| Indian human rights defender released on bail |
8th March 2007
Dalit activist and member of People's Watch, Mr. Vasanth arbitrarily arrested on 8 March 2007 has been released on bail facing charges under Section 353 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He was seriously assaulted by five policemen whilst in custody in Madikeri, Karnataka State, India.
On 8 March 2007, Mr. Vasanth telephoned the Executive Director of SICHREM, to inform him that he was in Madikeri Town Police station where he had gone to gather some information on an alleged torture case. While at the police station he reportedly witnessed two individuals being tortured by members of the police.
He enquired to the police as to why this was happening and as a result was himself arrested. He was transferred to Madikeri District jail later that day. At around six o'clock that evening the State Program Coordinator of SICHREM, contacted the police station and spoke with the Head Constable who informed him that Mr. Vasanth had been taken to the hospital for a medical check up.
The People’s Watch is a human rights organisation that carries out human rights activities including the monitoring of violations, research and educational activities. People's Watch in collaboration with the South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM), also implements the “National Project on Prevention of Torture in India” (NPPT), a project funded by the European Union. Mr. Vasanth is the husband of Ms. Shyla, a District Human Rights Monitor with the NPPT who is currently pregnant and has undertaken to carry out monitoring work on behalf of his wife.
Front Line believes that Mr. Vasanth's arrest was arbitrary as the police reportedly did not follow the guidelines for arrest as directed by the Supreme Court and as laid down by the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRCI) and that his arrest is related to his work in defence of human rights, in particular his intervention in the case of the two people being ill-treated in Madikeri police station.
Front Line urges the Indian authorities to drop all charges against Mr. Vasanth. His arbitrary arrest and detention are in direct contravention of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Section 1, which states: “Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law.”
http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/33
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