[Reader-list] Eminent human rights defender Naba Dutta arrested

[Atreyi Dasgupta]

Forwarded message -


Mr. Naba Dutta along with his 3 companions; Ms. Progna Paromita Dutta Roy
Chowdhury, Mr. Gautam Ghosh and Mr. Dipankar Mazumdar all attached with
Nagarik Mancha, a civil society organization mainly focused on environmental
and labor issues proceeded for a preannounced programme of sit- in; front of
the Block Development Officer’s office at Narayangarh block of West
Midnapur. The programme was organized by Lodha Shabar Vumij Kalyan Smiti.
Mr. Naba Datta and his companion started from Kolkata by a vehicle (Toyota –
Quallis 2.4D Model) with registration number WB-02M-8565. After reaching the
place they peacefully completed the meeting and started for Kolkata by the
said vehicle only. The driver of the car Mr. Ashok Midhya and Mr. Joydeb
Singh of Lodha Shabar Vumij Kalayan Samiti was also in the car with the
abovementioned activists of Nagarik Mancha. While Mr. Naba Datta and his
associates with the driver (names mentioned above) were on their way to
Kolkata, one police vehicle intercepted them and asked to follow their
vehicle without showing any reasons. While asked about the reason of such
illegal act the police personnel who made the said persons captive replied
as, ‘we are taking you at Narayangarh Police Station’. Mr. Naba Dutta’s car
followed the police vehicle without making any further argument. All the
police personnel who taken the persons in hostage were not in police uniform
but using a police car being plain clothes. When the cars crossed the
Narayangarh Police Station, Mr. Naba Dutta and his companions sensed some
foul and asked the police personnel about their actual motive and where they
want to take them off but those police personnel denied to give any answer
and told the driver of Naba Datta’s car only to follow their vehicle.

After a long drive the police personnel stopped in front of Sadatpur
Investigation Centre under Jhargram Police Station and asked Mr. Naba Dutta
and his associates to halt. After few minutes Mr. Naba Dutta was taken alone
to Manikpur Beat House under Jhargram Police Station. By this time, except
Mr. Naba Dutta all his other colleagues i.e. Ms. Progna Paromita Dutta Roy
Chowdhury, Mr. Gautam Ghosh, Mr. Dipankar Mazumdar of Nagarik Mancha and Mr.
Joydeb Singh of Lodha Shabar Vumij Kalayan Samiti with the driver, Mr. Ashok
Middhya of Car no. WB-02M-8565 was released from police custody after
submitting PR (Personal Release) Bond.

Thereafter Mr. Naba Dutta was taken to one police car no. WB 34N 0011.

As we informed by our sources that from Manikpara Beat House Mr. Naba Dutta
was taken to Sadatpur Investigation Centre again, which is around 90 km from
the Manikpara Beat House, where he was stationed till 9.30pm.

The police personnel arrested Mr. Naba Dutta and his associates were in
plain clothe, which is sheer violation of the guidelines laid down by the
apex court of India in DK Basu case (AIR 1997 SC 610) regarding procedure of
arrest. The family members of Mr. Naba Dutta should be informed about his
whereabouts and charges framed against him at the utmost. While arresting
them they not even prepared memo of arrest at the place of arrest, which is
again a violation of the said guideline and Criminal procedure Code.

The whole episode was not only illegal but proving the whims of police and
district authorities. Misdeeds of police again establish the fact that rule
of law is in verge of collapse, where every dissenting voice is going to
maim by authoritarian approach of the state and its machinery.

We are deeply concern about the physical and psychological integrity of Mr.
Naba Dutta, a renowned human rights activist and apprehending that his
personal security is in risk.

We demand immediate unconditional release of Mr. Naba Dutta as it is a
violation of guideline set up by the National Human Rights Commission om
Human Rights Defenders.

We also demand that the state authority should immediately impart his
whereabouts in public and ensure his wellbeing.

We strongly condemn the very act of the police and the West Bengal
Government which shows that they are not willing to follow the rule of law.




-- 
Kirity Roy
Secretary
Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha
(MASUM)
&
National Convenor (PACTI)
Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity
26 Guitendal Lane
Howrah 711101
West Bengal INDIA
Mobile: 09903099699
Tele Fax : +91-33-2640 4118
Phone: +91-33-2640 4520
e. mail : kirityroy at gmail.com <http://mc/compose?to=kirityroy@gmail.com>
Web: www.masum.org.in