund, Rs
14,300 in cash and other belongings from
his house. Despite that Mahato denied his
involvement with the MCC and produced
a certificate from his employer in Mumbai
that he has been working there since 1999,
he was charged with sedition and
conspiracy, and was arrested under POTA
for being a member of a terrorist
organisation. 52
Both the youngest POTA detainee in
the country, 12-year-old Gaya Singh and
the oldest of them, 81-year-old Rajnath
Mahato were from Jharkhand. 14-year-old
Mayanti Rajkumari, a resident of Pandrani
village in Gumla district, was picked up by
police on her way back home from school
on 9 July 2002. The next morning police
informed the family that Rajkumari had
been arrested under POTA along with 24
others for allegedly planning to attack a
Dhaba, a roadside restaurant, 18 km away
from her school. 53
Shibu Oraon had gone to fetch
firewood from the forests near his village
in Gumla district. On his way homewards
he was intercepted by a police patrol
vehicle and quizzed about his credentials.
Although he repeatedly pleaded that he
was innocent and was not involved in any
militant activity, he was picked up by the
police and booked under the Prevention of
Terrorism Act (POTA) for alleged links
with the Maoist Communist Centre
(MCC). 54
Sunita Kumari, 19, was at home when
a group of outlawed persons barged inside
and ordered her for some food. Scared, she
complied with the orders. A couple of days
later, some policemen came looking for
Sunita. She was branded an extremist and
booked under POTA. 55
On 20 January 2002, a police team led
by Deputy Superintendent of Police raided
many Adivasi villages under Piparwar
Police station of Chatra district. While the
MCC cadres fled from the villages after
they got the information about police raid,
police arrested many innocent villagers
under POTA accusing them of being MCC
cadres.
Asian Centre for Human Rights
interviewed some of the innocent people
who were detained under POTA.
Amrit Oraon, son of (s/o) Chandru
Oraon from Sareya village was detained 6
months under POTA before his release on
16 June 2002. Lakkhan Oraon, s/o Late
Akala Oraon of Jhulandiha village under
Piparwar police station was released on 20
June 2002 after being held in detention for
6 months. Mola Oraon, s/o Kunu Oraon of
Sareya village was detained for 6 months
under POTA before his release on 20 June
2002. 56
Balko Oraon, s/o Charan Oraon of
Sareya who was arrested on the same day
was detained for about 18 months before
his release on 16 July 2003. Mangara
Ghambhu s/o Punita Gambhu of Dimbua
village was also released on 16 July 2003.
Basey Oraon, s/o Late Baldev Oraon of
Jhulandiha village and Bigwa Oraon, s/o
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