INDIA: Social activist kidnapped in Raigarh District, Chhattisgarh 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from reliable sources about the kidnapping of a social and environmental activist in Raigarh District, Chhattisgarh on 22 November 2005.

Bina Rajput, a committed fighter for the rights of the poor and tribals was cycling from her home in Saraipali Village to another village about seven kilometers away from Raigarh city on the morning of November 22. However, she never reached her destination. The next day her sister received a call from Bina saying that she had been kidnapped and was being forced to reveal the whereabouts of another eminent social activist.

Members of Lok Shakti Samiti, a local organisation, met the Superintendent of Police, Raigarh who asked them to gather more facts before registering a complaint with the police, which was done soon thereafter.

However, to date, the whereabouts of Bina are unknown and it is a matter of grave concern that the police have been unable to even trace the telephone numbers of the kidnappers. On 26 November, various social groups got together in Raigarh to strongly voice their dissent against the kidnapping and demand a search for Bina. On November 28, they decided to participate in an indefinite protest meeting.

We therefore call for your urgent intervention. Please immediately write to the Superintendent of Police, Raigarh and others asking them to investigate this matter urgently and launch search and rescue proceedings.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
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DETAILED INFORMATION

Name of victim: Bina Rajput, aged 20-years-old
Address: Saraipali Village, Raigarh district, Chhattisgarh
Date of Incident: 22 November 2005

Case Details:

On 22 November 2005, Bina Rajput, a social and environmental activist working on the right to food and livelihood for the tribals and other poor who might be soon displaced due to a construction of a dam in Rabo Village, Raigarh, started cycling from her home in Saraipali at about 10:00 a.m. She wanted to visit some self-help groups and public distribution systems in Kosampali Village, about seven kilometers from Raigarh city. Though she was supposed to reach Kosampali in an hour, she never did.

On November 23, at about 12 noon, Bina’s sister, Ranjana received a call from her saying that she had been kidnapped and was being forced to reveal the whereabouts and telephone numbers of Rajesh Tripathi, a renowned environmental activist and a member of Lok Shakti, another local organisation. Soon after that, Ranjana received another call saying that acid had been thrown on her sister.

Considering the seriousness of the situation, Mr. Ramesh Agrawal from Lok Shakti, along with another member, went to meet Mr. Ravindra Bhediya, the Superintendent of Police, Raigarh requesting him to take immediate action. Mr. Bhedia was alleged to have taken the matter lightly and asked the team to gather some more facts in the case before registering a complaint with the police. A complaint was registered soon thereafter.

However, despite a week now having passed since her disappearance, there is still no trace of Bina. It is surprising that in this age of advanced technology, the police have been unable to even trace the telephone numbers of the kidnappers.

On November 26, a meeting of various social groups and associations was called to register a strong protest against the kidnapping, demanding that immediate rescue proceedings be launched. Since November 28, members of these social groups have been sitting in an indefinite protest meeting.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please send a letter to the Superintendent of Police, Raigarh and others asking them to investigate this incident on a priority basis and immediately launch search and rescue proceedings.

 

 

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