Dear _________,
Re: INDIA: Murdered adivasi’s family lives in starvation while no action taken regarding his death
Name of the victim: Manishbhai Motibhai Vasava, age 30, resident of Katiskuva village, near Tokarvav, Taluka Uchchhal, Surat District, Gujarat, India
Place of incident: On the State Highway No. 53, about 1½ kms from Tokarvav village, Taluka Uchchhal, Surat District, Gujarat, India
Date of incident: 20 September 2001
I am writing to bring to your attention the murder of Manishbhai, an adivasi from Katiskuva village, in Tokarvav, Taluka Uchchhal, Surat District, Gujarat, India by forest guard Jitubhai Lalsingbhai Valvi, of Gawan range on 20 September 2001. The victim was killed simply for carrying a piece of wood.
However, no serious action has yet been taken to investigate the incident by the police or the Forest Department despite a complaint having been lodged at the Uchchhal Police Station and a criminal case currently pending at Vyara Fast Track Court regarding this (Case No.: 13/2002). As a result, the perpetrator walks free, despite having been charged with a non-bailable offense. There have been allegations that witnesses have been pressured and bribed into withdrawing their statements from the case.
In the meantime, the victim’s wife and her four children are struggling to survive day by day after her husband’s death. The children cannot go for education and suffer from malnutrition. Although the victim’s wife lodged complaints to the Social Welfare Officer and the Collector of Surat District several times to file the case under the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes (prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and requested rightful compensation, there have been no response so far.
I therefore urge you to ensure compensation is paid to the victim’s family as soon as possible. I also urge you to provide appropriate assistance, including education, to the children. In particular, the Collector of Surat, the Forest Department and Social Justice and Empowerment Department must take appropriate action to provide urgent assistance and compensation to the victim’s family. I further urge you to order an immediate and impartial investigation into Manishbhai’s killing so that the culprit is brought to justice.
I look forward to your urgent intervention in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
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SEND A LETTER TO:
1. Mr. Kunwar Singh
Chairman
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
Lok Nayak Bhawan, 5th Floor
New Delhi 110 003
INDIA
Tel: +91 11 2462 4628
Fax: +91 11 2462 4628
Email: mailto:ksingh_chairman.ncst@indiatimes.com
2. Chief Minister of Gujurat
Chief Minister’s Office
Block No 1, 5th Floor
New Sachivalaya
Gandhinagar 382 010
INDIA
Tel: +91-79-2 3232611 to 18
Fax:+91-79-2 3222101 or 3243330
Email: cm@gujurat.india.com
3. Mr. Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel
Tribal Welfare (Minister in charge of the Forest Department)
Block No. 1, 7th Floor, New Sachivalaya
Gandhinagar – 382 010.
INDIA
Tel: – +91-79-2 3221186 or 3238075
E-mail: min-fne@gujarat.gov.in
4. Ms. Vatsla Vasudeva
Collector of Surat District
Collector office, Nanpura
Surat. 395 001, Gujarat
INDIA
Tel: +91 261 2471121/ 2472471
Fax: +91 261 2472419
E-mail: collector-sur@gujarat.gov.in
5. Mr. O. Ravi
Secretary
Social Justice and Empowerment
Block No. 1, 17th Floor
New Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar 382010
INDIA
Tel: +91-79-2 3243506 or 3238152
Fax: +91-79-2 3254817/ 3221267 or 3232470
6. District Superintend of Police
Surat Rural
Killa, Chowk
Surat 395 003, Gujarat
INDIA
Tel: +91-261 2463984 or 2479164
Fax: +91-261 2479174
7. The Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission of India
Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg
New Delhi 110001
India
Tel: +91-11 23382742
Fax: +91-11 23384863
Email: covdnhrc@nic.in, ionhrc@nic.in
8. Mr. Doudou Diene
Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 917 9271
Fax: +41 22 917 9050
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Program
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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