PUCL condemns police attempt at implicating human rights activist in naxal activites

Press Release | Raipur,10th May, 2007

The People's Union for Civil Liberties - Chhattisgarh (PUCL) has strongly condemned the attempt by the Chhattisgarh Police in implicating Human Rights Activists in Naxal activities, especially in the matter of "illegal detention" of Mr. Piyush Guha, who has been wrongfully confined in police custody for six days without even following the guidelines provided by the Supreme Court in the D K Basu Vs. State of West Bengal. PUCL plans to carry out a concerted campaign to expose the designs of the Chhattisgarh Government in discrediting the human rights organisations and movement, which has creatively contributed to the preservation and promotion of human rights in particular, and the gross violations committed by the various governments in Chhattisgarh during the past 30 years. PUCL is also contacting its national leadership to explore the possibility of legal action in this regard.

In an emergency meeting of the State Unit today at Raipur, the Chhattisgarh PUCL has also taken strong objection to the "falsehoods" and "insinuations" being spread by the Chhattisgarh Police regarding the person's absence from his house. In fact, Dr. Binayak Sen and his family have gone to Kolkotta to be with their family during summer holidays since 1 st of May 2007, which was planned long ago. However, without verifying this fact, the Chhattisgarh Police has tried to create an impression as if Dr. Sen had vanished after the incident of "illegal detention" of Mr. Piyush Guha.

In a statement issued today by Adv Rajendra K Sail, President of Chhattisgarh PUCL, it has been categorically stated that Dr. Binayak Sen is not only the General Secretary of the Chhattisgarh PUCL, but has played a prominent role in defending and promoting human rights not only in Chhattisgarh but also in the country. Dr. Binayak Sen is also presently the Vice-President of the National PUCL.

The PUCL considers this as an attempt to discredit the Human Rights Activists and Organisations in the wake of facts coming out in the open about recent fake encounters in Panjher and Santoshpur villages of Bijapur Tahsil of Dantewara District in Chhattisgarh, in which more than a dozen citizens were not only murdered in cold blood but also buried without fulfilling any legal formalities like post-mortem and decent burial with religious rites. Their bodies were recently exhumed from a mass grave at the orders of the State Human Rights Commission, and the post-mortem conducted revealed bullet injuries on their bodies.

PUCL has further stated that there is a public uproar on the growing police brutality in Chhattisgarh and deliberate destruction of democratic aspirations of the peace-loving people, which has been amply demonstrated in demands by various political parties, civil society organisations, prominent citizens, especially the adivasi and dalit leaders for a high level enquiry into these incidents of State Violence.

The PUCL would like to assert the fact that meeting and providing legal aid to the victims of human rights violations by the State was part and parcel of the stated objectives of the PUCL, and it was in fulfilling these tasks and responsibilities as an office-bearer of the PUCL that Dr. Sen had been functioning with faith and commitment. All such activities are not only Constitutional and legal, but produced the required results as the "illegalities" and "corruption" in Jails, Custodial Deaths, Fake Encounters, Fake Surrenders and Fake Arrests etc., have been made public and acted upon by various Courts in the country.

Rajendra K Sail President Mobile: 098268-04519