Human Rights Defender faced intimidation and harassment from police due to
his work against impunity.
My name is Lenin Raghuvanshi. I am a human rights activist and founder and
CEO of Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR). On the 21st
April 2018, my younger brother Kanad was badly beaten by some people while
attending a marriage ceremony in my neighbourhood. This resulted in a severe head
injury that required 18 stiches. He complained to the police but they did not
file a FIR. My organization intervened on his case and has approached various concerned
authorities.
I learned of the incident on the 26th April 2018, shortly after
I returned back from London where I had participated in a program. I
went to the Cantt. Police station and asked for the reasons why they had not filed
a FIR. I then asked about the current situation of his case. They sent me to
Pahariya police outpost. When I reached the Pahariya police outpost, I was
mistreated by three policemen. One of them acted inappropriately towards me and
the another provoked me, all the while tape recording my conversation.
Gradually,
they became more and more aggressive. They indiscriminately removed their name
tags and resorted to violence against me. I realized that I was in danger of being
attacked and so went to start my motorbike. Meanwhile, one of the police
officers advanced from behind me, twisted my arm and pushed my motorbike to the
floor. My watch broke as a result of this incidence. I kept saying that there
is a rule of law and I trust in the rule of law. I asked them to call the Cantt.
Police station. The police officers reacted to this with abuse, saying that,
“you have created lots of troubles for police by filling cases against us” (in
relation to human rights violations). Still twisting my arm, the policeman
applied more pressure, so forcefully that it resulted in my wrist, shoulder and
arm swelling, which has caused a great deal of pain.
More officers
arrived from the Cantt. Police station and I requested them to get my medico-legal
done. They told me to go home. Afterwards, I came home and recorded my terrible
experience on Facebook in order to make this incidence public.
Links:
I was surprised that the police were talking about a false case that is
registered against me in Delhi. They were also saying that they
could not do anything against him in this case. Afterwards, at
2:51am I rang the police helpline (100 number) on my mobile
phone. I did not get any response. Later, I rang the human
rights defender desk helpline in the National Human Rights
Commission, but also got no response. Later at 6.47am, the
human rights defender desk called back me. I could not take
his call I was asleep.
(Testimony of Lenin Raghuvanshi from his letter sent to
various concerned authorities).
On 27th April, 2017 NHRC took cognizance in the beating of his
brother Kanad (9835/24/72/2018). FIR was also lodged in his case
under section 307 (https://indiankanoon.org/doc/455468/) and 392 (https://indiankanoon.org/doc/329571/)
IPC.
Dr. Lenin received support and solidarity from across the world. Tom Bailey
famous Musician (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Bailey_(musician)
wrote on Dr. Lenin facebook wall “It
is shocking to see that such violent abuse is used against such a tireless
advocate for basic human dignity. The world is watching”. Dr. Mohan Lal Panda, a independent intellectual
and Advisor of PVCHR responded There is a section in the police force for whom
lawlessness is law. They always neutralise their targets with the support of
non state actors. For them their interest and identity are above the customs,
conventions and constitution of India. Lenin's work pricks their eyes always,
so this brave heart continues to be at the receiving end.
Background Information:
This is not the first time Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi, Shruti Nagvanshi and
PVCHR have faced intimidation and harassment from the police due to their work
against impunity. The following are further examples:
On 24 April 2013, at approximately 8pm,
three unidentified assailants made an attempt on the life of human rights
defender Dr Lenin
Raghuvanshi. The attack took place at the human rights defender's home
in the city of Varanasi, of the Uttar Pradesh province in northern India http://pvchr.blogspot.in/2013/04/india-attempted-killing-of-human-rights.html
The First Information Report (FIR) lodged case no. 359/13 under
section 307, 452, 343 and 325 of Indian Penal Code after the intervention of
Circle Officer, Cantt. Police filed final report on this matter.
On the 28th February
2013, Sunil Gupta filed habeas corpus against me in honorable High Court under
writ petition no. 8753 of 2013 as a same allegation. (The copy of writ is
annexed). On 18th March, 2013 the honourable court gave order
against Sunil Gupta “The
petition stands disposed of, accordingly, her husband, Sunil Kumar Gupta, is
restrained from making any kind of interference in the peaceful life and
liberty of the corpus”.
Shruti Nagvanshi filed case against Sunil Gupta in Cantt police
station crime no. 418/13 under section 66ग, 66घ, 67 of IT Act
on the abusive facebook post by Sunil Gupta for rampage with
photo. Police filed final report in this case.
On 19th June 2013 FIR
lodged against Dr. Lenin and Shruti in Bhelupur police station in crime no.
199/13 under section 342, 348, 498 of IPC on
the complaint addressed to Chief Medical Officer by Sunil Gupta. http://pvchr.blogspot.in/2013/06/fake-case-against-lenin-raghuvanshi-and.html.
The National Human Rights Commission
(NHRC) took cognizance and clubbed all matter together in case no: 42218/24/72/2012. In the case hon’ble commission summoned
to Senior Superintendent of Varanasi under section 13 of the PHR Act, 1993 on 20.2.2018 to explain his
utter casual and callous attitude since the instant cases pertain to the year
2012. It is noted that two cases from same police outpost. https://www.saddahaq.com/mysterious-silence-of-nhrc-in-my-case-testimony-of-lenin-raghuvanshi
About Lenin Raghuvanshi:
Please write the letters to the following
authorities urging for the independent, fair and speedy investigation of this matter and protection to human rights defender.
Chairperson,
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
Manav Adhikar Bhawan
Block-C, GPO Complex,
INA, New Delhi - 110023
Email: cr.nhrc@nic.in, hrd-nhrc@nic.in
Director General of Police
1-Tilak Marg,
Lucknow.
Email: dgp@up.nic.in
Senior Superintendent of Police, Varanasi
Kachehri Parisar,
Varanasi – 221002
Thanking You
Sincerely Yours
PVCHR urgent appeal desk
