INDIA: Limited progress shown in pursuing the perpetrators who beat a man to death in Howrah, West Bengal 

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal Case: UA-176-2005
ISSUES: Administration of justice,

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from our local partner organization Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (Masum) in West Bengal, India, that a man, Tarun Hati, was beaten to death by the husband and relatives of a woman, Nirupama Hazra, whom he was believed to be having an illicit relationship with in Howrah, West Bengal on 30 September 2005.

It was reported that Hati and Hazra’s alleged illicit affair may have been going for some time. But Hazra instead denied having the relationship with Hati and fabricated a complaint against him claiming that she was raped. Although the investigating officer refuted Hazra’s claims, which eventually led to the arrest of four perpetrators in connection with Hati’s death, the case is showing little progress in court. The family of the dead has also not been indemnified.

This is yet another incident of lynching in West Bengal, in which people who are suspected to have committed an offense were killed. They were killed by disgruntled persons who took the law into their own hands, which grossly denied and violated the victims’ right to a fair trial. Although the government is aware of this alarming situation, little has been done to stop this practice, prosecute the alleged perpetrators and to prevent similar incidents from ocurring.

We urge your immediate intervention by writing letters to the government of West Bengal, India asking them that the family of the dead be indemnified accordingly. It must also ensure that the local court will take appropriate steps on the victim’s case. The government must also initiate steps to stop and prevent similar further incidents from occurring.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of the victim: Tarun Hati of Bally, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
Alleged perpetrators: Bhanu Hazra, Bhanu Hazra, Kanai and Gautam, brothers of Bhanu and others.
Date and place of the incident: 30 September 2005 at the house of Nirupama and Bhanu Hazra

Case details:

On 30 September 2005, Tarun Hati was caught in a compromising situation with a woman, Nirupama Hazra. Hazra’s husband, Bhanu Hazra was at the time together with his brothers Kanai and Gautam and their neighbours when they came across the couple and proceeded to beat Tarun with extreme force. Tarun was taken and admitted to the T.L. Jaiswal Hospital, Lilluah, Howrah but he later died as a result of his injuries.

Tarun’s wife, Jharna, lodged a complaint with the Bally police station vide Bally P.S case no. 243 dated 30 September 2005 Under Sections 304/34 of the Indian Penal Code against all the perpetrators. Four have been arrested as confirmed by Mr. Niranjan Dasgupta, Sub Inspector, Bally P.S. who is also the Investigating Officer (I.O) of the case.

Later, Nirupama filed a complaint to Bally P. S. vides Bally PS case no. 244 dated 30 September 2005 under section 376 IPC that Tarun had entered the house silently, hid under the cot in her bedroom, and when she entered the room he covered her mouth with both the hands and committed rape against her. She could not therefore shout to alarm her family members.

Many witnesses have claimed however, that Taurn and Nirupama had been involved in a proper and consenting relationship and that Nirupama had gifted trousers and shirts to Tarun for the Durga Puja festival.

Although four of the alleged perpetrators have been charged and arrested, the family of the dead, in particular the victim’s wife, Jharna, has yet to receive appropriate indemnification. Furthermore, although the case has been filed in court, it has shown little progress in prosecuting the alleged perpetrators

With the victim no longer alive to defend the charge of rape against him, his guilt or innocence will never be proved. The perpetrators in Tarun’s case took that right away from him when they decided to take the law into their own hands and beat the man to death. This decision demonstrates the little faith people have in the rule of law in the country.

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To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear __________,

Re: INDIA: Limited progress shown in pursuing the perpetrators who beat a man to death in Howrah, West Bengal

Name of the victim: Tarun Hati of Bally, Howrah, West Bengal, India
Alleged perpetrators: Bhanu Hazra, Bhanu Hazra, Kanai and Gautam, brothers of Bhanu and others.
Date and place of the incident: 30 September 2005 at the house of Nirupama and Bhanu Hazra

I am writing to draw your attention to the case of Tarun Hati of Bally, Howrah, West Bengal, India. I have learned that Tarun is yet another victim in the alarming rise of mass lynching in West Bengal. It was reported that Tarun was beaten to death by the husband and relatives of a woman, Nirupama Hazra, whom he was alleged to have had an illicit affair with.

Although four of the alleged perpetrators have been charged and arrested, the family of the dead, in particular the victim's wife, Jharna, has yet to receive appropriate indemnification. Furthermore, although the case has been filed in court, I have learned that it has shown little progress in prosecuting the alleged perpetrators.

I am deeply concerned that although the government of West Bengal is aware of the situation involving mass lynching, little is being done to stop this practice, bring the perpetrators to justice and to prevent similar incidents from occurring. Most of the victims have also not been indemnified.

Under Part III, Article 6 (1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) of which the Indian government is a signatory, it has an obligation to ensure that "Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life".

I trust that you will take serious action in this case.

Yours sincerely,


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PLEASE SEND A LETTER TO:

1. 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. P.R. Ray
Home Secretary
Government of West Bengal
Writers' Buildings
Kolkata - 700001
West Bengal
INDIA
Tel: +91 33 2214 5656
Fax: +91 33 2214 3001
Email: sechome@wb.gov.in 

4. 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)

5. 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)

Document Type : Urgent Appeal Case
Document ID : UA-176-2005
Countries : India,
Issues : Administration of justice,