INDIA: Human rights activist facing death threats in Varanasi

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) regarding the case of Mr. Prem Kumar Nut, a human rights activist who is facing death threats for approaching the local police to complain against a person in the locality.

CASE DETAILS:

Mr. Prem Kumar Nut, son of Mr. Mahngu Ram Nut lives in Belwa village of Varanasi district. Prem is a Dalit human rights activist working for the national project on preventing torture in India – Uttar Pradesh, a programme by the Tamil Nadu based Peoples Watch and Uttar Pradesh based People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR). Prem works for the rights of the Dalits and the marginalised.

On 23 October, 2007 at about 5pm Prem was coming home riding his motorcycle from the cooperative society in Belwa village. On the road Prem was stopped by Mr. Sanjay Singh, son of Lalji Singh, a resident of Barzi village within the jurisdiction of Phulpur Police Station. When Prem stopped his motorcycle Sanjay started to abuse Prem using vulgar words referring to Prem’s mother and sister. Sanjay abused Prem also saying that “You Nut beggars are feeling rich and how dare you complain against me?” Sanjay further threatened Prem that he will shoot Prem and also members of his family. Sanjay also said that he will not allow any human rights activities in the locality and will see to it that all human rights activists associated with Prem and the local human rights group PVCHR will be forced to leave from the locality for organising the Dalit communities in Belwa village.

Sanjay was furious against the local human rights activists since Prem along with his colleague and friend Mr. Mangala Prasad had organised the local Dalit community to protest against the corrupt practices of the village head and also the government officials working in the village. The AHRC has issued an appeal concerning the case of Mangala as UA-305-2007. Sanjay is a person with previous criminal record. In Mangala’s case also Sanjay is one of the accused.

On same day Prem filed a complaint at the Phulpur Police Station and on the next day he filed a written complaint to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Varanasi district alleging the facts mentioned above and requested the officer to take appropriate actions. Sanjay’s criminal record says that he was in police custody for an earlier crime on which he was released on bail. One of the bail conditions is that Sanjay will not indulge in any other crime and will also stay away from the witnesses in that case. Apparently Sanjay has not only committed yet another crime, but has also breached one of his bail conditions, for which in law, Sanjay’s bail could be canceled.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send letters to relevant offices in Uttar Pradesh so that Prem is given immediate protection. Please also urge the authorities in Uttar Pradesh that threats to human rights activists cannot be allowed. The AHRC has written a separate letter to Ms. Hina Jilani, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General for human rights defenders calling for urgent intervention in this case.

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER