INDIA: Young man committed suicide after the police torture in West Bengal 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from MASUM, a human rights organisation in West Bengal, that a young man named Kartik Ghosh committed suicide after being tortured by a local businessman and an assistant sub-inspector (A.S.I.) of the Baluhati Police Camp under Domjur Police Station in Howrah District, West Bengal, India on 5 January 2005. His body was found by villagers the next day. According to eyewitnesses, Mr. Ghosh ended his life by jumping into a well due to the humiliation he suffered at the hands of the police.

On January 5, Mr. Ghosh reportedly went to the Baluhati Police Camp to lodge a complaint against a local businessman named Bimal Pradhan who allegedly interfered in breaking his sister’s marriage alliance with the intention of developing a relationship with her. However, the police allegedly did not receive his complaint. It is important to note that Mr. Pradhan is an influential figure in the village. Instead, A.S.I. Pulin Behari Panda, who is a close friend of Mr. Pradhan’s, brutally beat and humiliated the victim along with Mr. Pradhan who was present at the police station at that time. After the victim’s death, Mr. Pradhan was arrested and there was a claim of a departmental inquiry against the responsible police officer. However, no serious action has been taken against A.S.I. Panda who was merely transferred to another post.

Your urgent action is required to correct this matter. Please write a letter to the Chief Minister of West Bengal and urge him to ensure that the A.S.I. Panda is prosecuted and punished by law, and other police officers responsible for the failure to register the victim’s complaint are also disciplined as well.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of the victim: Kartik Ghosh, 22 years old, a resident of Galuihati Village, Domjur Police Station, Howrah District, West Bengal, India
Alleged perpetrators:
1. Mr. Pulin Behari Panda, Assistant Sub Inspector attached to the Baluhati Police Camp under Domjur Police Station
2. Biman Pradhan, a local businessman
Date of incident: 5 January 2005

Case details:

Kartik Ghosh (22) belonged to a very poor family in Galuihati Village, Howrah District, West Bengal, India. He lived with his widowed mother and a sister, Sonali, who was soon to be married to Bijoy Giri belonging to the same village. The alliance, however, did not last long and soon broke up due to the interference of a local businessman, Bimal Pradhan, who was interested in Sonali and wanted to develop a relationship with her. This angered Mr. Ghosh and on 5 January 2005, he went to the Baluhati Police Camp under the jurisdiction of the Domjur Police Station to lodge a complaint against Mr. Pradhan.

However, the police refused to file his complaint as Mr. Pradhan was an influential person amongst the local police. By chance, Mr. Pradhan was present at the time Mr. Ghosh went to the police camp, and heard Mr. Ghosh talking to Assistant Sub Inspector (A.S.I.) Pulin Behari Panda who happened to be his good friend. Mr. Ghosh was then brutally assaulted by the A.S.I. and later Mr. Pradhan joined him in abusing the victim in front of other policemen.

Completely humiliated and frustrated, Mr. Ghosh, as reports of eyewitnesses go, committed suicide by jumping into a well. His body floating in the well was found the next day by villagers. Mr. Pradhan was arrested after a massive protest and demands by the local people. As for A.S.I. Panda, the superintendent of Police, Howrah, Mr. Mihir Bhattacharjee claimed that a departmental inquiry has started against him. However, instead of action being taken against him, the A.S.I. Panda was merely transferred out of the Baluhati Police Camp.

This incident once again exposes the total failure of domestic mechanisms that are designed to defend human rights and safeguard citizen’s rights in India. The AHRC urges the Government of India to ratify the CAT and to introduce corresponding domestic legislation to prevent law enforcement officers from committing such human rights violations.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter to the Chief Minister of West Bengal requesting him to order an immediate and thorough investigation in this serious case and punish the perpetrators responsible for torturing the victim. Please also send a copy of the letter to other relevant local authorities.

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