Human Rights Watch (HRW), an international human rights organisation, has expressed concern over the alleged assault on a rights activist by the West Bengal police.
In a statement, the HRW urged the government authorities to drop “politically motivated charges” against Ajimuddin Sarkar and his organisation Banglar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM). MASUM is an eminent human rights group in Eastern India.
Mr. Sarkar, the Murshidabad District Human Rights Monitor of MASUM, was assaulted by the police on November 21. The police allegedly had taken Mr. Sarkar to the Raninagar police station in Murshidabad district and had ‘beaten’ him, according to the HRW statement.
“The alleged beating of a rights activist by West Bengal police coupled with dubious criminal charges shows a shocking disregard for the role rights groups play in bringing such abuses to an end,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia Director of HRW.
Even though the secretary of MASUM Kirity Roy alleged that the State police and the Border Security Force (BSF) were in “collusion” in the assault on Mr. Sarkar, the Superintendent of Police, Murshidabad, C. Sudhakar rubbished the allegation.
“The allegation is not true. If they (MASUM) they have any concern, they can give a written complaint to me and I will look into the matter,” Mr. Sudhakar told The Hindu .
When contacted, a senior Border Security Force (BSF) official said that MASUM has filed several complaints against the police and the paramilitaries and thus information related to the case of Mr Sarkar is ‘not readily available.’
According to the BSF official, secretary of MASUM Kirity Roy had filed more than 200 complaints against the BSF.
“I am not aware of this particular case (of Sarkar) though, as Mr. Roy has a history of making allegations against the BSF,” the official said on condition of anonymity. Interestingly, Mr Roy was charged as well.
