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

INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Maharashtra
alias Shobha David Carvalho, a homeless
who lived on a footpath outside
Churchgate railway station, allegedly
committed suicide by hanging herself
from the ceiling fan in a woman lock-up at
Bandra police station in North West
Mumbai. The deceased was arrested in a
theft case three days prior to her death and
was remanded to police custody till 12
March 2004 by the Metropolitan Court at
Bandra (East). On 12 March 2004, she was
again produced before the Metropolitan
court where she was further remanded to
police custody till 17 March 2004.
According to the police, as soon as the
lady constable who escorted her to the
ladies room located in the premises of the
police station stepped out to bring water,
she immediately closed the main door of
the room and committed suicide with the
help of her sari. 7
In April 2004, the Nagpur bench of the
Bombay High Court reportedly summoned
the Inspector General of Police (CID) in
connection with ‘unsatisfactory’
investigation into the alleged unnatural
death of Sheikh Baba Alias Sheikh Rasul,
who died in police custody at Digras
police station in Yavatmal district of
Vidarbha region on 11 November 2003.
The victim’s widow, Munira Begum,
stated that Sheikh was arrested by Digras
police on 8 November 2003 for an offence
punishable under Section 379 of Indian
Penal Code. A Magistrate remanded him to
police custody where Sheikh was tortured
and succumbed to the injuries. Later the
police allegedly tried to cover up the death
by trying to make it look like a suicide.
The petitioner filed a criminal petition
seeking compensation and fair and speedy
investigations into Sheikh’s unnatural
death. 8
On 31 August 2004, 33-year-old
Girish Narendra Vavekar died in police
custody of Meghwadi police station in
Mumbai allegedly because of torture. He
was arrested on 28 August 2004 in an
assault case. On 30 August 2004, he was
produced before the metropolitan court,
which sent him to judicial custody till 30n
August 2004. However, while he was
being transferred from police remand to
judicial custody at the Central prison in the
city, his condition worsened. He was
rushed to the JJ Hospital where he was
admitted to ward no 9. While undergoing
treatment, he vomited blood and died at
around 1.30 am on 31 August 2004. 9
On 2 September 2004, 36-year-old
Ashok Babu Sasi, a resident of Khar, died
at Babha hospital at Bandra in Mumbai
while in police custody. He was arrested
by the Azad Maiden police on 17 August
2004 in a two-wheeler theft case. Police
took Sasi into custody on 31 August 2004
to ascertain if he was involved in the theft
case in their jurisdiction. On the same day
Sasi was taken to a hospital for the
mandatory check up where his health was
found to be normal. However, late in the
night Sasi allegedly complained of illness
and was admitted to Babha Hospital at
Bandra where he was undergoing
treatment for pneumonia. Police said he
died at the hospital at around 5 am on 2
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