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

INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Delhi
workers faced attacks from the criminal
groups.
On 21 August 2004, a social activist in
the Anand Parbat area, Asha Ram Gautam,
was severely beaten up for daring to
complain to the Lt Governor and the
Police Commissioner regarding the
alleged nefarious activities of land and
liquor mafia in the area. He was pulled
down from his scooter and mercilessly
beaten up with iron rods leading to the
fracture of his legs and hands. He was only
let off when his son, who was
accompanying him, managed to rally some
of the residents of the area to save his
father from the criminals. Asha Ram
alleged that the local police was fully
involved with the mafia and therefore, the
police did not take any serious action
against them except registering a case of
bailable offence. 55
On 13 December 2004, Ms Santosh, a
worker of an NGO, Parivarthan was
attacked by two youth near the Food
Commissioner’s office but the blade had
missed her by inches. The assailants
reportedly attacked her at the behest of
ration shop owners, who were furious over
their cheating of consumers being exposed.
On 30 December 2004, her throat was slit
by a youth soon after she had left
Parivartan’s office at Nand Nagri. She was
rushed to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital where
the wide gash had to be stitched up. 56
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