Skip to main content

Jharkhand rights movement writes to NHRC to probe police firing on protesters

By Ashok Shrimali* 
The Jharkhand Human Rights Movement has asked Satyabrata Pal, member, National Human Rights Commission, to urgently investigate and take "necessary legal action" on police firing, took place at Pagar village comes under Keredari police station of Hazaribagh district in Jharkhand at 1 pm on July 23, 2013, which led to death of Mr. Kesar Mahato and caused several injuries. The letter says, the incident took place when the villagers were protesting against the forced land acquisition by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) for the proposed thermal power plant at Keredari. There was a clash between the villagers and the contractors on the issue of land acquisition as the villagers are not willing to surrender their land for the project.
"When contractors started the construction work in the village, the villagers protested against them and in response they contractors attacked the villagers, and when they went to the police station to file complaint the police took side of the contractors, which fueled the anger of the villagers", the letter reads.
"Consequently, the villagers started protest against the police, and in response to the villagers, the police fired on the crowd, which led to death of Kesar Mahato and caused severe injuries to several people. The injured persons were Ramesh Mahato Gajju Mahato, Rahul Kumar, Tulsi Mahato, Makhan Verma and Bhuneswar Ram.
Calling it a "clear case of gross violation of right to a dignified life of the victims guaranteed under the Article 21 of the Indian Constitution", the letter, written by Gladson Dungdung, General Secretary, JHRM, Ranchi, requests the NHRC for the following actions:
1. A high level investigation should be done on the case of police firing, which led to death of Kesar Mahato and caused several injuries.
2. A case should be filed under section 302 and others against the police officers and police personal, who were involved in the police firing.
3. A legal action should be taken against the police officers and police personal, who were involved in the police firing and suspended immediately.
4. A case should be also filed against the contractors and the officer-in-charge of the Keredari police station who took side of the contractors.
5. The family members of Kesar Mahato should be compensated with Rs 15 lakh along with a government job as he was the main earning person in the family.
6. The injured victims should be compensated with Rs 5 lakh each and the Government should provide them free medical support.
7. The land acquisition should be immediately withdrawn from the village.
---
* Gujarat-based human rights activist

Comments

TRENDING

Planning failures? Mysuru’s traditional water networks decline as city expands

By Prajna Kumaraswamy, Mansee Bal Bhargava   The tropical land–water-scape of India shapes every settlement through lakes, ponds, wetlands, and rivers. Mysuru (Mysore) is a city profoundly shaped by both natural and humanly constructed water systems. For generations, it has carried a collective identity tied to the seasonal rhythms of the monsoon, the life-giving presence of the Cauvery and Kabini rivers , and the intricate network of lakes and ponds that dot the cityscape. Water transcends being merely a resource; it is part of collective memory, embedded in place names, agricultural heritage, and the very land beneath our feet. In an era of rapid urbanization and climate-induced land–water transformations, understanding this profound relationship with the land–water-scape is strategic for sustainability, resilience, and even survival.

Activists Akriti, Satyam Verma face NSA in Noida protest case: PUCL

By A Representative   Human rights activist Kavita Shrivastava has alleged that the Uttar Pradesh Police is invoking the National Security Act (NSA) against two activists associated with Mazdoor Bigul in connection with the Noida workers’ protest case, even as labour unrest continues to spread across industrial belts in several northern states.

Why was this BJP leader forced to call off marriage of his daughter with Muslim boy?

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  A marriage of two individuals belonging to different faiths was ultimately postponed as the 'champions' of the social morality dominated the discourse and threatened the father of the girl who happened to be the chairman of Pauri city municipality. Yashpal Benam, a BJP leader, posted the invitation of his daughter's wedding with a Muslim boy from Uttar Pradesh. Both the boy and the girl became friend during their B Tech course and were in relationship. There were reports that they already got married in the court but we don't know the reality. Perhaps the family of the girl wanted to send a message of 'acceptability' and 'appreciation' of such a marriage by the society. Invitations were sent to all but soon after it went wide spread on the social media, the champion of Hindu dharma jumped into the fray and started threatening the father. There were hundreds of calls asking the father hundreds of questions about the marriage. What...