[While the government talks about a violence free society for women and children, including improving maternity and child rights, as well as rights for people living in the forest, government departments and public officials continue to violate basic human rights of everyone. Their behavior makes a mockery of all laws and regulations designed to promote and protect human rights. In this case, the Forest Department, Police Department and Hospital Administration all violated the rights of Seema and Rakesh, and until today no complaint has been registered against them. After some pressure, the State Human Rights Commission requested the District Collector to begin an inquiry into the incident on May 7, but as yet nothing has been initiated. While such cases of violence against women and children are regularly reported in the news, the Forest Minister of Madhya Pradesh, during an interview, claimed that Seema's untimely labor was due to her own medical condition, rather than any actions taken by the Forest officials. Such collusion and covering up is detrimental to the rule of law in the state. ]
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: AHRC Urgent Appeals <listadmin@ahrchk.net>
Date: Wed, May 25, 2011 at 1:01 AM
Subject: INDIA: Husband and wife abused and assaulted by officers from the state forest department
To: himalayanvoice@gmail.com
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-106-2011
![]()
25 May 2011
------------------------------
INDIA: Husband and wife abused and assaulted by officers from the state forest department
ISSUES: Violence against women; fabrication of charges; impunity; torture
------------------------------
The Asian Human Rights Commission is shocked to learn that Forest Department officials brutally kicked five-month pregnant Seema Adhikari as she opposed their illegal arrest of her husband Rakesh Adhikari at 5am on 3 May 2011. Due to the assault, Seema went into early labor and delivered twin fetuses in front of the officials. Despite this, the officials left Seema in an unconscious state in her home, while taking away Rakesh on false charges of hunting Nilgai. This case underlines not only the common practice of false allegations made against ordinary citizens by the Forest officials, but also their brutality, particularly towards women. No action has yet been taken against the responsible officers.
CASE NARRATIVE:
According to information received by the AHRC from various organizations and newspaper reports, a team of officials from the Forest Department in Gangau Abhyaran of Panna tiger Reserve, arrested Rakesh Adhikari on false charges of hunting Nilgai on 3 May 2011. At that time Rakesh and his wife Seema were sleeping in their house. Upon entering their house, the officials started searching their belongings. When Rakesh enquired about their search, he was told that he hunted Nilgai. When he denied the allegations, and when the officials could not find any evidence of such a hunt, they left, only to return with a team of 22-24 officials at 5am with the skin of Nilgai. They started beating Rakesh, and at his wife's opposition, beat her as well, brutally kicking her stomach. At this time Seema was five-months pregnant with twins. The officials' inhuman behavior resulted in her immediate labor and delivery of dead fetuses, the trauma of which rendered her unconscious. The Forest officials left her in this state while taking Rakesh into custody.
When Seema was taken to the Panna District Hospital by her neighbors on 4 May, she was denied admission, apparently because there was no gynecologist available. The hospital administration instead referred her to Jabalpur, but there was no ambulance to transfer her there. The AHRC learnt that the police were pressurizing hospital officials to shift her elsewhere. Without her husband, any other relatives or money, it was difficult for Seema to manage. It was only after considerable pressure from local rights groups that the District Hospital finally admitted her. She was discharged 8-9 days later.
Rakesh was released on bail on 5 May. Although an FIR has been filed at the police station on the basis of an affidavit by Seema's neighbors, no action has yet been taken against those responsible.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
While the government talks about a violence free society for women and children, including improving maternity and child rights, as well as rights for people living in the forest, government departments and public officials continue to violate basic human rights of everyone. Their behavior makes a mockery of all laws and regulations designed to promote and protect human rights. In this case, the Forest Department, Police Department and Hospital Administration all violated the rights of Seema and Rakesh, and until today no complaint has been registered against them. After some pressure, the State Human Rights Commission requested the District Collector to begin an inquiry into the incident on May 7, but as yet nothing has been initiated. While such cases of violence against women and children are regularly reported in the news, the Forest Minister of Madhya Pradesh, during an interview, claimed that Seema's untimely labor was due to her own medical condition, rather than any actions taken by the Forest officials. Such collusion and covering up is detrimental to the rule of law in the state.
Women generally face critical situations, and in Seema's case, after undergoing such brutal assault and trauma, she was not even able to get treatment at the hospital. During the course of her beating more than 20 officials were present, but not one prevented the ruthless attack. Male officers are not allowed to beat women, and female police officers should have been called if Seema needed to be restrained or taken into custody. Such regulations are rarely followed however.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter to the authorities below expressing your concern at the brutal treatment meted to Seema by the Forest Department officials, as well as the arrest and false charges against Rakesh. Please call for an immediate inquiry into the matter, and subsequent prosecution of those responsible, including the hospital staff, who refused treatment to Seema.
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear ______,
INDIA: Forest department officials fabricate charges against husband and brutally beat pregnant wife
Name of the victims: Seema and Rakesh Adhikari
Alleged perpetrators: Forest Department officials, stationed at Panna district, Madhya Pradesh
Date of incident: 3 May 2011
Place of incident: Kunjwan village, Gangau Abhyaran, Panna district, Madhya Pradesh
I am writing to express my outrage and concern at the inhuman treatment of a five-month pregnant women by Forest Department officials, which resulted in her giving birth to dead fetuses.
On 3 May 2011, Forest Department officials came to the house of Rakesh Adhikari, with the intention to falsely accuse him of hunting Nilgai. When he denied the allegations, and when the officials could not find any evidence of such a hunt, they left, only to return with a team of 22-24 officials at 5am with the skin of Nilgai. They then started beating Rakesh, and at his wife's opposition, beat her as well, brutally kicking her stomach. At this time Seema was five-months pregnant with twins. The officials' inhuman behavior resulted in her immediate labor and delivery of dead fetuses, the trauma of which rendered her unconscious. The Forest officials left her in this state while taking Rakesh into custody.
I am aware that male officers are not allowed to beat women, and female police officers should have been called if Seema needed to be restrained or taken into custody. Such brutal and illegal behavior should immediately be investigated and reprimanded.
When Seema went to the Panna District Hospital on May 4, she was denied admission, apparently because there was no gynecologist available. The hospital administration instead referred her to Jabalpur, but there was no ambulance to transfer her there. In fact, it is understood that the local police were pressurizing hospital officials to shift her elsewhere. Such behaviour is despicable. It was only after considerable pressure from local rights groups that the District Hospital finally admitted her. She has since been discharged.
I urge you to take prompt action in this case, ensuring that the responsible officers are charged not only for their torturous treatment of Seema and the murder of her fetuses, but also for falsely charging Rakesh. Seema should be provided all the necessary medical care, and both Seema and Rakesh should be given adequate compensation.
Yours sincerely,
_________
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Jairam Ramesh
Minister of State (Independent Charge)
Ministry of Environment and Forests
Government of India
Paryavaran Bhavan
CGO Complex, Lodhi Road
New Delhi - 110 003
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 2436 2222
E-mail: jairam@vsnl.com
2. Ms. Krishna Tirath
Minister of Women and Child Development
Government of India
New Delhi
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 2331 4788
E-mail: krishnatirath@yahoo.in
3. Rameshwar Thakur
Governor of Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
INDIA
Fax: +91 755 408 0112
E-mail: rajbhawan_bhopal@yahoo.com
4. Mr. Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Chief Minister
Government of Madhya Pradesh
Vallabh Bhawan
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
INDIA
Fax: +91 755 244 1781
E-mail: cm@mp.nic.in
5. Mr. Avani Vaish
Chief Secretary
Government of Madhya Pradesh
Vallabh Bhawan, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
INDIA
Tel: +91 755 244 1848
Fax: +91 755 244 1751
E-mail: cs@mp.nic.in
6. Mr. B. R Naidu
Principal Secretary
Department of Women and Child Development
Government of Madhya Pradesh
Ballabh Bhawan, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
INDIA
Tel: +91 755 2550 8948
7. Mr. A. K Rana
Chief Conservator of Forests (Central)
Kendriya Paryavaran Bhavan,
Link Road No.3, Bhopal-462016
Madhya Pradesh
INDIA
Tel: +91 755 246 5494
E-mail: rcccfbhopal@gmail.com
8. Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg
New Delhi 110001
INDIA
Fax + 91 11 2338 4863
E-mail: chairnhrc@nic.in
9. Mr. Justice Aryendra Kumar Saxena
Acting Chairperson
State Human Rights Commission of Madhya Pradesh
Paryavas Bhawan, Arera Hills
Jail Road, Bhopal-462001
Madhya Pradesh
INDIA
Tel: +91 755 2571935 /+91 755 2424311
Fax: +91 755 2574028
E-mail: mphrc@sancharnet.in
10. Madhya Pradesh State Women's Commission
35 Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, First Floor
Shyamla Hills, Bhopal 462001
Madhya Pradesh
INDIA
Fax: +91 755 2661806
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
![]()
From: AHRC Urgent Appeals <listadmin@ahrchk.net>
Date: Wed, May 25, 2011 at 1:01 AM
Subject: INDIA: Husband and wife abused and assaulted by officers from the state forest department
To: himalayanvoice@gmail.com
ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-106-2011
25 May 2011
------------------------------
INDIA: Husband and wife abused and assaulted by officers from the state forest department
ISSUES: Violence against women; fabrication of charges; impunity; torture
------------------------------
The Asian Human Rights Commission is shocked to learn that Forest Department officials brutally kicked five-month pregnant Seema Adhikari as she opposed their illegal arrest of her husband Rakesh Adhikari at 5am on 3 May 2011. Due to the assault, Seema went into early labor and delivered twin fetuses in front of the officials. Despite this, the officials left Seema in an unconscious state in her home, while taking away Rakesh on false charges of hunting Nilgai. This case underlines not only the common practice of false allegations made against ordinary citizens by the Forest officials, but also their brutality, particularly towards women. No action has yet been taken against the responsible officers.
CASE NARRATIVE:
According to information received by the AHRC from various organizations and newspaper reports, a team of officials from the Forest Department in Gangau Abhyaran of Panna tiger Reserve, arrested Rakesh Adhikari on false charges of hunting Nilgai on 3 May 2011. At that time Rakesh and his wife Seema were sleeping in their house. Upon entering their house, the officials started searching their belongings. When Rakesh enquired about their search, he was told that he hunted Nilgai. When he denied the allegations, and when the officials could not find any evidence of such a hunt, they left, only to return with a team of 22-24 officials at 5am with the skin of Nilgai. They started beating Rakesh, and at his wife's opposition, beat her as well, brutally kicking her stomach. At this time Seema was five-months pregnant with twins. The officials' inhuman behavior resulted in her immediate labor and delivery of dead fetuses, the trauma of which rendered her unconscious. The Forest officials left her in this state while taking Rakesh into custody.
When Seema was taken to the Panna District Hospital by her neighbors on 4 May, she was denied admission, apparently because there was no gynecologist available. The hospital administration instead referred her to Jabalpur, but there was no ambulance to transfer her there. The AHRC learnt that the police were pressurizing hospital officials to shift her elsewhere. Without her husband, any other relatives or money, it was difficult for Seema to manage. It was only after considerable pressure from local rights groups that the District Hospital finally admitted her. She was discharged 8-9 days later.
Rakesh was released on bail on 5 May. Although an FIR has been filed at the police station on the basis of an affidavit by Seema's neighbors, no action has yet been taken against those responsible.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
While the government talks about a violence free society for women and children, including improving maternity and child rights, as well as rights for people living in the forest, government departments and public officials continue to violate basic human rights of everyone. Their behavior makes a mockery of all laws and regulations designed to promote and protect human rights. In this case, the Forest Department, Police Department and Hospital Administration all violated the rights of Seema and Rakesh, and until today no complaint has been registered against them. After some pressure, the State Human Rights Commission requested the District Collector to begin an inquiry into the incident on May 7, but as yet nothing has been initiated. While such cases of violence against women and children are regularly reported in the news, the Forest Minister of Madhya Pradesh, during an interview, claimed that Seema's untimely labor was due to her own medical condition, rather than any actions taken by the Forest officials. Such collusion and covering up is detrimental to the rule of law in the state.
Women generally face critical situations, and in Seema's case, after undergoing such brutal assault and trauma, she was not even able to get treatment at the hospital. During the course of her beating more than 20 officials were present, but not one prevented the ruthless attack. Male officers are not allowed to beat women, and female police officers should have been called if Seema needed to be restrained or taken into custody. Such regulations are rarely followed however.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter to the authorities below expressing your concern at the brutal treatment meted to Seema by the Forest Department officials, as well as the arrest and false charges against Rakesh. Please call for an immediate inquiry into the matter, and subsequent prosecution of those responsible, including the hospital staff, who refused treatment to Seema.
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear ______,
INDIA: Forest department officials fabricate charges against husband and brutally beat pregnant wife
Name of the victims: Seema and Rakesh Adhikari
Alleged perpetrators: Forest Department officials, stationed at Panna district, Madhya Pradesh
Date of incident: 3 May 2011
Place of incident: Kunjwan village, Gangau Abhyaran, Panna district, Madhya Pradesh
I am writing to express my outrage and concern at the inhuman treatment of a five-month pregnant women by Forest Department officials, which resulted in her giving birth to dead fetuses.
On 3 May 2011, Forest Department officials came to the house of Rakesh Adhikari, with the intention to falsely accuse him of hunting Nilgai. When he denied the allegations, and when the officials could not find any evidence of such a hunt, they left, only to return with a team of 22-24 officials at 5am with the skin of Nilgai. They then started beating Rakesh, and at his wife's opposition, beat her as well, brutally kicking her stomach. At this time Seema was five-months pregnant with twins. The officials' inhuman behavior resulted in her immediate labor and delivery of dead fetuses, the trauma of which rendered her unconscious. The Forest officials left her in this state while taking Rakesh into custody.
I am aware that male officers are not allowed to beat women, and female police officers should have been called if Seema needed to be restrained or taken into custody. Such brutal and illegal behavior should immediately be investigated and reprimanded.
When Seema went to the Panna District Hospital on May 4, she was denied admission, apparently because there was no gynecologist available. The hospital administration instead referred her to Jabalpur, but there was no ambulance to transfer her there. In fact, it is understood that the local police were pressurizing hospital officials to shift her elsewhere. Such behaviour is despicable. It was only after considerable pressure from local rights groups that the District Hospital finally admitted her. She has since been discharged.
I urge you to take prompt action in this case, ensuring that the responsible officers are charged not only for their torturous treatment of Seema and the murder of her fetuses, but also for falsely charging Rakesh. Seema should be provided all the necessary medical care, and both Seema and Rakesh should be given adequate compensation.
Yours sincerely,
_________
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Jairam Ramesh
Minister of State (Independent Charge)
Ministry of Environment and Forests
Government of India
Paryavaran Bhavan
CGO Complex, Lodhi Road
New Delhi - 110 003
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 2436 2222
E-mail: jairam@vsnl.com
2. Ms. Krishna Tirath
Minister of Women and Child Development
Government of India
New Delhi
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 2331 4788
E-mail: krishnatirath@yahoo.in
3. Rameshwar Thakur
Governor of Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
INDIA
Fax: +91 755 408 0112
E-mail: rajbhawan_bhopal@yahoo.com
4. Mr. Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Chief Minister
Government of Madhya Pradesh
Vallabh Bhawan
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
INDIA
Fax: +91 755 244 1781
E-mail: cm@mp.nic.in
5. Mr. Avani Vaish
Chief Secretary
Government of Madhya Pradesh
Vallabh Bhawan, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
INDIA
Tel: +91 755 244 1848
Fax: +91 755 244 1751
E-mail: cs@mp.nic.in
6. Mr. B. R Naidu
Principal Secretary
Department of Women and Child Development
Government of Madhya Pradesh
Ballabh Bhawan, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
INDIA
Tel: +91 755 2550 8948
7. Mr. A. K Rana
Chief Conservator of Forests (Central)
Kendriya Paryavaran Bhavan,
Link Road No.3, Bhopal-462016
Madhya Pradesh
INDIA
Tel: +91 755 246 5494
E-mail: rcccfbhopal@gmail.com
8. Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg
New Delhi 110001
INDIA
Fax + 91 11 2338 4863
E-mail: chairnhrc@nic.in
9. Mr. Justice Aryendra Kumar Saxena
Acting Chairperson
State Human Rights Commission of Madhya Pradesh
Paryavas Bhawan, Arera Hills
Jail Road, Bhopal-462001
Madhya Pradesh
INDIA
Tel: +91 755 2571935 /+91 755 2424311
Fax: +91 755 2574028
E-mail: mphrc@sancharnet.in
10. Madhya Pradesh State Women's Commission
35 Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, First Floor
Shyamla Hills, Bhopal 462001
Madhya Pradesh
INDIA
Fax: +91 755 2661806
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
Visit AHRC new website with more features at www.humanrights.asia.
-----------------------------
Asian Human Rights Commission
#701A Westley Square,
48 Hoi Yuen Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon,
Hongkong S.A.R.
Tel: +(852) - 2698-6339
Fax: +(852) - 2698-6367
URL: humanrights.asia
twitter/youtube/facebook: humanrightsasia
Please consider the environment before printing this email.
-----------------------------
Asian Human Rights Commission
#701A Westley Square,
48 Hoi Yuen Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon,
Hongkong S.A.R.
Tel: +(852) - 2698-6339
Fax: +(852) - 2698-6367
URL: humanrights.asia
twitter/youtube/facebook: humanrightsasia
Please consider the environment before printing this email.
