Dear friend
MASUM shown its unflinching commitments towards human rights defenders' cause & rampant torture / harassment upon them by making these issues audible & visible to international communities. Please support the appeal and circulate the news to persons as much as possible.
With fraternity
Kirity
http://www.merinews.com/article/civil-rights-severely-challenged-in-west-bengal/15786660.shtml
http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/2215
India - Arrest of human rights defenders Mr Chotan Das, Mr Bhanu Sarkar and Mr Ramesh Das
On 20 October 2009, human rights defender Mr Chotan Das was arrested in his home in Kolkata and interrogated at a local police headquarters before being released later that night. On 12 October 2009, Mr Bhanu Sarkar and Mr Ramesh Das were arrested and detained overnight in Kolkata. They were interrogated during the course of the night before being released the following morning. No explanation was provided for either of the arrests, nor was any arrest warrant provided. Chotan Das is the Secretary of Bandi Mukti Committee (Committee for the Release of Prisoners) and a civil rights activist.
On 20 October 2009, at approximately 8.30pm, a group of seven or eight persons, two of whom were in civilian clothing, forcibly entered the home of Chotan Das near Jora Mandir, Kolkata. The police stated that the raid was based upon reports of a firecracker being used at the residence. A public feast had been going on in the area at that time, and one of the policemen stated, "We are not going to arrest you just now, but we will arrest you under UAPA [Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]." Chotan Das along with his wife were reportedly pushed and verbally abused, while he was dragged to a Tata Sumo car, which was parked near his home. The car travelled towards the EM Bypass while the policemen covered Chotan Das' face with a towel in order to blindfold him. He was taken to the second floor of Lalbazar, the headquarters of the Kolkata police, a journey which took approximately half an hour.
Reportedly, a Hindi-speaking Indian Police Service (IPS) officer interrogated him at Lalbazar and questioned him about his visit to Ranchi, which related to judicial proceedings that have been brought against an alleged Maoist leader. Chotan Das was not acquainted with him, even by name, and negated all questions in relation to the accused. At approximately midnight that night, Chotan Das was taken to Beleghata Police Station and released.
The police also seized three mobile phones from Chotan Das' house, two belonging to Chotan Das and one belonging to his son. The arrest followed reports that some unknown persons had been loitering around his house from the afternoon of the day of his arrest.
On 12 October 2009, human rights defenders Mr Bhanu Sarkar and Mr Ramesh Das were arrested while pasting up posters in College Street Kolkata, close to the Calcutta Coffee House. The posters called for the release of detained tribal leader Mr Chhatradhar Mahato of the Lalgarh Movement, which campaigns against police abuses in the Lalgarh region of West Midnapore. Several police personnel detained Bhanu Sarkar and Ramesh Das and brought them in a police Jeep to Armherst Street Police Station. They were later transferred to a Kolkata Police interrogation centre at Lord Sinha Road, where they were detained until midnight and interrogated by Mr Parthasarathi Ghosh, a police officer, although the detainees did not know at the time that he was an official. Parthasarathi Ghosh questioned the two activists about their links to with "Maoism" and Chhatradhar Mahato. They were later returned to Armherst Street Police Station where they were released.
Front Line believes that the arrest, detention and interrogation of Chotan Das, Bhanu Sarkar and Ramesh Das are directly related to their work in the defence of human rights. Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Chotan Das, Bhanu Sarkar and Ramesh Das.
Front Line urges the Indian authorities to:
1.Carry out an immediate, impartial and thorough investigation into the arrest and detention of Chotan Das, Bhanu Sarkar and Ramesh Das, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;
2.Take all necessary measures to ensure the physical and psychological integrity and security of Chotan Das, Bhanu Sarkar and Ramesh Das;
3.Guarantee that in all circumstances human rights defenders in India are free to carry out their legitimate human rights work without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.
--
Kirity Roy
Secretary
Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha
(MASUM)
&
National Convenor (PACTI)
Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity
26 Guitendal Lane
Howrah 711101
West Bengal INDIA
Mobile: 09903099699
Tele Fax : +91-33-2640 4118
Phone: +91-33-2640 4520
e. mail : kirityroy@gmail.com
Web: www.masum.org.in
__._,_.___
