By TCN News,
New Delhi: While the Uttar Pradesh Government indicated of criminal action against Shahi Imam Ahmed Bukhari for calling the state terrorist during his visit to Azamgarh recently, the National Human Rights Commission has ordered the Mayawati government to pay a monetary relief of Rs 5 lakh to Hindi journalist Samiuddin for his victimization, harassment and illegal detention.
In its Feb. 11 order, NHRC asked the Uttar Pradesh Government to pay a monetary relief of five lakh rupees to journalist Samiuddin @ Neelu, a victim of police atrocity while exercising his right of freedom of expression, and asked for a compliance report within six weeks from the Chief Secretary of the state.
“In its proceedings on the 4th February, 2010, in a case no. 14303/24/2006-2007 including previous complaints, the Commission observed that “this case is a stark example of not only of total apathy, but outright antagonism towards a person , whose right to life was seriously endangered” by the acts of the concerned police authorities,” says NHRC release.
The Commission took up the case on complaints received from Samiuddin, staff reporter of Hindi daily, Amar Ujala, district Lakhimpur Khiri. He had alleged that after publication of his reports on wrong doings and atrocities of police in the district, Ms N. Padmja, Superintendent of Police, district Lakhimpur Khiri had been harassing him variously since 2004.
The Commission observed that the Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh in his letter dated 10th November, 2009 has admitted that there has been a clear violation of human rights of Samiuddin.
“This is an unusual case of its kind, where a Press Reporter while exercising his right of freedom of expression was victimized by the police officials of district Lakhimpur Khiri, Uttar Pradesh—. Samiuddin has been fighting a lone battle against the misuse of authority by the then Superintendent of Police of Lakhimpur Khiri and others on her behalf.”
“What is remarkable in this case is that the approach of the administration as well as the senior police officials has been characterized to trivialize the gravity of violation of human rights of Samiuddin@ Neelu, on one hand, and protect the police officials, especially, the Superintendent of Police, Ms N Padmja, on the other. He was implicated in a false case in which he was arrested and had to stay in prison,” says the human rights body.
Samiuddin has fought his battle several years suffering mental, physical and financial agony. That his life was also in danger is evident from the fact UP State police had extended him security from 04/04/2006 to 15/05/2007, which was later withdrawn for reasons best known to them.
In yet another complaint received in the Commission on the 5th May, 2006, he alleged that a team of SOG kidnapped him on the 9th February at 10.30 pm while he was going back home from office and took him away from the city with the intent to kill him. It was only when the complainant informed SOG officers that he had already moved an application before NHRC apprehending his murder that they let him go as instructed by the concerned SP on phone. But then he was falsely implicated in recovery of forest animal parts and kept in lock up. When released on bail after ten days, the SHO, Kotwali, Lakhimpur did not even register his complaint. Pleading for justice, the complainant, requested that the Commission investigate the matter; take action against Ms N Padmja, IPS Officer, SOG team and others for misusing their positions.
The Commission has asked the state government’s reply on the status of Samiuddin’s complaint on his illegal arrest within six weeks. It has also asked the Additional D.G. ( Human Rights) to submit within six weeks a complete enquiry report into the incident, including complainant’s version which in his report dated 9th September, 2009 is missing and thus misleading.
Recently, National Human Rights Commission has signed an MoU with Indira Gandhi National Open University to jointly develop and conduct three types of courses on human rights awareness for police personnel at cutting edge level. This will include basic course for Constables/Sub-Inspectors, advance course for middle level police officers and trainers’ training course. The courses will be available through distance learning and internet aided online mode.