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 Gujarat<br />
remained overcrowded resulting in the<br />
growth of homosexuality. Despite the<br />
implementation of the “safe sex practices”<br />
in nine jails of Gujarat, the Gujarat State<br />
Aids Control Society <strong>report</strong>edly treated<br />
4,247 prisoners in Surat Jail alone. 25<br />
IV. Defenders at risks<br />
<strong>Human</strong> rights defenders and Non-<br />
Government Organisations continued to<br />
face risk of security of life and liberty both<br />
from the Hindu fundamentalist groups and<br />
the government <strong>for</strong> their attempt to obtain<br />
justice <strong>for</strong> the victims of Gujarat riots. The<br />
state government including Chief Minister<br />
Narendra Modi openly questioned the role<br />
of the NGOs. 26<br />
In an application be<strong>for</strong>e the Supreme<br />
Court, noted dancer Mallika Sarabhai<br />
alleged that the Gujarat government has<br />
been harassing her because she had moved<br />
the SC seeking a CBI probe into the riot<br />
cases. The State government had restricted<br />
her movements and she was unable to<br />
travel freely within and outside the<br />
country. On 16 February 2004, the<br />
Supreme Court ordered the Gujarat<br />
government to lift restrictions put on her. 27<br />
As the restrictions remained despite the<br />
Supreme Court directive, Sarabhai again<br />
approached the Supreme Court in<br />
February 2004. The police allegedly<br />
harassed her on the basis of a “frivolous”<br />
complaint over alleged misconduct of her<br />
dance academy, Darpan. She alleged the<br />
police had foisted a false case on her<br />
because she had moved the SC seeking a<br />
CBI probe into the riot cases. 28<br />
On 11 April 2004, VHP activists<br />
allegedly assaulted three persons,<br />
including Shabnam Hashmi, chief of an<br />
NGO, Act Now <strong>for</strong> Harmony and<br />
Democracy, in Vadodara. She was leading<br />
a group to urge voters to elect a<br />
government that “did not promote<br />
communal hatred”. The VHP activists<br />
allegedly barged into the venue of the<br />
press conference, abused her and damaged<br />
her vehicle. The VHP activists also<br />
allegedly manhandled her, assaulted her<br />
group members and threatened to rape and<br />
kill her in the same manner in which<br />
Muslims were killed and raped during the<br />
post-Godhra communal riots. Two persons<br />
were <strong>report</strong>edly arrested on Hashmi’s<br />
complaint. 29<br />
On 12 April 2004, activist Teesta<br />
Setalvad, convener of the Citizens <strong>for</strong><br />
Justice and Peace, had to address her<br />
meeting in the office of an NGO Prashant<br />
in Ahmedabad amidst heavy police<br />
security. Police were <strong>report</strong>edly called<br />
after activists of the VHP amongst whom<br />
two of them are principal accused in the<br />
Gulmarg Society communal riot case,<br />
came to the office and allegedly threatened<br />
Setalvad and the director of Prashant, Fr.<br />
Cedric Prakash. 30<br />
On 10 June 2004, Father Cedric<br />
Prakash was <strong>report</strong>edly summoned by the<br />
state CID following instructions from the<br />
Chief Minister’s office. He was questioned<br />
<strong>for</strong> about 90 minutes in connection with<br />
his visit to the Sabarmati jail where POTA<br />
detainees were lodged. Police Inspector<br />
(CID Crime) J.G. Saiyed also inquired<br />
69