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Black out in Chattisgarh: Is this the reality of human rights in the state?

Speed News Desk | Updated on: 10 February 2017, 1:51 IST

In February 2016, Adivasi activist Soni Sori had a chemical substance thrown at her face by unknown assailants who warned her not to file a complaint against a high-ranking Bastar police official for an alleged extrajudicial execution.

This is among the several incidents of human rights violations that have been documented in the book, titled 'Blackout in Bastar: Human Rights Defenders Under Threat', released by Amnesty International lndia on 18 April.

Over the last six months, human rights defenders in Bastar, Chhattisgarh have faced a relentless crackdown by the police and self-styled vigilante groups, leading to a near-total information blackout in the state, Amnesty International said at the book launch. The book reportedly describes how journalists, lawyers and activists have been harassed, attacked and locked up for investigating excesses by security forces and seeking justice for human rights abuses.

"Over and over again, Chhattisgarh authorities have stood by and watched as their critics are intimidated and attacked by groups which seem to enjoy police support," said Aakar Patel, Executive Director, Amnesty International India.

"Even worse, the police have themselves arrested journalists on trumped-up charges. The ominous message the state government is sending to defenders is clear: shut up or face the consequences," Patel said.

How Chattisgarh is intimidating its critics

  • Four journalists - Santosh Yadav, Somaru Nag, Prabhat Singh and Deepak Jaiswal - have been in custody after being arrested on politically motivated charges since July 2015. Another journalist - Malini Subramaniam - was forced to leave her house in February 2016 following attacks on her residence and police pressure on her landlord.

  • Kamal Shukla, the editor of Bhumkal Samachar, a Bastar newspaper, said, "We are always reminded by the state police that our lives will be in danger if we don't follow the government narrative. And now we have these vigilante groups backed by the state that just makes it difficult for independent journalists to work in Bastar."

  • Bela Bhatia, an independent researcher, has faced intimidation and harassment from so-called vigilante groups called the Samajik Ekta Manch (Social Unity Forum) and Mahila Ekta Manch (Women's Unity Forum), for helping Adivasi women file police complaints of large-scale sexual assault and other abuses allegedly committed by security force personnel.

  • Human rights lawyers of the Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group, which provides free legal aid to Adivasi pre-trial detainees, were also forced to leave their home in Jagdalpur in February following police pressure on their landlord.

    • During the book release, Isha Khandelwal, a lawyer from the aid group said, "Chhattisgarh has become like a police state now. What the police can't do legally they make these vigilante groups and what's really worrying is that these vigilante groups openly and blatantly threaten and harass people. Chhattisgarh has become a very dangerous place for those who question the government."

    "The state police continue to use abusive laws like the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act to stifle the right to freedom of expression," said Aakar Patel, adding, "The Chhattisgarh government's open contempt for constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms needs to end now."

    First published: 18 April 2016, 6:42 IST
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