Rights violation in Bihar: Custodial deaths up by 853% in 2010

By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,

Patna: The Lalu-Rabri regime was dubbed as lantern (their party symbol) raj or jungle raj. The present regime of Nitish Kumar could be factually termed as police raj or khaki raj if one goes just by the state Human Rights Commission’s figures about registered rights violation cases during 2009-2010.

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The Bihar Human Rights Commission (BHRC) registered 26 cases of custodial deaths in 2009 but number rose by 853% in 2010 (by Dec 10) as the panel received 222 such cases. The year 2010 was assembly election year and the state government of JDU-BJP combine had opened exchequer for Bihar shining campaign in the media. In the storm of publicity was buried the cries of victims of custodial deaths.

A petty thief is being tortured by police in Nathnagar, Bhagalpur in 2007 [Photo: Tehelka]

This was not all. According to the BHRC report released here on 9th Feb, in the same year of 2010, the BHRC received 958 cases of implication by police in false cases. Compared to 404 such cases in the year 2009, the jump was 237%.

Similarly the cases of violence against SC/ST people have also gone up in 2010.

As for disposal of cases of rights violation, the BHRC has been slow.

Together in 2009 and 2010, the panel registered 248 cases of custodial deaths but by December 2010 it could dispose of just 42 cases while 206 cases are still pending. Similar lackadaisical approach is seen in the category of Implication in False Cases. Out of the total of 1362 such cases registered in 2009 and 2010, the rights panel could dispose of only 326 and 1046 cases are still pending.

It should be clear that the panel started working in the state on Dec. 10, 2008. Before that, National Human Rights Commission would receive cases from the state.