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PUCL Bulletin,
October 2002
Bihar State PUCL Report:
Fake encounter killing of Surendra Bhagat
The PUCL received a complaint that Surendra Bhagat alias Bootan of Kisan
Majdoor Sangrami Parishad was killed in Patna district on 1 May 2002,
He was allegedly arrested by the police at Bijaura, P.S. Bhagwanganj,
and killed in cold blood. Newspapers also carried the story and the entire
allegation that the helpless father of Surendra Bhagat was not handed
over the dead body for performing the last rites.
The State PUCL constituted
a committee consisting of Prabhakar Sinha, National Vice President; Ramchandra
Lal Das, President, Bihar PUC; Kishori Das; General Secretary, and Mithilesh
Kumar, Secretary to hold an inquiry. The committee visited Bijaura and
some areas around it and talked to a large number of people of the area.
It also spoke to the S.D.P.O. Masaurhi, S K Barnwal, S.I. Mukesh Kumar,
OC Masaurhi and the S.D.O. Masaurhi, Vinay Kumar, who joined us at the
SDPO's residence where we were talking. The F.I.R., the seizure list,
and other relevant documents were also examined. Some sources were contacted
to ascertain the deceased's status in the organisation, i.e., CPI. (ML)
PWG Mazdoor Kisan Sangrami Parishad.
The villagers of
Bijaura and adjoining areas, who spoke to the PUCL, are not being
identified to protect them from reprisal of which the people living in
the areas with strong presence of the C.P.I. (ML), PWG are mortally afraid.
Opposite versions
of the Incident: According to the police Surendra Bhagat was a Zonal
Commander of the people's Guerrilla Army, who was killed during an encounter
with the police on 1st May, 2002, but the villagers and other concerned
contended that he was a Zonal Secretary of Kisan Mazdoor Sangrami Parishad,
who was engaged in mobilising the people for participation in their rally
against globalisation and POTA scheduled for 10 May, 2002 in Delhi and
was at Bijaura in that connection when he was arrested and shot dead in
cold blood. Obviously only one of the versions can be true.
The case of the
police: According to the F.I R by the police, they had received the
information that, the People's Guerilla Army is camping at the village
Nagauli for the purpose of recruitment and training, and they also plan
to execute some plan of action. The personnel present were of Magadh Divisional
level. After consultation with higher officers including S.D.P.O. Shailendra
Kumar Barwak, Rural (S.P.), Patna, Mukesh Kumar Saha, and others it was
planned to raid the place. In pursuance of the plan, Police parties (which
included the SDPO, OC Masurhi, OC Dhanarua, men from the CRPF, etc.) proceeded
to Nagauli. The police party took position near a payeen (canal of small
size) situated about one km to the North of Nagauli and half km to the
south of Danara and which run from east to west.
They (i.e., the guerrillas)
began to fire indiscriminately endangering the lives of the police. Then
the police fired on the extremists with a view to make them surrender.
The firing from both sides continued for one and half hours from 5.30
p.m., but the extremists did not surrender. Then the police (in the F.I.R
the police personnel have been named) closed on the extremists crossing
form south and moving towards north and east suddenly attacked the extremists
causing them to run helter skelter ('Payeen ke dakshini kinaaara ki or
crossing kartaa hue uttar ki or poorab se barhe tathaa achaanak ugrawaadiyon
par hamlaa bol diye jisse ugrawaadiyon mein bhagdar mach gayaa ki usi
beech uttar Danara ki or se phaayaring aane lagaa jaise ke tathaa andheraa
kaa laabh uthaakar ugrawaadi uttar dishaa ki or bhaag nikale kyonki phaayaring
band ho gayaa Jab jabaabi phaayaring band ho gayaa to doong evam light
ke sahaare tathaa haath torch ki roshni mein sthal kaa neerikshan kiyaa
to paayaa ki payeen mein Danara taraf jaane waali aar tor kar banaayaa
gayaa rah par ek agyaat ugrawaadi goraa tandurust, umar karib 35 varsh
khaaki wardi pahne bnayaan seenaa par baich 'PGA kaa chhaapaamaar seva'
tathaa beech me hathauraa, hisia tathaa SLR kaa chamaktaa monogram yukta
baich lagaaye goli se zakhmi mritt paraa hai.)
Then a list of arms, etc., which was recovered, at the site and on the
deceased, has been described.
Note: The FIR gives the details of the material seized at Nagauli and
its activities after the encounter, which has no bearing on the matter
under our inquiry, as our inquiry is limited to finding out how Surendra
Bhagat died.
However, it is pertinent to consider the material, which, according to
the police, was with the deceased. These, apart from the blood stained
clothes, include a cap with PGA Jan Chhaapaamaar Sena written on it, one
country made rifle of 315 bore with one shell which has been fired, one
land mine, one detonator, one walkie-talkie, one live hand grenade, one
belt for shells with five live shells of 135 bore.
The SDPO Barnwal gave us the details of the old cases in which the deceased
had been charge sheeted and declared an absconder The cases were registered
in the P.S. Karpi, Kinjal, and Arwal and were under section, 121, 128,
307, 302, 324, 326, IPC, 27 Arms Act, 253, 34 IPC 25, 27, 35 Arms Act4/5
Explosive Act, 17 CLA, etc.
The cases had been registered between 1988 and 2001.
The SDPO was categorical
in stating that the deceased was a 'Zonal Commander of People's Guerrilla
Army'.
PUCL: how many rounds
the extremists fired?
SDPO: 250 rounds.
PUCL: Have the Fired shells been collected?
SDPO: No.
PUCL: Then how can you be sure of the number of rounds fired?
SDPO: It is just an estimate
PUCL: Why did they fire so many rounds?
SDPO: They wanted to escape under the cover of fire.
PUCL: Why was there not even a minor injury caused to the police despite
such heavy firing on them?
S.D.M: Because the police had the advantage of surprise.
On the question of
handing over of the body to the father of the deceased, the officers gave
different versions. Mukesh Kumar, OC Masurhi said that it was given to
the father. The SDPO said that it was not given.
The father of the deceased, an 80-year-old man, complains that he was
chased away by the police when he asked for the dead body of his son at
PMCH, Patna.
The SDPO supported by the SDM stated that the PWG possessed very sophisticated
arms and their squad had far superior training. He categorically stated
that the District police were no match to them.
According to the I.G. Operation, Neelamani, the documents seized in the
operation reveal that the G.A. is in possession of 107 SLR, 52 .303 rifles,
32 guns, 97 carbines, 117 old SLR, and 4 SLR Mark. According to him the
deceased was a local Commander.
(From Aaj of 8 May, 2002: Surendra Gareri People's Guerrilla Army
Kaa Sthaaniya Commander Thaa: Neelamani 'Surendra Gareri was a local Commander
of the People's Guerrilla Army: Neelamani)
According to the I.G., there are 22 cases pending against the deceased.
The version of the villagers: The people of the area including Bijaura
appeared quite familiar with Surendra Bhagat and remembered him with much
affection. They fondly described his personality and gait as that of an
officer (Jab chalte they to lagtaa thaa ki koi afsar jaa rahaa hai). The
villagers said that he had been visiting them in connection with the programme
of the rally to be held in Delhi to oppose globalisation and POTA which
was scheduled for 10 May, 2002. They said that on the fateful he had gone
to the village to give cards to the people who were to go to Delhi for
the rally. We also saw many posters of the rally on the walls of the houses
in the village.
The villagers confirmed that there were members of the 'Dasta' (armed
squad) at the neighbouring village Nagauli. They also saw the police on
the day i.e. 1st May 2002 and heard some shots fired. They did not confirm
hearing sounds of heavy firing. They said that the 'Dasta' from Nagual
had slipped away, and escaped the police net. They did fire a few shots
while escaping.
According to them, Surendra ji wanted to escape from the village fearing
arrest and left. Later, he was arrested and then killed by the police
and they dressed them in the dress of the PGA. They said that the dress
was even ill fitting. They all very unhappy at his death.
Many people on our way to the village categorically stated that Surendra
Bhagat was killed in cold blood. Such people included several passers-by.
All without an exception said that Surendra Bhagat was killed after being
arrested.
PUCL to the villagers:
Did you see him being arrested?
The Villagers: No.
PUCL: Then how do you know that he was shot dead in cold blood?
Villagers: Because he was at our village distributing cards and had left
fearing arrest. He was not in the squad.
PUCL: But on what basis do you so confidently state that the police dressed
him as PGA man and shot him?
Villagers: After a little silence they said, 'The Chaukidaars of the area
have lo do their job for a living, but they are also friendly to the people.
They told us all that happened.'
A villager of Bijaura was arrested at about 6 p.m. the same day, was beaten
up by the police, taken to Nagauli and then later released. He had this
so say: I was working in my field. The police arrested me at about six
O'clock. They beat me when I could not answer their questions to their
satisfaction. They said 'Meetings have been going on for the last three
days, but you say that you know nothing.' They took me with them to Nagauli.
They had arrested a passer-by who was also with me. At Nagauli, I saw
Surendra ji in the police custody. After some time they asked me and the
passer-by to go away. I do not know what happened afterwards. I had heard
the firing by the 'Dasta', which escaped.
(1) The two versions
are diametrically opposite. The truth would depend on the answer to the
following questions:
1. Was Surendra
Bhagat really a Zone Secretary of Kisan Majdoor Sangrami Parishad?
2. If so, would the same person be assigned to work as a Zonal Commander
of the People's Guerrilla Army at the same time?
3. Would the Zonal Commander of the PGA fight the police with .315 bore
country made rifle when it is an admitted fact that the PGA has SLRs,
AK 47, 303 rifles, hand grenades and other sophisticated weapons?
4. In a real encounter situation, would the PGA not fight with sophisticated
weapons of which it has plenty, and specially when its Zonal top brass
were holding a camp at Nagauli?
5. If hundreds of shots were actually fired, would not the empty shells
be found at the place of occurrence?
6. When the police in formation suddenly attacked the extremists causing
them to run helter skelter, is it possible that just one person would
die and no one else would be hit specially if they are running away?
7. When the extremists fired two hundred and fifty rounds during an
encounter lasting for about two hours in which the police aggressively
advanced on the extremists, is it possible that the policemen remain
absolutely untouched and unharmed?
8. If the version of the villagers was concocted, why would they not
claim that they saw the deceased being arrested and being shot?
9. Why would the people of the entire area deny the fact that an encounter
had taken place?
(2) On verification from various sources at Patna, it has been confirmed
that Surendra Bhagat was the Zonal Secretary of the Majdoor Kisan Sangrami
Parishad of Magadh Zone- Further conformation is found in the pamphlets
circulated in thousands at different places protesting against his killing
in which he has been described as Secretary, of the Majdoor Kisan Sangrami
Parishad It has farther been confirmed by various knowledgeable sources
that the same person is never assigned to function as a Commander of the
People's Guerrilla Army and an office bearer of an open organisation.
The members of the armed squad are kept underground for reasons of safety.
The fact that the police found him with a. 315 bore country made rifle
also goes to prove that he did not belong to the PGA, because it is an
admitted fact that the PGA is armed with sophisticated weapons like SLR,
AK 47 other automatic weapons and hand grenades. In the light of this
fact admitted even by the police, it looks laughable that the Zonal Commander
of the PGA should be fighting the police with a country made 315 rifles.
The story of an encounter appear unbelievable also because the police
do not mention use of hand grenades, AK 47 SLR and other sophisticated
weapons by the PGA when they were attacked by the police. Would it be
natural for the PGA to refrain from the use of such weapons in an encounter
7 Or would it be plausible to believe that they had left them at home
during their camping at Nagauli specially when the camp of the Zonal level.
Further the fact that the police had not collected the empty shells allegedly
fired by the PGA (250 rounds) also give a lie to its story of a full-scale
encounter.
Again when the PGA
was suddenly attacked by the police party (as claimed in the F.I.R.) making
them run helter skelter, would only one person be hit and killed or there
would be more targets hit when the PGA men ran halter skelter? Is U also
not believable that even though the PGA fired 250 rounds, some on the
police party suddenly attacking them not a single policemen was injured?
It is specially noteworthy because it is admitted by the SDPO that the
PGA men are better trained than the police. If the PGA and the police
were engaged in a two hour long encounter, there was no advantage of surprise
to the police as mentioned by the SDM.
The version of the villagers that Surendra Bhagat had gone to Bijaura
in connection with the rally in Delhi is quite credible (believable) because
if they had told us a concocted story there was nothing to prevent them
from saying that they saw the police arrest and shoot the decease, but
they never claimed to have witnessed his arrest and killing. They cited
the Chaukidar as their source of information though they know that the
Chaukidar would never dare corroborate their version if asked.
Even the villager
who was arrested only said that he had seen the deceased in the police
custody at Nagauli and does not claim to have witnessed his shooting by
the police. These facts make their statements reliable and trust worthy.
It is further significant that none in the locality we spoke to confirmed
an encounter between the police and the Naxalites/party as they are called.
However, man said that they heard sounds of firing but not numerous or
prolonged. Though they did not claim to be a witness of it, there was
none we met who did not say that the deceased was killed by the police
in a fake encounter.
In the light of the facts and circumstances discussed above, we have come
to the following conclusion:
- The deceased Surendra
Bhagat was Zonal Secretary of Majdoor Kisan Sangrami Parishad and was
at Bijaura in connection with the rally to be held in Delhi.
- He was caught
somewhere near the village during the raid by the police which had gone
to nab the PGA.
- It is true that
the armed squad of the C.P.I. (ML) PWG was present at Nagauli, but managed
to run away before being surrounded by the police.
- The deceased Surendra
Bhagat was killed in cold blood and not in an encounter with the PGA
which is the glaring instance of gross violation of human right which
is either permissible under the Law of the land not it appeases the
human conscience in any way.
- Disposal of the
dead body: The police showed a callous disregard for the feelings of
the 80 year old father of the deceased in not handing over the body
of his son to him. An indecent haste was shown in disposing of the dead
body presumably to ward off the possibility of a second post mortem
being demanded. It is common knowledge that D.M. reports are manipulated
to hide inconvenient facts in the case of custodial death and fake encounters.
Recommendation:
- A case u/s 302
should be registered and handed over to the C.B.I.
- A sum of Rs. two
lakh be paid to the family of the deceased as compensation.
Note: Majdoor Kisan Sangrami Parishad is not a banned organisation,
but is believed to be related to CPI (ML) PWG.
Prabhakar Sinha, National Vice-president; Ramchandra Lal Das, President,
Bihar PUCL; Kishori Das, General Secretary; Mithilesh Kumar, Secretary
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