[Re: UA-138-2005: INDIA: Human rights activist facing death threats for working with Dalit and Backward Community, UP-95-2005: INDIA: Another human rights activist threatened for working with Dalits in Uttar Pradesh, UP-100-2005: INDIA: Updates on death threats to human rights activists working with dalit and marginalized group in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh]
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UP-166-2005: INDIA: Police inaction into death threats to human rights defenders in Varanasi despite the UN intervention
INDIA: Death threat to human rights defenders; Police inaction; Rule of law
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Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has been informed by the Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), a local non governmental organisation working in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, that the local police are refusing to take any action against those threatening human rights activists in Varanasi (See further: UA-138-2005, UP-95-2005 and UP-100-2005). The police arrested one perpetrator but released him thereafter and have not taken any serious action to arrest other perpetrators, including a local politician. Such inaction continued even after the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) intervened in this matter through its special complaint procedures. The AHRC is informed that the UN has contacted the Government of India to take appropriate and immidiate action to intervene into this case.
We call for your urgent intervention into this matter. Please send an appeal letter to the Indian authorities and urge them to arrest and prosecute the alleged perpetrators, provide effective protection to threatened human rights defenders and take strong action against erring police officers who are responsible for negligence of their duty.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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LATEST INFORMATION ABOUT THE CASE:
According to the latest information received, after receiving a complaint from two human rights activists, Dr. Lenin and Mr. S. N. Giri regarding death threats to them and their family, the local police merely registered a First Information Report (FIR) about the case without taking any serious action to investigate the case.
Only after such by local and international pressures did the police later arrest Mr. Rama Sharay Singh, one of the alleged perpetrators, who reportedly called Dr. Lenin and threatened that he would murder him and Mr. Giri along with their families if they did not stop their work promoting human rights among dalits (untouchables) and the marginalized community in Varanasi. However, Mr. Singh was released soon after his arrest and no further inquiry has been conducted into the incident. It was alleged that Mr. Singh committed this criminal act with the aid of Mr. Rajendra Tiwari, a local politician and the head man of Belwa village in Varanasi District.
Upon receiving information regarding these death threats, the AHRC immediately issued an Urgent Appeal calling for a proper investigation and protection to the victims and also reported it to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights through its special complaint procedures.
In addition, despite the statements given by Dr. Lenin and Giri regarding the involvement of Mr. Tiwari and his son Mr. Gudu Tiwari into the incident, the police have not yet taken any serious action to investigate or arrest them. Meanwhile, there were continued threats and physical and psychological abuse on the activists associated with the PVCHR by Mr. Tiwari and his gang. Complaints were again made about these incidents which resulted in no action by the police. The AHRC closely followed the situation of the case and again issued Updated Appeals (See further: UP-95-2005 and UP-100-2005).
The AHRC is informed that in spite of a UN intervention up to date Mr. Tiwari, his son and his aides are free and no action whatsoever has been taken against them by the police.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Please send a letter to the persons listed below and urge them to take immediate action to arrest the alleged perpetrators and provide protection to human rights defenders at threat. Please also urge them to take strong disciplinary/criminal action against erring police officers responsible for negligence of their duty to investigate the case.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
Re: INDIA: Police's apparent inaction into death threats to human rights defenders in Varanasi despite UN intervention
I am extremely concerned about the apparent inaction and failure of investigation into the case of death threats to human rights activists associated with the Peoples Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. I am further disturbed to learn that those responsible for threatening Ms. Anupam Nagvanshi, Dr. Lenin and Mr. S. N. Giri are still free and that the local police have not initiated any serious action either to investigate the incidents or to arrest the alleged perpetrators.
It is indeed a disgrace to the entire country that even after repeated requests and UN intervention through its agencies, the local police have proved immune to such pressures and have continued proving their allegiance to the criminals in the country. This case also depicts how rule of law in India has completely broken down.
I therefore urge you to immediately intervene in this case and take necessary action so that the death threats to human rights activists Ms. Anupam Nagvanshi, Dr. Lenin and Mr. S. N. Giri are investigated thoroughly and the police officers responsible for apparent negligence of their duties are punished in accordance with law. If any evidence is found to prove their inaction, these erring officers must be suspended from their service.
Yours sincerely,
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SEND LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh
Chief Minister's Secretariat
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
Fax: + 91 52 2223 0002 / 2223 9234
Email: csup@up.nic.in
2. Mr. K. Natwar Singh
External Affairs Minister
Akbar Bhavan, Chanakya Puri
New Delhi-110021
INDIA
Tel: +91 11 26114451, Extn.1205/1219, 24103071, 24103205
Fax: + 91 11 23010700 / 23010680
E-mail: usfsi@mea.gov.in
3. Mr. Navneet Sikera
Senior Superintendent of Police
Varanasi
INDIA
Tel: +91 54 22502655, +91 98 3950 4898 (mobile)
Fax: +91 54 2250 1450
4. Mr. Gokaran
District Magistrate
Varanasi
INDIA
Tel: +91 54 2250 8585
Fax: +91 54 2234 8313
E-mail: dmvsn@satyam.net.in
5. Justice A.P. Mishra
Chairperson
Uttar Pradesh Human Rights Commission
6-A Kalidass Marg
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
Tel: +91 52 2272 6742
Fax: +91 52 2272 6743
6. Shri Justice A. S. Anand
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission of India
Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg
New Delhi-110001
INDIA
Tel: +91 11 23074448
Fax: +91 11 2334 0016
E-mail: chairnhrc@nic.in
7. Ms. Hina Jilani
Special Representative of the Secretary General for human rights defenders
Att: Ben Majekodunmi
Room 1-040
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10,
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 93 88
Fax: +41 22 917 9006
8. Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo
Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression
Att: Ms. Julie De Riviero
Room: 3-042
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9177
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (general)
9. Mr. Doudou Diene
Special Rapporteur on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
Room 4-041
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais Wilson,
Rue des Paquis 52, Geneva
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 9179271
Fax: +41 22 9179050
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Program
Asian Human Rights Commission
