By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Seventeen days after the Forbesganj police firing, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has finally woken up and has today announced to send its team to Bhajanpur village under Forbesganj in order to investigate Forbesganj police firing. But the NHRC has not yet fixed the date.
On 3rd June 2011, residents of Rampur and Bhajanpur villages under Forbesganj block in Araria district came out, after Juma Prayer, to protest against blockade of the connecting road between the two villages for a factory. The police not only opened fire on the protestors but chased them to their homes and killed four people including a pregnant woman and a seven-month-old infant.
Shakeel Ahmad Khan and Shabnam Hashmi (2nd and 3rd from L) along with victims of Forbesganj firing after meeting NHRC Chief Justice KJ Balakrishnanan
The announcement was made today, June 20, by KJ Balakrishnan, Chairperson, NHRC while meeting the victims of the police firing who were led by Shabnam Hashmi of ANHAD and Dr. Shakeel Ahmad Khan spokesperson of the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee.
The victims of the police firing recounted their tales of horror to the NHRC chief while underlining the failure of the state government in providing justice to the victims. Apparently moved Balakrishnan assured that, “don’t worry, we are going to send the team on the spot and investigate the matter.”
While referring to the extent of brutality done by the Bihar police, Balakrishnan referred to the fact that police kicked one of the victims, Mustafa Ansari was with his boots crushing him to death finally. Balakrishnan was surprised at the way the state administration acted in the whole episode regarding land acquisition.
Talking to TwoCircles.net, Hashmi said, “Justice Balakrishnan heard the victims very patiently and has assured them that the NHRC will help them in every possible way to get justice. Although the commission hasn’t yet indicated the date but soon it will visit the spot.”
Hashmi demanded from the commission to quash the FIR which the Araria police filed against the villagers, “Instead of helping the victims in getting justice, the state administration filed FIR against thousands of villagers. We have demanded from the Commission to quash those FIRs,” added Hashmi.
It took the NHRC several complaints and representations by the political leaders and civil society members to finally announce its cognizance of the matter. The NHRC took this decision after consideration of complaints filed by people including Ms. Brinda Karat, MP , Rajya Sabha, Dr. Mohan Lal Panda, a human rights activist, Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan, National President, Lok Janshakti Party.