EKTA PARISHAD
Gandhi Bhavan, Shyamla Hills
Bhopal- 462002, M.P, India
Tel/Fax :+ 91 755 5223821
E-mail: ektaparishad@yahoo.com
www.ektaparishad.org
Date 24-11-06
Dear Friends,
Subject: Police atrocities and repression of Gandhian and non-violent organization in Madhya Pradesh India.
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8 activists including 3 women activists of Ekta Parishad are in Sagar Jail since last 10 days in false cases registered by Sagar Police and administration at the behest of the Forest Department. They are still waiting for Justice with them selves and as well as organization. Their only fault is that they have been actively associated with the local indigenous people as well as cooperating the government for progressive land reform and land rights campaign so as to combat poverty since last 5-10 years On the evening of 14th November 06 , they were arrested by the police while they were returning from the villages called Yamanpur and Kanera Gond after participating in a peaceful village meeting about the forthcoming campaign “Janadesh 2007” of Ekta Parishad (EP). Next in morning Police arrested another 3 activists and they were “projected” as Nasalite by the Police, Administration and Forest department. Consistent dialogue for their release and quashing off the false cases against these peace and social activists are going on with the Government officials, ruling party and media. These innocent activists are waiting for justice and your support. We need your support and solidarity in this critical situation. Please join hand for the legitimate and peaceful struggles for land and livelihood rights. |
This is to draw your urgent attention to the state repression of the peaceful activities of Ekta Parishad. Police arrested 8 activists including 3 women and implicated same in to false cases under various actions of the Indian Penal Code. They were produced before the Magistrate after 36 hrs under section 124 A, 153A, 447, 147, 148 and 149 of Indian Penal Code. When the women activists were arrested and put in detention at Bandari Police Station, there were no women police officers. This is in blatant violation of the Supreme Court of India ruling that makes it compulsory that at the time of arrest and custody of any women accused there should be women police officer and every accused must be produced before the nearest Magistrate within 24 hrs after his/her detention. The Police and forest department had alleged that they were involved in anti government activities and they conspired to occupy the forestland. Administration presented this incident before the media as a big success of the government to arrest the violence group in Sagar district.
In this context, It is important to understand the fact that indigenous people (Adivasis) get assembled annually to worship their Nature God at the Yamanpur village (which has been occupied by the forest department few years back and adivasis were evicted).Keeping this worship tradition alive, Adivasis were schedule to assembled there on November 15, 2006 and People were also schedule to come from different villages of the Sagar district.
The administration and forest department as encroachment always perceived this annual cultural festival and they were objecting to it. Surprisingly, the District Collector organized a Public grievances camp suddenly on the same day and this was with clear intention to divert the Adivasis from continuing their traditional cultural festival. Such kind of dubious planned of the Administration created further tension in the area. During this public grievance camp the collector reiterated these activist arrest and presented them as encroachers.
It’s a very condemnable incident. Latest shared with you briefly about Ekta Parishad and it’s activities. Ekta Parishad, a Gandhian organization, is working for eradicating poverty through land reforms in 8 states of India among the deprived sections like Dalits and Adivasis. Awareness, organization, mobilization, development of community leadership, policy advocacy for land reforms, enhancing land rights and land development are strategies of Ekta Parishad since last 20 years. Ekta Parishad and it’s activists have been member of different committees formulated by the State and Central Government for land reforms some of them are still member of such committees. Recently, Ekta Parishad conducted a Foot March from Gwalior to Delhi from October 02-20, 06 with a clear objective to alert the Government to work on the agenda of progressive and pro-people land reform policies. Simultaneously there was Fasting and Sit-In at the Jantar Mantar, Delhi from 16-20th October 06, where Minister of Rural Development, Government of India came and promised to work upon our demands. National President of Rastriya Janata Dal Sharad Yadav came and supported our cause. Other distinguished supporters like Thakur Das Bang, Swami Agnivesh, Kuldeep Nayyar (Member of Parliament), Dr.S.N.Subba Rao (Gandhian leader), Brinda Karat (CPM), D.Raja (CPI) came and expressed their solidarity. Delegates of Ekta Parishad also meet Minister of Human Resource Development Government of India and Minister of Tribal Welfare Affairs during this period and all of them were very supportive to our demand and cause.
It’s amazing that Government and the administration has alleged such kind of Gandhian organization and 8 activists in false cases and that too for anti government activities. These activists are fighting against poverty and injustice and some of them were also the members of Task Force on land problems ST/SC in Sagar district. (Task Force was formed in 2001 to see the land related problems of SC/ST headed by the district collector). Ironically the administration has implicated such activists who have been always cooperative and positive for progressive land reform policy, especially for the Dalit and the Adivasis.
Many like minded organization as well as political parties like Samajwadi Party, Gondwana Gantantra Party, Congress and Communist Party of India have come in favor of Ekta Parishad and condemned the incident. The Organization name “Buniyad” send a committee for fact finding on 20th November, they met officials and prepared a report raising different questions on the action of Government, which are the following:
As per the FIR, the offences of encroachment of forestland and felling of trees in the Reserve Forest were committed on 2nd November and the 9th November 2006, but the FIR was lodged on 15th November, which needs to be justified.
As per the FIR, the forest guards were constantly on vigil from the 2nd November then how anybody could have cut and felled about 100 trees on 9th November 2006 in presence of the Forest Guards.
Nobody from forest, police and the district administration accepted that the charges of Naxalism and waging war against the State were told to the press then coverage of such news items by responsible news agencies like UNI and PTI is surprising. The Team felt, it is needed to be further investigated as to who planted such news in the news agencies and what was the motive behind it.
Many social workers and Peace activists are reaching to Sagar and helping us to build pressure on the administration to release the activists. Consequently the Government is trying to patch up the case and finding it difficult to prove the alleged charges in the court of law.
Making attempt to get justice and release of the activists, Ekta Parishad has submitted a memorandum to the Honorable Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh on November 20th, 2006. If Government would take no action then we will launch a campaign. This entire campaign will be lead by Rajgopal P.V, President of Ekta Parishad and acting President of Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi.
National & International non-violent collective action is needed to urge the government for quashing off the false cases and release without any condition. Please write a letter to the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh with a copy to the Prime Minister of India and to other concerned officials.
The arrest of social activist in false cases of anti government activities by the district police administration is illegal. It was also an attempt to destroy the moral of social activist who are working for land reforms to eradicate poverty.
Hence, we request you to urgently intervene to protect the dignity of social activist and uphold the spirit of their human rights and the social justice that is enshrined in the Constitution of India as well as in the international Covenant on Human Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of which India is also a signatory.
We appeal you to join hands and protest against this injustice.
In solidarity,
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Ran Singh Parmar National Convener |
Rajgopal P.V President |
Addresses to write a letter:
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The Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh Mr. Babulal Gaur, Vallabh Bhavan, Bhopal Ph- 0755-2551581/ 2551433/ 2551396/ Fax: 2540501. Email: cm@mp.nic.in |
The Prime Minister of India Mr. Manmohan Singh, Government of India, New Delhi – 110011. Email: pmosb@pmo.nic.in |
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The Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi 110001, Ph-011-23382742, 23384863E-mail:covdnhrc@nic.in, |
The District Collector District-Sagar Madhya Pradesh, Phone-07582 221900 E-mail: dm@mpsagar.mp.nic.in, |
Please inform Ekta Parishad about any responses received to your fax or letter.
Enclosed: Mock letter
(Mock letter)
To,
Mr. Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
Subject: Police atrocities and repression of Gandhian and non-violent Organization in Madhya Pradesh India.
Dear Chief Minister
Recently we received the troubling news of illegal detention and violation of human rights of the activist of Ekta Parishad in Sagar District of Madhya Pradesh. Police arrested 8 activists including 3 women of Ekta Parishad and implicated same in to false cases under various actions of the Indian Penal Code. They were produced before the Magistrate after 36 hrs under section 124 A, 153A, 447, 147, 148 and 149 of Indian Penal Code. When the women activists were arrested and put in detention at Bandari Police Station, there were no women police officers. This is in blatant violation of the Supreme Court of India ruling that makes it compulsory that at the time of arrest and custody of any women accused there should be women police officer and every accused must be produced before the nearest Magistrate within 24 hrs after his/her detention. The Police and forest department had alleged that they were involved in anti government activities and they conspired to occupy the forestland. Administration presented this incident before the media as a big success of the government to arrest the violence group in Sagar district.
In this context, It is important to understand the fact that indigenous people (adivasis) get assembled annually to worship their Nature God at the Yamanpur village (which has been occupied by the forest department few years back and Adivasis were evicted). Keeping this worship tradition alive, Adivasis were schedule to assembled there on November 15, 2006 and People were also schedule to come from different villages of the Sagar district.
The administration and forest department as encroachment always perceived this annual cultural festival and they were objecting to it. Surprisingly, the District Collector organized a Public grievances camp suddenly on the same day and this was with clear intention to divert the Adivasis from continuing their traditional cultural festival. Such kind of dubious planned of the Administration created further tension in the area. During this public grievance camp the collector reiterated these activist arrest and presented them as encroachers.
Making attempt to get justice and release of the activists, Ekta Parishad has submitted a memorandum to the Honorable Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh on November 20th, 2006. If Government would take no action then we will launch a campaign. This entire campaign will be lead by Rajgopal P.V, President of Ekta Parishad and acting President of Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi.
Hence, we request to you to kindly intervene to protect the human rights in your state uphold the spirit of human rights and social justice as enshrined in the Constitution. We demand the following:
Immediately release the activists of Ekta Parishad from the detention of Sagar Police.
FIR should be lodged against the Police who have made illegal detention of the activists and could not follow the provisions of constitution.
I would like to thank you for your attention and kindly keep me informed about the action you intend to take on this matter.
Thanking you,