UPDATE ON URGENT APPEAL UPDATE ON URGENT APPEAL UPDATE ON URGENT APPEAL

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAM
Update on Urgent Appeal
23 September 2005

[UA-163-2005: INDIA: West Bengal police beat man to death then threaten local population]
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UP-112-2005: INDIA: Further threats made to the wife of a victim allegedly killed by the police

INDIA: Intimidation and threats; political interference; protection issues
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wrote to you on 20 September 2005 detailing the police beating of Mr. Chheparuddin Mondal, which led to his death. We also commented that the police had threatened the victim’s wife and the local population not to lodge a complaint against this matter. (For further details please see UA-163-2005).

Further to this, the AHRC have learned today from our local partner organization Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) that threats have once again been made to the victim’s wife, Ferdousi Biwi, as well as her two daughters and son. The latest threat however, comes not from the police but from the local leader of the Communist Party of India Marxist (CPIM), Mr. Sajidur Rahman who is an elected pamjayaph member. Mr. Rahman threatened Ferdousi that she was not to make any further statements to the police regarding her husband’s death and that she was to cooperate with him on this matter.

The threatening of Ferdousi is entirely unacceptable and must be remedied without delay. Those with the authority to do so must intervene immediately to bring such threats to a halt and ensure that no further ones take place. Ferdousi must be free to pursue justice for her husband’s murder without fear of retribution for her efforts. Mr. Rahman’s alleged threats must be properly investigated and if it is found that they did indeed occur, then he must be charged and brought before a court of law for his behaviour.

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Sample letter:

Dear Mr. Bhattacharjee

INDIA: Further threats made to the wife of a victim allegedly killed by the police

I write to voice my anger that a woman, whose husband was allegedly killed by the police less than one week ago, is now facing threats to both her and her children simply for pursuing justice for this crime. Ferdousi Biwi, the wife of Chheparuddin Mondal who was allegedly beaten to death by police during routine inquiries on 18 September 2005, has received serious threats by the local leader of the Communist Party of India Marxist (CPIM), Mr. Sajidur Rahman who is an elected pamjayaph member. Mr. Rahman threatened Ferdousi that she was not to make any further statements to the police regarding her husband’s death and that she was to cooperate with him on this matter.

Such threats follow previous ones made against Ferdousi and persons from her local village by the police in the initial days following her husband’s death. In the pursuit of justice for her husband, Ferdousi is now facing serious consequences herself.
This situation is entirely unacceptable and must be remedied without delay. I request you to use your full authority as the Chief Minister of the Government of West Bengal to ensure that such threats are stopped and that no further ones are made. Ferdousi must be free to pursue justice for her husband’s murder without fear of retribution for her efforts. Mr. Rahman’s alleged threats must be properly investigated and if it is found that they did indeed occur, then he must be charged and brought before a court of law for his behaviour.

I trust that your immediate action will be taken into this incident.

Yours sincerely,

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PLEASE SEND TO:

Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
Chief Minister
Government of West Bengal
Writers Buildings, Kolkata - 700001
West Bengal
INDIA
Tel: +91 33 2214 5555 (O) / 2280 0631 (R)
Fax: +91 33 2214 5480 / 2214 1341
Email: cm@wb.gov.in , cm@writerscal.gov.in  

PLEASE SEND COPIES TO:

1. Mr. Subhas Awasthi
Director General of Police
Government of West Bengal
Writers Buildings
Kolkata-1
West Bengal
INDIA
Fax: +91 33 2214 4498 / 2214 5486
Email: padgp@wbpolice.gov.in 

2. Justice Shyamal Kumar Sen
Chairperson
West Bengal Human Rights Commission
Bhabani Bhavan, Alipore
Kolkata - 700027
INDIA
Tel: +91 33 4797259 / 5558866
Fax: +91 33 4799633
Email: wbhrc@cal3.vsnl.net.in

3. Mr. Philip Alston
Special Rapporteur on Extra Judicial and arbitrary Executions
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9230
Fax: +41 22 917 9016 (general)

4. Prof. Manfred Nowak
Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture
Attn: Mr. Safir Syed
c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9230
Fax: +41 22 917 9016 (general)

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)