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

INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Rajasthan
The National Human Rights Commission
(NHRC) had registered 48 custodial
deaths in Rajashthan in 1999-2000, 41 in
2000-2001, 54 in 2001-2002 and 61 cases
in 2002-2003. Five persons were killed in
police custody in 2001-2002 against 3
each in 2000-2001 and 1999-2000. 11
On 4 October 2004, Nangi, a 19-yearold
married girl belonging to the pastoral
Bagaria community of Kagya village in
Phagi tehsil in Jaipur district died in the
police custody at Phagi near Jaipur. The
deceased, a rape victim, was reportedly
taken by Head Constable Tarachand on the
pretext of getting her medico-legal
examination done for confirming her
charge of gang rape. He did not allow the
family members to accompany her. After a
few hours, Nangi was found in the
Community Health Centre, Phagi in a
serious condition. She was unconscious,
foaming at mouth and bleeding profusely.
The doctors referred her to Sawai Man
Singh Hospital in Jaipur for treatment.
However, she died en route to Jaipur. 12 The
police registered an FIR after two weeks of
protests by the women rights groups.
On 27 October 2004, four farmers
were reportedly killed and at least 30
others injured in police firing in Gharsana
tehsil in Sriganganagar district. The
farmers were agitating demanding release
of sufficient water from the Indira Gandhi
canal for irrigation. Hundreds of farmers
had begun an indefinite “maha padaav’’
(mega-gathering) at the Sub-Divisional
Magistrate’s office since 25 October 2004
and locked the office after pushing the
employees inside. Several government
officials, including the Sub-Divisional
Magistrate, the Deputy Superintendent of
Police, Tehsildar and Officers in-Charge of
seven police stations were allegedly held
hostage inside the office. 13 Their
resentment further deepened following
lathi charge by the police which injured as
many as 50 agitating farmers on the
morning of 27 October 2004. They
reportedly attacked the Rawala police
station. The police burst teargas shells and
opened fire on the agitating farmers. Three
persons Kalu Singh, Raj Kumar, and
Mangi Lal died in the incident. One
person, Jethram Meghwal, was also killed
in police firing. The state government
ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident
and announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to
next of kin of each of those killed and Rs
1 lakh to the injured.
On 6 December 2004, another farmer
Hazoor Singh was killed in an alleged
police firing at 17 KYD villages near
Kajuwala town of Bikaner district. The
victim was among 1,000 farmers who
were moving towards Kajuwala town on
tractors to take part in the “maha padaav’’
(massive siege) being organised by the
Kisan Mazdoor Vyapari Sangarsh Samiti.
The police reportedly opened fire and also
tried to drive a truck on the crowd at 17
KYD causing injuries to dozens of
people. 14
ii. Arbitrary arrest, detention and
torture
Police highhandedness in arbitrary
213