Dear friends
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a 27-year-old police constable trainee committed suicide due to the inhuman and rigorous training schedule as well as torture at the Kerala Armed Police Battalion, Maniyar Police Camp in Pathanamthitta District on 16 February 2004. It is alleged that the victim, who could not bear the training physically and psychologically and started using painkillers, was accused of taking drugs and was subjected to torture under the supervision of the camp officers. The camp commandant tried to defend himself by calling the victim as a drug addict and there has been no appropriate inquiry into the incident yet.
The training programme for new recruits at the Kerala Armed Police camps are famous for their inhuman conditions. Please send a letter to the local authorities and request them to improve the conditions of the training as soon as possible.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:
Name of the victim: Mr. Manu K. Paulson, 27, a trainee police constable at Kerala Armed Police Battalion, Maniyar Police Camp in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala State
Alleged perpetrators: The Commandant, Kerala Armed Police Battalion, Maniyar Police Camp in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala State
Date of the incident: 16 February 2004
Case details:
Mr. Manu K. Paulson was a trainee of the Kerala Armed Police stationed at Maniyar Police Camp in Pathanamthitta District. While he was undergoing training, he had to face a rigorous training schedule, which was unbearable for him, physically and psychologically. To ease the pain, he started consuming painkillers. When his superior came to know about this, he seized the medicine and accused the victim of consuming drugs.
Mr. Manu was taken to the camp commandant and he was subjected to torture under the supervision of the camp officers. Finding it unbearable, Mr. Manu applied for leave and left for home. He later extended the leave for a few more days and finally committed suicide on 16 February 2004.
Mr. Manu’s relatives strongly believe that he had no other reason to commit suicide but for the horrendous torture he faced in the police training camp, in the name of strict training. His relatives allege that he was a jovial person, with high spirits and was ready to join the force like any other young man. Although he found the training inhuman and unbearable, he tried to reconcile with the situation. But the additional torture he received from his camp commandant for the consumption of medicine was unbearable, and finally forced him to take his life.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The training programme for new recruits at the Kerala Armed Police camps is carried out in inhuman conditions. They lack basic amenities in the camp, which even include water. The training is often done in treacherous conditions where the new recruits are left at the mercy of their commandants. Often these commandants exploit the new recruits to their limits and there is no authority to question such exploitation. Failure to meet the orders of the commandants will face further inhuman treatments in the name of discipline.
Even though human rights training is provided for new recruits, the physical and combat training does not have any reflections to the human rights lessons. For example, at the human rights session they learn about respecting human life whereas in the armed training they are taught how to impact severe torture on a person without causing external injuries.
Often those young, highly qualified individuals who apply for the job (due to the high rate of unemployment in Kerala some of those who currently undergo training even have PhDs and MAs in their respective fields of study) face conflicting situations and confusing surroundings coupled with inhuman conditions of life.
Those who find it hard to hold on to their training schedule and those who complain about the inhuman training face severe punishments. The very nature of the training and all complaints muted down gives the trainees their basic lesson for torture. The constables reciprocate this process once they enter service. One of the reasons for inhuman policing and horrendous torture in police stations is that the constables who face tortuous training longing to vent this suffering, implements it upon common men/women who come for their help at the police station.
The higher ups in the police are of the opinion that such training is necessary to make them face harsh realties in the future service. However, the fact that such training severely damages the psychology of a person is ignored and this is one contributing factor for inhuman policing in the state.
Questioned about the suicide and Manu’s complaint regarding torturous treatment at the camp, the camp commandant tried to defend himself by accusing Mr. Manu of being a drug addict. However the commandant seems to have forgotten that to be a drug addict and get admitted into the camp and then to continue with the habit is impossible since the trainees have to undergo strict medical fitness tests usually.
In the light of the facts mentioned above, AHRC requests you to write to the following addresses expressing your concern about the death of Mr. Manu while undergoing training and also the inhuman conditions, which Manu had to face in the camp. Your letter will also facilitate the authorities to change the current training schedule for the new recruits at the police camps in Kerala which is nonproductive by any stretch of imagination for better policing.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter, fax or email to the addresses below and express your concern about this case.
1. Shri. A.P.J. Abdul kalam,
President of India,
Rashtrapathi Bhavan,
New Delhi -110001
INIDA
Tel: +91-11-23016767 (Joint Secretary), 23014507 (Personal Secretary)
Fax: + 91 11 23017290 / 23017824
Email: presssecy@alpha.nic.in or Pressecy@Sansad.nic.in
2. Shri Justice A S Anand
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission of India
Sardar Patel Bhawan, 1st Floor,
Sansad Marg, New Delhi – 110 001
INDIA
Tel: +91 11 2 334 0891 / 2334 7065
Fax: +91 11 2 334 0016/ 336 6537 / 334 4113
E-Mail: chairnhrc@nic.in
3. Mr. M. M. Pareedu Pillai
The Chairman
Kerala State Human Rights Commission
Arka Njlayam, M.P. Appan Road
Vazhuthacaud, Thiruvananthapuram 695014,
Kerala State
INDIA
Tel: +91 471 2 337263 / 337145 (direct) 313950
Fax: +91 471 2 2337148
Email : kshrctvpm@vsnl.net
4. Mr. A. K. Antony
Chief Minister of Kerala
Room No.141, IIIrd Floor, North Block, Secretariat,
Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala State
INDIA
Tel: +91 471 2 333812, 332184 (O) / 314853, 317051 (H)
Fax: +91 471 2 333682 (O) / 333489 (H)
E-mail: chiefminister@kerala.gov.in
5. Mr. K.M. Mani
Minister for Revenue and Law, Kerala State
Room No.216, 3rd Floor, North Sandwitch Block,
Government Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala State
INDIA
Tel: +91 471 2 327876, 327976
Fax : +91 471 2 327876
E-mail: minister-revenue@kerala.gov.in
6. Mr. Theo C. van Boven
Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9016
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear
Re: A 27-year-old trainee police constable committed suicide due to inhuman training and torture at Kerala Armed Police Battalion
Name of the victim: Mr. Manu K. Paulson, 27, a trainee police constable at Kerala Armed Police Battalion, Maniyar Police Camp in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala State
Alleged perpetrators: The Commandant, Kerala Armed Police Battalion, Maniyar Police Camp in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala State
Date of the incident: 16 February 2004
I am shocked to know about the death of Mr. Manu, a 27-year-old police constable trainee at Kerala Armed Police Battalion on 16 February 2004.
On 16 February 2004, Mr. Manu committed suicide and the reason for death as alleged by Mr. Manu’s relatives and as evident from the background of the case is the torture and inhuman conditions in the name of training that Manu faced while he was at the camp.
According to the information I have received, the training for the new recruits at the camp is carried out in inhuman conditions and any complaint results in more horrendous situations, which would be unbearable for any human being. Under the horrible circumstance, the new recruits are ill-treated physically and psychologically. These manners are clear torture which is defined in the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT).
Therefore, I strongly urge you to order speedy and appropriate investigation about the death of Mr. Manu by an impartial agency and to punish those who abetted suicide. I also urge you to make the culprits pay compensation to the victim’s family.
I further urge the government of India to revise the training programme for the new recruits at the police training camps based on human rights values as well as in accordance with international laws and standards. The people want the police who fully respect their rights, not who are ready to violate their rights and torture them without reserve hesitation. I again urge the government of India to ratify the CAT and legislate on it.
Sincerely yours,
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Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
