UPDATE (India): Human rights activists in Varanasi facing continuous threat from women traffickers

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Guria, a local human rights organisation working on women trafficking in Uttar Pradesh regarding the death threats on human rights defenders associated with Guria. Four unknown persons allegedly engaged in human trafficking in Varanasi threatened to kill the activists associated with Guria. The threats were made repeatedly both in person and over the phone.

CASE DETAILS:

At 4pm on the July 8, 2008 unknown persons allegedly related to human trafficking in Varanasi began threatening local human rights defenders associated with Guria. The four unknown men who threatened Guria’s staff came to the Bal Kendra (child centre) in Shivdaspur Red Light area (under the jurisdiction of Manduadih police station, Varanasi district) looking for Mr. Ajeet Singh, president of Guria. Guria is working against human trafficking and for the rehabilitation, health, education and other rights concerned with women in prostitution, and their children.

Ms. Santwana Manju, wife of Ajeet was teaching at the Bal Kendra at the time, while Mr. Ajeet was out of town for some work. When Manju asked these four persons why they came, the four men threatened Manju to stop working against human trafficking as well as following up the cases on it. Otherwise, they further threatened to kill Ajeet and Manju.

These four men also told Manju that although they had merely threatened to kill Ajeet and Manju over the phone last time they would put their words into practice this time. Moreover, they warned that the police would not be able to do anything for Ajeet and Manju.

After they left following their verbal abuse towards Ajeet, Manju and Guria, these four men made a phone call on the number +91 54225 04253 to the office of Guria, located at Khajuri. The caller without being identified abused and threatened Ajeet over the phone to stop working on the cases.

On July 12, Ajeet sent a letter to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), District Magistrate of Varanasi (DM), Inspector General of Police (IGP), Director General of Police (DGP) and Principal Home Secretary in Varanasi district, calling for attention to the threats, as well as demanding an action against the alleged perpetrators committing human trafficking in Varanasi. However, no responses from the local authorities have been given to these letters so far.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The AHRC has released cases regarding human trafficking in Varanasi. For previous cases please see AHRC-UAU-005-2008, AHRC-UAC-081-2008, UP-036-2007, UP-035-2006, UP-131-2005 and UA-109-2005. All these cases of human trafficking, in particular concerning the sex trade in Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh, have reportedly not been investigated by the police.

The local police reportedly have connections with human traffickers, which is reflected in the fact that the police used to advice the victims not to take further action against the perpetrators rather than disclose their crimes. On the other hand, the local police tend to conceal that such a grave crime like the sex trade happens within its jurisdiction. The local police attempts to minimise the actual gravity of the crime while the victim tries to seek justice before the law. Such close connection of the human traffickers with the local police is possible reportedly because the police find sex trade as an extra source of income. Guria reports and it is common knowledge in Varanasi that all ranks of police officers have connection with the human trafficking network operating in Varanasi.

The human rights defenders of Guria tried to expose forced prostitution in Varanasi. In the process they complained to the local police to take action against those who were bringing women and children to Varanasi for their ‘business’. The local police, and even the higher ranks of the police, not only failed to take any action but also informed brothel keepers that complaints were being made towards them. When forced to take some action, after informing the brothel keepers the local police visited the place and as expected found nothing. This exercise continued several times making the entire attempt by Guria to rescue women and children from being forced into prostitution a mockery.

As a result, the inaction of the local police encourages human traffickers in Varanasi, not only to preserve their criminal business but to threaten the witness and human rights defenders working against the human trafficking. If the local police and administrative authorities do not take substantial action against human traffickers and protect both the victim and witness, children and women will be more exposed to human trafficking.

There are currently six cases registered against the brothel keepers. They are all pending before various courts in Varanasi. The case numbers are 274/2005, 294/2005, 295/2005, 280/2005, 300/2005 and 121/2007. The police to please the brothel keepers have registered four cases against the human rights activists associated with Guria. The case numbers are 274/c/2005, 274/e/2005, 274/g/2005 and 274/h/2005. As of now all these cases are dragging on in court.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities named below expressing your concern over this case.

The AHRC has also written a separate letter to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders calling for an intervention in this case.

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