PUCL Bulletin, May 2002

Chitrakoot PUCL, UP
Murder of Dalit leader, Harish Chandra and assault on Dalit households

A fact finding report

Composition of fact-finding team
Sayed Ali Manzar, State Joint Secretary (PUCL); Sheo Kumar Mishra, Vice President Bar Association, Banda, Member State Executive Insaaf; Malini Ghose, Nirantar, Delhi; Praneeta Kapur (Hunger Project Delhi); Hari Shankar (General Secretary Chitrakoot PUCL); Deepa Pant (SARC, Varanasi); Tripathi (Peace, New Delhi); Madhavi Kukreja (PUCL Chitrakoot); Maheshwar, Urmila, Pushpa, Mamta (Vanagana Chitrakoot).

Persons spoken to
Family of the deceased (Harish Chandra, his son Devendra, Ravindra and wife Poonam); Women's Sangathan in Muslim Tola and College Tola; Testimonies of persons beaten (Surajpal, Sunita, Neha, Mahadev), and several others from the Ahirwar Tola.

Note: The team was unable to speak to the mother of the deceased, as she is admitted in serious condition, in Allahabad, Swaroop Rani Hospital, and is unable to give her testimony.

The Incident

• 15 Dalit men and women from Ahirwar Tola, village Bhauri, block Manikpur, district Chitrakoot. 8 kms from P.S. Rajpura and 12 Kms from Karvi (District Headquarters) were severely beaten up in an orgy of violence on the night of 18th February 2002. The women were threatened with sexual violence.
  
• Murder of Harish Chandra Ahirwar. Dalit leader and active BSP worker, on the morning of 19th February 2002 in Bhauri village.
  
• Attempt to murder one Sundi, mother of Harish Chandra Ahirwal, on the morning of 19th February 2002 in Bhauri village.
  Current Status:
  
• An FIR has been lodged against four men (Kamlesh alias Raju Shrivastav (Lalla) s/o Gaya Prasad, Badri Prasad Tripathi s/o Ansuiya, Prakash Mishra s/o Sagar Mishra, Shiv Vilas s/o Bacchilal), accused of the murder. They have been charged under the sections 309, 307, 509, 504, 506 IPC, under 3(q) 5 SC/ST Act. All four are absconding. No arrests have been made as yet.
  
• No FIR has been lodged in the incident of beating in Ahirwar Tola.

Chronology of Events

• On January 26, 2002, there was an incident of tension and altercation on the painting of the BSP party's elephant symbol on the wall of his residence in Ahirwar Tola, where Ravindra, a conductor, son of Dalit school teacher Chote Lal, was beaten up by Raju Lalla and Prakash Mishra, at the instigation of Badri Prasad Tripathi. Both Raju Lalla and Prakash Mishra have previous criminal records. Ravi Kiran, brother of Ravindra, corroborated this incident.
  
• An FIR was lodged against Raju Lalla and Prakash Mishra, and Lal Kewat by Harish Chandra. Subsequently, Raju Lalla and Prakash were arrested. They were released on bail, allegedly arranged by Badri Prasad Tripathi on 3rd February 2002. It is generally believed that the real case was timed to create a feeling of fear and tension in the village in the run-up to the elections.
  
• On the day of the elections, there were several flash points, e.g., when Harish Chandra and his son were pasting a BSP poster at the bus-stand, they were stopped by Badri Prasad Tripathi and threatened. However, Harish Chandra did put the poster up. During the voting, Prakash Mishra and Raju Lalla were the polling agents for the BJP; while Harish Chandra was the polling against for the BSP, for booth # 148 in Bhauri. There were heated exchanges between the two, as Harish Chandra spoke out against alleged voting malpractices and threats to those voting for the BSP.
  
• On the evening of 18th February 2002, because tensions were high, the local MLA, Daddu Prasad took Harish Chandra away from the village to Karvi, for protection.
  
• On the same evening Ravindra, Rajesh, and Ravindra (younger son of deceased) were beaten at the bus stop by Raju Lalla and Prakash Mishra.
  
• Ravindra then called the Raipura Police Station to report the incident. He was told that since the police were too tired and did not have adequate forces because of the election they could not send anyone to Bhauri. This incident was also reported to the police by the MLA Manikpur/Mau Daddu Prasad.
  
• On the night of 18th February 2002 Prakash Mishra, Lalla, and Shiv Vilas, who were drunk, burnt a Liquor Contract Shop housed in Vijay Upadhyay's house on the main road near Bhauri Bus Stop around 9:30 pm. They then entered Ahriwar Tola and proceeded to severely beat several men and women (a total of 13 received very severe, beatings, needing medical attention) and terrorize the residents of the Tola. The beatings were so serve that many had broken limbs and serious injuries (corroborated by testimonies of the injured).
  
• The news of the beating was given by Devendra to Harish Chandra (over the telephone) early next morning. The MLA telephoned both the Raipura Police Station and the SP and was told that action would be taken after a while as they had no force. Harish Chandra returned to the village immediately. On reaching the village, he went straight to Ahirwar Tola. Followed by his two sons and his mother, Sundi. His mother was trying to persuade him not to go.
  
• Harish Chandra entered Ahirwar Tola, spoke with Surajpal, saw his injuries and told him that he would gather others who had been beaten up and they would all go to lodge an FIR.
  
• However a little ahead, in the same lane at Suraj Pal's house, Badri, Tripathi, Raju Lalla, Prakash Mishra, and Shiv Vilas, confronted Harish Chandra. They exchanged words. Prakash Mishra and Raju Lalla pulled out their 'katta's (guns) an Badri Tripathi asked them to shoot Harish Chandra. Harish Chandra's mother tired to intervene and got shot just; before collapsing she urged her son and grandsons to run away. Harish Chandra ran into an adjoining lane followed by Prakash Mishra and Raju Lalla. Then Prakash Mishra and Raju Lalla shot Harish Chandra at close range, he died immediately.
  
• Prakash Mishra, Raju Lalla, and Shiv Vilas Dhobi left the scene, threatening the residents of Ahirwal Tola that this was not the end and there would be more dead bodies. They left the village via Muslim Tola, threatening that many more bodies would fall.
  
• Devendra called the police and the local MLA. The MLA, Daddu Prasad arrived soon after, the police arrived two hours later. The police took away the body of Harish Chandra, no attempt was made by the police to search for and take the accused into custody.

What the fact-finding team found

• The Administration and the Police have been totally lax and indifferent, and there has blatant State connivance in the human rights violations that have taken place, and due process of law has not been followed.
  
• Extreme fear in the Dalit and Muslim bastis. A constant spate of rumours about the whereabouts of the accused has led to an escalation of fear and terror amongst them.
  
• Large numbers of families of Ahirwar Tola and College Tola have left the village, fearing for their lives. In the other Dalit basis too, men and young boys have migrated out of the village fearing for their safety.
  

Demands of the Fact-Finding team

• Arrests of the four accused named in the FIR
  
• Ensure that the FIR of those severely beaten up is lodged immediately.
  
• An investigation into the laxity of the Police and Administration which resulted in the acceleration of violence and the indifference in their response after the incident.
  
• Keeping in mind the geo-physical terrain (jungle and hilly regions) of the village, the police needs to increase vigilance in Dalit and Muslim hamlets.
  
• The police ensure that the situation of extreme tension between the two communities does not escalate into an outright caste war.
  
• Ensure that the victims of the incident on the night of the 18-19th February receive urgent adequate compensation, and free medical treatment.
  
• Ensure that the families that have moved out of the village fearing for their lives, be brought back immediately so that they can earn their livelihood and due protection be provided to them.
  
• An independent enquiry by the SC/ST Commission.
  

Actions by the State
(Due to by-polls, and Elections, the SP and District Administration were not available for comment. Therefore, the police actions have been noted from the press and those seen in the village).

• The filing of a single FIR # 15/2001
  
• Station Police in Ahirwar Tola, and outside Harish Chandra's house, and the station PAC Battalion in the Inter college.
  
• The suspension of SHO Rajpura, SP Gautam, for his inaction.
  
• Medical Examination of those injured on the 19th.

Members of the Ahirwar Tola, who were beaten on the night of the 18th/19th February 2002: Surajpal s/o Nathu Ahirwar, Sunita w/o Bodhilal, Bodhilal s/o Baldev, Prabhu s/o Kundawa, Leela w/o Prabhu, Mahadev s/o Luchcha, Neha d/o Kamini, Kamini w/o Ache Lal, Bhagwandas s/o Baidnath, Ratilal, Heeramani w/o Pratap, Tilu s/o Badri, Punnu s/o Kallu, Relative from Jabalpur.
List of 13 families has currently been traced that has left the village from Ahirwar Tola and College Tola and have sought temporary shelter and residence with their relatives.

Those who have migrated from the village out of fear
Nathu Kuril, Kanthlal s/o Mudhii and his wife Rajrani and daughter, Tillu s/o Badri, Ramswarup s/o Babu, Hiramani w/o Pratap, Bale s/o Ratilal, Punnu s/o Kallu, Munni w/o Jhallar - 7 members, Prem - 6 members, Bhagwandas - 4 members, Lachiya, Jiya Lal.

Corroborating Evidence
Testimony of Devendra, son of the deceased, a student of B.A. final year in Allahabad, and eye-witness to the incident and of Poonam, wife of the deceased:

* Tension between Badri Prasad Tripathi and Harish Chandra (deceased) has been long standing. Ten years ago Harish Chandra was a 'Koedaar'. Badri Prasad Tripathi and Prakash Mishra made false allegations against him and got him imprisoned. His 'katta' was taken away.

* Badri Prasad Tripathi became a Zila Panchaayat member in 1995. He is a party member of the BJP. At that time Harish Chandra had the local 'theka' (contract) for leather and bones. Badri Prasad used his position in the Zila Panchaayat to get the contract removed from Harish Chandra.

* During the last Panchaayat elections in 2000, the wives of Badri Prasad and Harish Chandra, Rani and Poonam, were rival candidates for the post of Gram Pradhan. Badri Prasad Tripathi's wife won. There was a lot of tension along caste lines during this period as well.

* The village Saving Group women supported Shanti in filling an FIR against Soni, who not only blocked her route but also beat her injuring her and the unborn. Harish Chandra was blamed for the filing of that FIR.

* Then on Deepawali, Raju Lalla burst a cracker at Harish Chandra's feet. This resulted in an alteration and they had beaten up Harish Chandra.

* Two FIRs have been lodged by Harish Chandra against Badri Prasad Tripathi.

* On January 26, 2002, there was an incident of tension and alteration on the painting of the BSP election symbol on the wall of his residence in Ahirwar Tola, where Ravindra, a conductor, son of Dalit school teacher Chote Lal, was beaten up by Raju Lalla and Prakash Mishra, at the instigation of Badri Prasad Tripathi. Both Raju Lalla and Prakash Mishra have previous criminal records. This incident was corroborated by Ravi Karan brother of Ravindra.

* An FIR was lodged against Raju Lalla and Prakash Mishra and Lal Kewat by Harish Chandra. Subsequently Raju Lalla and Prakash were arrested. They were released on bail allegedly arranged by Badri Prasad Tripathi on 3rd February 2002. it is generally believed that the real case was timed to create a feeling of fear and tension in the village in the run-up to the elections.

* On the day of the elections, there were several flash points: when Harish Chandra and his son were pasting a BSP poster at the bus-stand, they were stopped by Badri Prasad Tripathi and threatened. However Harish Chandra did put the poster up. During the voting. Prakash Mishra and Raju Lalla were the poling agents for the BJP, while Harish Chandra was the poling agent for the BSP, for the booth # 148 in Bhauri. There were heated exchanges between the two, as Harish Chandra spoke out against alleged voting malpractices and threats to those voting for the BSP.

* On the evening of the 18th February 2002, because tensions were high the local MLA, Daddu Prarad took Harish Chandra away from the village to Karvi, for protection.

* On the same evening Ravindra, Rajesh, and Ravindra (younger son of deceased) were beaten at the bus stop by Raju Lalla and Prakash Mishra.

* Ravindra then called the Raipura police station to report the incident. He was told that since the police were too tired and did not have adequate forces because of the election they could not send anyone to Bhauri. This incident was also reported to the Police by the MLA Manikpur/Mau Daddu Prasad.

* On the night of the 18th February, 2002, Prakash Mishra, Raju Lalla, and Shiv Vilas who were drunk, burnt a Liquor Contract Shop in Vijay Upadhyay's house on the main road near Bhauri Bus stop around 9:30 pm. They then entered Ahirwar Tola and proceeded to severely beat several men and women (a total of 13 received very severe beating, needing medical attention) and terrorize the residents of the Tola. The beatings were so severe that many had broken limbs and serious injuries (corroborated by testimonies of the injured).

* The news of the beating was given by Devendra to Harish Chandra (over the telephone) early next morning. The MLA called both the Raipura Police Station and the SP and was told that action would be taken after a while as they had no force. Harish Chandra returned to the village immediately. On reaching the village, he went straight to Ahirwar Tola, followed by his two sons and his mother, Sundi. His mother was trying to persuade him not to go.

* Harish Chandra entered Ahirwar Tola, spoke with Surajpal, saw his injuries and told him that he would gather the others who and been beaten and they would all go to lodge an FIR.

* However a little ahead, in the same lane as Surajpal's house. Badri Prasad Tripathi, Raju Lalla, Prakash Mishra, and Shiv Vilas, confronted Harish Chandra. They exchanged words. Prakash Mishra and Raju Lalla pulled out their 'kattas' (guns) an Badri Prasad Tripathi asked them to shoot Harish Chandra. Harish Chandra's mother tired to intervene and got shot; just before collapsing she urged her son and grandsons to run away. Harish Chandra ran into an adjoining lane followed by Prakash Mishra and Raju Lalla shot Harish Chandra at close range, he died immediately.

* Prakash Mishra, Raju Lalla, and Shiv Vilas Dhobi left the scene, threatening the residents of Ahirwar Tola that this was not the end and they would be more dead bodies. They left the village via Muslim Tola, threatening that many more bodies would fall.

* Devendra called the police and the local MLA. The MLA, Daddu Prasad arrived soon after, the police arrived two hours later. The police took away the body of Harish Chandra, no attempt was made by the police to search for and take the accused into custody.

* An FIR was later lodged at the police station, the MLA, Daddu Prasad sent the grandmother, Sundi first to Karvi district hospital where she was refered to Allahabad and was taken for treatment by the MLA. Her condition is said to be serious.

* While a police picket has been set up in the village, and testimonies of the injured have been taken, no FIR has been lodged in this matter, and the houses of the accused have not been searched.

Testimony of Residents of Ahirwar Tola (Ambedkar Nagar) - Bhauri
25-30 houses were entered into and the following 15 individuals were beaten and injured.

Surajpal s/o Nathu Ahirwar, Sunita w/o Bodhilal, Bodhilal s/o Baldev, Prabhu s/o Kundawa, Leela w/o Prabhu, Mahadev s/o Luchcha, Neha d/o Kamini, Kamini w/oAche Lal, Bhagwandas s/o Baidnath, Ratilal, Heeramani w/o Pratap, Tilu s/o Badri, Punnu s/o Kallu, relative from Jabalpur.

1) Surajpal (Tailor) s/o Nathu Ahirwar:
On the night of the 18th (voting day) at around 1:30 at night, there was banging at our door. My father, who was asleep in the outer room asked who it was and what they wanted. Saying only that they wanted to speak to me they forced my father to open that door. They entered pushing him aside and dragged me out into the courtyard. It was Raju Lalla and Shiv Vilas. Another man was standing in the lane out side, but I could not make out who it was. They locked my family inside, latching the door from outside, and began to beat me up. They beat me a lot and kept saying that this is what happens to people that vote for 'haathi'(BSP). They only stopped when I kept repeating that they were wrong and I had voted for "kamal" (BJP). Then they pushed me back into the house and locked us in from outside. We stayed in all night long not able to come out of the house.

I do not know what they wanted from me. I only work in a small shop as a tailor and try to support my family.

The next morning (the day after the voting). Badri Prasad Tripathi came to find out what had happened and how I was doing. Soon after Harish Chandra came and asked me what had happened. He heard me out and then went on ahead wanting to meet the others who had been beaten. While going ahead in the same direction as Badri Tripathi, he said that once he had met everyone we would all go together to lodge an FIR.

He showed the fact-finding team his knee and lower leg both were swollen, and he cannot bend his leg at the knee. He had an x-ray on the morning of the 21st February. He has a medical prescription but had not brought the medicines, as he has not been able to earn anything since the 18th.

2) Sunita w/o Bodhi Lal and
3) Bodhi Lal:
Voting was carried out peacefully. The agent had just been released from jail and he was watching who was voting for whom. He was the one that came for us at night.

At 11 pm we heard shouts and loud noises from the neighboring houses, we knew something was wrong and locked ourselves into our rooms immediately. The door leding from our courtyard into the lane was also locked, so they jumped into our courtyard from the roof. We identified them only later, at first we were inside our rooms (there are three families in rooms that open into a common central courtyard), and refused to open the door. Then they began to threaten to break down the door, so I opened it. There were three of them, Raju Lalla, Prakash Mishra, and Shiv Vilas. They beat me on my chest, slapped me, and beat me with a laathi. I got badly injured on my lip. Then they began to beat my husband, they also fired a round in the air. They beat us with their belt and ring, which is still lying here broken. We were very scared. They kicked my elder sister-in-law, Kalavati and abused my younger sister-in-law Parvati.

We heard them shouting till they left the basti, "been been kar maarenge" (they will pick each one out and kill us).

4) Leela (w/o Prabhu):
Leela said that on the night of 18th (around 11-11:30 pm) there was loud banging on the door along with people threatening that they would break down the door. Leela opened the door and found Raju Lalla, Prakash Mishra, Shiv Vilas Dhobhi. The three of them entered the house, slapped and kicked her. They then dragged her out of the house. Then they attacked her husband Prabhu with the laathis, tamancha (local pistol), etc., that they were carrying. They hit Prabhu with these. His head was split open and he collapsed. They slapped Leela, pushed her into the housse and closed the door and put the latch from outside. They then entered Mahadev's house. While outside Leela cried out for help but no one came out of their house out of fear. The couple remained inside the whole night. The next morning Harish Chandra was on the way to visit him after going to Surajpal's house when he was killed. Daddu Prasad took Prabhu to Karvi and them sent him to Allahabad along with the mother of deceased.

Leela mentioned that the tension between the Dalits and Brahmans has been escalating over the years. She attributes this to the increasing power of the Dalits and their upward social mobility. Earlier no Dalits was educated now all of them send their children to school. Many youth from that basti are now studying in Allahabad. Many have good government jobs. Six boys from the community are teachers. In fact it was after the incident with Ravindran on January 26th that tensions had escalated. Most Brahmans she said are not in the service (G0vernment jobs). Women have also started talking back there have been minor incidents over wages, ration, and schooling.

1) Mahadev (s/o Lucheha) Approx 65-70 yrs:
The three entered the house with tamancha's (local pistols) and laathis in their hands. They also picked up lathis from Mahadev's house (The team was shown the broken laathi). He was badly beaten and has many visible injuries (on the left side of the body). His head was split on the front, he had a gash on his hand. His body was badly wswollen. After he collapsed the three of them ran away. Both Mahadev's wife and Leela said the three men were shouting throughout - "you have voted for "hathi' therefore you are being beaten."

2) Neha (d/o Kamini) Age 15 years and
3) Kamini:
The three men came in from the terrace and then entered the courtyard. They were hurling abuses and banging on the door. Mother and daughter were terrified and were cowering inside. Finally, when the banging did not stop, Kamini opened the door. Raju Lalla caught hold of Kamini's neck and dragged her out of the room, slapped and beat her. Neha, who studies in Allahabad, was also dragged out by her hair. She said to Raju Lalla "Mamaji, what have we done that you are beating us." He replied: "If you hadn't called me mama I would have raped you." After considerable pleading they were released.

4) Ratilal (Age 80 years):
One month ago Raju Lalla had beaten up Ratilal. During the beating his watch had fallen off, and broken. He made Ratilal pay Rs. 700 for the damage to his watch for which Ratilal had to pawn his home for Rs. 700. He was sitting at his usual place when Raju Lalla, Prakash Mishra, and Shiv Vilas Dhobi as they left after firing the gun shots, beat him with a stick about 6 times.

The testimonies of Bhagwan Das, Tilu, Hiramani, Punnu is in the section of those who have left the village out of Fear. The testimony of Prabhu could not be taken as he is in hospital in Allahabad, while the relative from Jabalpur has left already.

Testimonies of those that have moved from Bhauri Village, Fearing for their Lives:

Bhagwan Das s/o Baidnath (temporarily shifted to Tarauhan village, Chitrakoot Block):

On the 26th January, Badri Prasad Tripathi, Prakash Mishra, and Raju Lalla fought with us about painting a 'haathi' (election symbol of the BSP) on the walls of the community halls.

We lodged an FIR, but Badri Prasad Tripathi did not get arrested; only Raju Lalla and Prakash Mishra got arrested.

On the night of the 18th February, Raju Lalla, Shiv Vilas, and Prakash Mishra went to the 'theka' (local liquor shop), after drinking their fill, they reached my house and called me out, and began fighting with me about who we had voted for. After that they all ran off and we returned to our houses and locked ourselves in.

But the three went to each of the other houses and forced people to come out, beat them and them locked them back into their own houses. They burst what sounded to us like bombs at the time, but we later realized that it was gun shots.
When someone called Thana at Raipura, the police said that they could not come at the moment.

Heeramani w/o Pratap, Member of Vanangana Swashakti Women's Savings Group (residents of Ahirwar Tola shifted to her parents house in Aichwara village):

Heeramani said that she was beaten up by Prakash Mishra, who come to her house at 12 o'clock on the night of the 18-19th February. He first tried to beat her with a laathi, but her son stopped him. After this Prakash Mishra started kicking her on her shins with his shoes. She was very badly hurt.
The reason she left the house and fled with her five children, was because all the other families from the Tola they lived in had migrated out, and she was scared for their lives.

Ketakji w/o Om Prakash, and neighbour of Heeramani also fled the village along with her and is taking shelter in Aichwara village.
Moolchand, resident, Tejipur village:

Told of his relative Tilu s/o Badri, and his family who moved in with him on the 19th February, after being beaten up by Raju Lalla, Shiv Vilas, and Prakash Mishra, they also left Bhauri village fearing for their lives. He said that the entire family spends the whole day away from even their temporary residence, moving from village to village only returning at night to sleep at his home.
Tilu s/o Badri (Resident of Ahirwar Tola):

Tilu said that they reached his house at 2:00 p.m. Tilu was lying on the cot and his wife was also beside him. They knocked at the door; Tilu's wife woke him up and then Tilu asked "who is at the door". To this the person at the door answered, "I am Raju". When Tilu opened the door Raju Lalla pulled me out of the door and started beating me with a lathi. After this he asked me whom I have given my vote to. He went on continuously asking me that why I had caste my vote to Haathi and he had a local made pistol. Then he took Tilu inside and told him that if he would come out he would kill him. Then he shut my door and bolted it from outside. After this he went to Punnu's house and slapped him hard as a result his two teeth broke.

In the morning Tilu went to the Pradhan's house and showed him his wounds. Badri Prasad Tripathi told him that Raju should not have beaten him in such a way. The Pradhan came with him till some distance they met Harish Chandra. Harish Chandra told the Pradhan that all that had happened was not good and went ahead. As Harish Chandra reached the Neem tree there was a firing.

Punnu S/o Kallu (Ahirwar Tola):
I had come from Delhi on 18th February 2002. Our family has been staying in Delhi since quite some time now. I had just come to Bhauri to cast my vote so I could not understand the situation here. There were continuous discussions about the elections and votes. On 18th February I was sleeping at my nephew's place, Kanth Lal Sumadhi's house. On asking as to why he is not sleeping at his place he said that as he was in Delhi for quite some time his house in broken. At around 1.00 p.m.. I heard a knock at the door and when I asked as to who was there at the door, someone answered " I am Raju Lalla". As I opened the door I was slapped hard on my face as a result on which two of my teeth broke. After this Raju Lal, Prakhash Mishra, and Shiv Vilas hit me hard with a Lathi. My leg and spine is affected badly. Then they pushed me inside the house and locked the door from outside. They would have beaten up Kanth Lal but he was sleeping in some other room. Next morning I sat out in the sun as I was hurt a lot and I could not go anywhere. When I heard the tension between Harish Chandra and Badri Prasad we went there. As I reached there I saw that the three men-Raju Lalla, Prakash Mishra, and Shiv Vilas fired at Harish Chandra. As this happened there was chaos and confusion in the village. As my wounds were hurting I returned home.

I along with other three men-Bardani Lal S/o Dukhiya, Suraj Pal S/o Nathu, and Bodhi Lal S/o Baldev were taken to the hospital by one policeman. The doctor there said that the government hospital's work has been done and they should go somewhere else and get the medicines for their broken bones. No FIR has been filed yet. I out of fear am staying at my sister-in-law's place at Gupt Godavri.

After this Tilu came to Karvi and got my medical done. I gave my Application but there was no hearing on that. Tilu is presently staying at Tejpur with his family because of fear. Some people in Tejipur were discussing that Raju Lalla was roaming near Tarauha village so out of fear Tilu said that they do not move out of the house. They fear that Raju Lalla was till now at Bhauri and now he has come there at Tarauha to console Tilu. The school master (of Tejipur) also said that Tilu should not fear and if Raju comes to the village he will save him.
On 23 February The CO has also come to Tejpur.

Shivkanya W/o Prem and daughter in law of Rati Lal (who was beaten at Bhaunri and is presently in the village) S/o Raju Ram.

Shivkanya has, out of fear, left the village and presently she is at her parents house at Mafi Karvi with her husband and children.

She said that at 5.30 p.m. Raju Lalla, Prakash Mishra, and Shiv Vilas came and had liquor at Jugul Bhunjwa S/o Vishaal house. Then at 11.00p.m. Raju Munshi's son-in-law (who stays at Jabalpur) was beaten up by them. Then they went at Neha d/o Kamini house. After this they got our door opened and they started beating up her father in law Rati Lal. There were three people. The names are Raju Lalla, Prakash Mishra, and Shiv Vilas. Other than them there were 3-4 people standing little away and because of the dark Shiv Kanya could not recognise them. Out of fear we did not get a FIR done. Shiv Kanya heard them say that till now they have only killed two people they still have to kill ten people. Listening to this Shiv Kanya was frightened and she with her family left the village. She also said that the others are not admitting that they were beaten, as they are all frightened. She added that her husband was not there at the house; otherwise they would have beaten him up too.

Protest Note
We condemn the violent incident of Dalit atrocity that shook the Bhauri village in Chitrakoot on the night of 18th February through the 19th morning, by which time one person died, one other is fighting for her life, and several others have been left injured.

The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Uttar Pradesh and Banda in partnership with Vanangana, Chitrakoot, Chitrakoot Seva Ashram, SARC Varanasi, Nirantar, New Delhi and AALL Lacknow conducted a fact-finding visit on the 21st February.

The fact-finding report reveals the following:

• The accused indulged in an orgy of violence against the Dalits, in order to seek revenge for election related conflict of interest.
  
• The accused left the village via the Muslim and Dalit communities' habitations.
  
• Harish Chandra s/o Babulal Harijan was shot dead, his mother, Sundi w/o Babulal was also shot at and she is fighting for her life. Twelve others were threatened with sexual violence.
  
• The fear of the threat is so great that already families are leaving the area, migrating to safer places.
  
• The police have lodged only one FIR in relation to the person who has died. The police, despite the serious injuries, have lodged no FIR in relation to the survivors.
  
• Although the SC/ST Act has been invoked in the single FIR that has been lodged, no one named in the same has been arrested.
  
• Those injured not have access to any medical aid. Even for x-rays they are being told to go to private institution, or wait till Tuesday.
  
• That fact that incidents of dalit atrocity are commonplace in the area points to the indifference of the state machinery.
  

In the light of the report, we demand the following

1. Immediate arrest of those named in the FIR and a lodging of the complaints of the injured survivors in this matter.
   
2. All the injured should be provided medical aid at state cost immediately, and adequate compensation should be ensured.
   
3. In view of the widespread fear amongst the people, the State authorities should provide adequate security arrangements for the dalit and minority communities living on the borders of the mountains and the forests in the area.
   
4. Administration should explain it's indifference and lack of response to this incident, and ensure a pre-emptive response, especially given the fact that it is fully aware of the manner in which violence against Dalits and minorities happens in the region.
   
5. Cognizance of the matter by the SC/ST State Commission, and a thorough investigation of the incident.
   

We concerned human rights groups, are committed to supporting the oppressed people of Bhauri and participating in their struggle for justice. The groups will come together in Karwi, Chitrakoot to protest against the indifference of the State authorities in ensuring adequate protection to and relief for the dalit and minority communities in the area on the 26th February 2002 at 11:00 a.m. The groups will also go to Bhauri to express their support for the survivors through observing a vigil from 5:00 p.m. on the same day.

Home | Index