[IAC#RG] MASUM is under systematic attack by the state, please help.

Dear Friend

We, the members of Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) are a platform of human rights activists working for the promotion and protection of human rights guaranteed under national and international law. MASUM has been actively working in different districts in West Bengal particularly in Murshidabad, North 24 Parganas, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri districts. We conduct regular facts findings in the incidents of human rights violations particularly torture perpetrated by state agencies. We also provide medical, legal and psychological support to the victims subjected to human rights violations. MASUM so far conducted more than 3000 fact findings, lodged 3200 complaints before the HRIs / government offices / UN bodies; provided 8500 numbers of medical / psychological supports to the victims / victim families of torture / extra judicial executions / trafficking. In 18 cases compensation has been awarded to the victims of torture where MASUM filed complaints. MASUM are also working with enclave dwellers and filed a writ petition before the Supreme Court of India bringing the empathic situation of the enclave dwellers. MASUM also filed a writ petition before the Supreme Court of India in the matter of torture, extra-judicial killing by Border Security Force. MASUM also took the fight for justice for Felani Khatun, a minor Bangladeshi girl who was killed by Border Security Force by filing petition before the Supreme Court of India. MASUM has been providing legal assistance to the victims of torture who filed court complaints against the perpetrators in uniform. MASUM also took up the livelihood issue of the vast number of people living near Indo-Bangladesh border in Murshidabad district, affected by erosion of river Padma. All those could not be possible without the assistance of our members, our District Human Rights Monitors. But for our works we are under continuous threats from the state agencies. 

For organizing Peoples' Tribunal in the year 2008 in Kolkata, members of MASUM had been implicated in a criminal case by Kolkata Police which is still pending. MASUM office was raided by police and Mr. Kirity Roy was arrested. The FCRA application filed by MASUM has been denied by the Government of India; but the action of the Ministry of Home Affairs of Government of India is under challenge before High Court of Delhi.  Our District Human Rights Monitors (DHRM) are under continuous threats from the state agencies. Our ex-DHRM Mr. Gopen Chandra Sharma and Mr. Julfikar Ali in Murshidabad district were implicated in several criminal cases. Our present District Human Rights Monitor in Murshidabad district Mr. Ajimuddin Sarkar has been implicated in several false and concocted criminal charges by Murshidabad district police. He was behind the bars for 70 days in this year. He was particularly targeted by Mr. Biplab Karmakar being the Officer-in-Charge of Islampur Police Station as a widowed lady Ms. Reba Bewa moved before the High Court in the matter of custodial death of her husband at Raninagar Police Station.  Mr. Biplab Karmakar was the then Officer-in-Charge of Raninagar Police Station when the custodial death took place. MASUM and Mr. Ajimuddin Sarkar have been helping the lady to fight the legal battle in court. in the month of September, 2015, Mr. Ajimuddin Sarkar was implicated in two criminal cases by Islampur Police Station in the captaincy of Mr. Biplab Karmakar. Mr. Kirity Roy is co-accused of two criminal cases initiated by the police in Murshidabad district. It seems that the police and administration in Murshidabad district lost their sleep to gauge our activity in the said district.  Our District Human Rights Monitors in other districts are also facing the wrath of the state agencies. Mr. Mohar Ali Mondal, our District Human Rights Monitor in district-North 24 Parganas was detained in Swarupnagar Police Station in the month of July, 2014 without any lawful reason. On 22.2.2015 Mr. Ajijul Haque, our District Human Rights Monitor in Cooch Behar district was physically assaulted and humiliated by goons in front of police at New Cooch Behar Rail Station, he was detained in Kotwali police station without any reason. He has been facing regular threats from different sections including police for work with the enclave dwellers. Mr. Durbadal Majumdar, our District Human Rights Monitor in Jalpaiguri district was also detained in New Jalpaiguri Police Out Post from 3.30 pm on 6/08/2015 to 10.30 am on 7/08/2015 without any lawful reason.

We, members of MASUM are not safe; we are under constant threats from the state agencies. The above is only a glimpse of the situation we are under. We need strong supports from all corners of the society so that we can carry out our works in the field of human rights activity.      

 

We know and believe that with your fraternity we will succeed to our journey to stop impunity and make our future a torture free society.    

Kirity Roy (Secretary, MASUM)

Sl No.	Case no.	Court	Sections charged	Status	Co-accused
1	Taltola PS Case no. 134/2008 dated 09.06.2008(GR no. 1487/2008) dated 9.6.2008	7th Metropolitan Magistrate, Bankshall, Kolkata	Sections 120B/170/229/471/468/417/420/201 of Indian Penal Code	Quashing petition pending before Supreme Court of India	Abhijit Dutta, Adv.;Subhasis Dutta, Adv; Susmita Roychowdhury, Subhrangshu Bhaduri, Tanushree Chakraborty and Henri Tiphaigne
2	Domkal Police Station Case no. 1243/2014 dated 5.11.2014	Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lalbagh	Sections325/308/34 of Indian Penal Code	Pending	Ajimuddin Sarkar
3	Raninagar Police Station case no. 354/2013 dated 5.6.2013	Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lalbagh	Section 12 of the Passport Act	Quashing petition pending before High Court Calcutta	Ajimuddin Sarkar

 

Ajimuddin Sarkar (DHRM, MASUM)

Sl No.	Case no.	Court	Sections charged	Status	Co-accused
1	Islampur Police Station Case no.266/2015 (Special Case no.171/2015) dated 22.9.2015	Additional Sessions' Judge, 2nd Court, Berhampore	Sections 376/511/323/506/400 IPC read with Section 8/12 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act	Pending
2	Domkal Police Station Case no. 1243/2014 dated 5.11.2014	Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lalbagh, Murshidabad	Sections325/308/34 of Indian Penal Code	Pending	Kirity Roy
3	Raninagar Police Station case no. 354/2013 dated 5.6.2013	Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lalbagh, Murshidabad	Section 12 of the Passport Act	Quashing petition pending before High Court Calcutta	Kirity Roy
4	Islampur Police Station Case no. 273/2015 dated 29.9.2015	Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lalbagh, Murshidabad	Section 376/506 of Indian Penal Code	Pending

          

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Kirity Roy
Secretary
Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha
(MASUM)
&
National Convenor (PACTI)
Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity
40A, Barabagan Lane (4th Floor)
Balaji Place
Shibtala
Srirampur
Hooghly
PIN- 712203
Tele-Fax - +91-33-26220843
Phone- +91-33-26220844 / 0845
e. mail : kirityroy@gmail.com
Web: www.masum.org.in