annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights
annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights
annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights
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INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Chhattisgarh<br />
The radical Left-wing armed<br />
opposition group, also called Naxalites, are<br />
<strong>report</strong>edly active in eight districts out of<br />
total sixteen districts, mainly in the tribal<br />
areas. Many tribals have been allegedly<br />
arrested under false cases as Naxalites.<br />
While violence against women has<br />
been rampant, atrocities against the Dalits<br />
by the upper caste Hindus continued<br />
unabated.<br />
The condition of jails in the state<br />
remained deplorable. K.A. Jacob,<br />
Chairman of the State <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong><br />
Commission of Chhattisgarh admitted<br />
unbearable and sub-human condition of<br />
Chhattisgarh jails, which were<br />
overcrowded and infested with diseases<br />
like tuberculosis.<br />
II. Atrocities by security <strong>for</strong>ces<br />
While the Congress claimed that 11<br />
custodial deaths have taken place during<br />
June-December 2004, on 24 November<br />
2004, state Home Minister Brijmohan<br />
Agrawal justified his government’s human<br />
rights record by stating that 13 custodial<br />
deaths had taken place during the<br />
Congress rule; but the administration took<br />
little action. 2 The NHRC had registered 30<br />
custodial deaths in 2000-2001 and 32 in<br />
2001-2002.<br />
Former Home Minister of<br />
Chhattisgarh, Nandkumar Patel accused in<br />
the state Assembly that Lal Sai had died in<br />
the police custody in Budha Bagicha<br />
village under Rajpur development block of<br />
Sarguja district. Patel alleged that the<br />
deceased was detained under section 151<br />
46<br />
of the Prohibitory Act and given third<br />
degree torture that caused his death.<br />
Replying to the question, state Home<br />
Minister Agrawal however categorically<br />
denied that Lal Sai died in police custody<br />
and was subjected to brutal torture.<br />
Agrawal said the police registered an<br />
offence against Sai following a complaint<br />
lodged by his brother’s wife <strong>for</strong> abusing<br />
her. The minister further stated that Lal<br />
Sai was detained on 25 April 2004 but was<br />
released on bail on the same day. Sai was<br />
<strong>report</strong>edly admitted to Rajpur Government<br />
Hospital on 11 May 2004. Agrawal further<br />
claimed that Sai died not of police<br />
atrocities but of ulcer. An inquiry <strong>report</strong><br />
submitted by the Sub-Divisional<br />
Magistrate of Ambikapur <strong>report</strong>edly did<br />
not indicate any external injury mark. 3<br />
On 6 June 2004, 21-year-old Rajesh<br />
Yadav of Arang died in the custody of<br />
Arang Police Station in Raipur district. He<br />
was brought to the police station at about<br />
12 noon <strong>for</strong> interrogation in connection<br />
with the missing of a pregnant woman,<br />
Sunita Sonwani. Police stated that at about<br />
2.30 p.m. Rajesh’s brother brought meals,<br />
which he ate. One-and-half hours later he<br />
started vomiting and taken to a nearby<br />
primary health centre from where he was<br />
referred to Dr. Ambedkar Hospital, Raipur.<br />
His condition deteriorated there and later.<br />
Police alleged that Rajesh Yadav died of<br />
consuming insecticide from a bottle which<br />
he had kept with him. 4 A magisterial<br />
inquiry was ordered. 5<br />
On the night of 13 August 2004, a<br />
tribal youth named Ramkumar Dhruv