Against the Terror of Mamata Banerjee’s Militia in Jungal Mahal

Against the Terror of Mamata Banerjee’s Militia: Womens’ Protest Rally in Jungal Mahal – A Report and the Pamphlet.


Requiem of a ‘Dream’

That day was probably 28th November, 2006; the pre-scheduled meeting by Krishi Jami Rakhsa Committee against forceful land acquisition in Singur, Hoogly was forced to be cancelled. The meeting was cancelled because the state administration declared Sec. 144 in the locality of Singur. Though the organisers had received prior permission, the CPI(M) led government, in a brutal manner, tried to gag the voice of unwilling farmers, and compelled the organisers to call off the program. Smt. Mamata Banerjee was one of the main speakers there; she shouted herself hoarse against the undemocratic and deceitful declaration of Sec. 144 in Singur on that particular evening; other democratic organisations also slammed the government. Singur was the beginning of end of the ‘Left’ regime and their sham democracy.

At that time Smt. Mamata Banerjee was in the opposition. At that time she clamored for democracy, clamored for change in West Bengal politics, as we also did. Today, she is enthroned in the chair of the Chief Minister, but ‘democracy’, in true sense, is unaccomplished. The incident in Jhargram on September 5, 2011 should be an eye-opener for those who are parroting that after the defeat of CPI (M), democracy has been restored in West Bengal.

On 5th September, Nari Ijjat Bachao Committee (Committee for the protection of Women’s Honour) called for a rally in Jhargram of West Midnapore District against the new phase of atrocities unleashed by Joint force, Police and cadres of Trinamool Congress under this new regime.

It is alleged that most of the mercenary forces of CPI (M) (popularly known as harmads), to save their back, changed their camp and joined the Trinamool backed organisation Jana Jagaran Mancha. Three men of Jana Jagaran Mancha were arrested from the Jhargram region early on September 3, 2011, carrying arms. Police mistook them as Maoists, but Mr. Nishith Mahato, the leader of Jana Jagaran Mancha, claimed that they were the members of the ‘army against Maoists’. There are reports of harassment and violence in the Jangalmahal, echoing that with which people have been familiar for the last two years. I am giving two prominent examples; firstly, arrested leader Chatradhar Mahato’s home, where Chatradhar’s wife and his aged parents live, was ransacked by the Joint Forces,. Chatradhar’s father and mother were threatened and humiliated. Secondly, Kamalesh Mahato, the leader of Jharkhand Student’s Federation also faced the rage of Trinamool goons. His home was attacked and shattered. He was threatened with death if he did not buckle down at the knees of Trinamool. There are many incidents of sheer terror underlying the ‘peace’. (Please see the leaflet of Nari Ijjat Bachao Committee)

Nari Ijjat Bachao Committee sought the permission at Jhargram police station for the rally, days before the scheduled program. On 4th September evening, police informed that permission was cancelled. Without any proper reason, administration tried to thwart the democratic, peaceful rally.

But that could not stop people coming for the rally. On 5th September, people from different villages headed for Jhargram town. Police stopped them at different entry points of Jhargram Town, at Kalaboni, Dohijuri, Nayagram and from Binpur side. People started sit-in-demonstration where they were deterred. Fifteen thousand people participated on that day.

After three months of taking the oath of office, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s intentions are clear. This government is not withdrawing the killer Joint Forces, neither would they release the prominent political prisoners. The pre-election promises were void rhetoric. Moreover, the new government resorts to the old method of repression and deceit, trying to suppress the democratic means of protest that the ‘Left Front’ government did previously. The Jhargram incident proves that Smt. Mamata Banerjee is putting the clock back.

By: Debashis
General Secretary, Rationalists’ and Humanists’ Forum of India

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Leaflet for the Rally from Nari Ijjat Bachao Committee

Dear friends,

It has been 100 days since the current Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee entered Writers. She has claimed that the first 100 days have been days of unqualified success. The media has duly seconded that opinion. Her ministers and cadres are daydreaming about the incipient creation of a New Bengal.

The residents of the Jungal Mahal are not thinking along these lines. But a small fraction of them joined Mamata’s party, and in their quest to exert influence in the area, have started terror on a scale larger than that perpetrated by the CPIM.

Two new armies were created after the new government was formed. They have been on the attack for the last one month. Before May 13, the TMC didn’t attack the people of the Jungal Mahal, or create armies. Moreover, their election campaign was based on the demands of pulling out the Central Forces, the unconditional release of all political prisoners, and the the arrest of Harmad leaders. They said that if they got the votes, they would transform Jungal Mahal.

Things really did change. Mamata changed her tone, and along with the joint forces, the Harmad army, and the Ganapratirodh Committee was created Mamata’s Harmad army, under the leadership of Nishith. On top of that, from September 10, ten thousand residents of Jungal Mahal are being enlisted for SPO, Home Guard, and NVF, promising a new huge army to terrorise the masses in the future.

Scene 1:

August 27 was Martyr Umakanta’s first Martyrdom anniversary. His house is in Bankshole, and in his memory his wife Sabita Mahato, and his parents, children, and the villagers in general came together to make a temple, on his land, at his home, with money from selling his crops. But the CPIM sent the Joint Forces and destroyed the structure. The Joint forces sent by Mamata’s government started harassing Sabita. They didn’t destroy the new structure, but did destroy Sabita’s strength of mind. They questioned ; why did her husband die? For what? Did Maoists give money for the temple? You have to give them up. A thousand other questions and threats.

Dipak Ghosh of Mamata’s party (the Great Leader, IPS) wrote a huge article in the Dainik Statesman three days after the death of Umakanto. After his party came to power, they started behaving like the previous government. Last Saturday Sabita had to get bail for Rs. 3000, for a false case. How many new cases will come can only be said by Mamata.

We alone can understand the anguished cries of terrorized infants. We are standing with them for their development – the Ma Mati Mamata brigade are singing a different tune – a tune that promises terror on a larger scale then even the CPIM.

Scene 2:

On 20th August, at 10 in the morning, in Lalgarh’s Amliya village. The Joint Forces enter the imprisoned Chhatradhar Mahato’s home, and the home of Martyr Banabasi Suchitra. The police destroyed everything. They asked for Srimati Niyoti Mahato, threatened people to bring her out. Niyotidi couldn’t return home the whole day. This is not only Niyotidi’s predicament – it is the predicament of the sisters, mothers, and elder sisters of Jungal Mahal.

Scene 3:

To strengthen Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement, students and villagers from different areas of Jungal Mahal started a fast. This was on 24/25 August, in Jhargram and Salboni. Mamata’s police broke it all up, beating up the women and men who were fasting, saying that fasting wasn’t allowed. On 26th June, the people who were fasting for the release of political prisoners were beaten up mercilessly in Belpahari Pathorbakri. Mamata doesn’t even want to give this form of political expression any space. From the end of June to August, this is how it has been.

Scene 4:

Gana Jagoron Mancha and Mamata’s Harmad Bahini have started terrorizing the areas around Jamboni, Jhargram, and Nayagram. We are affected here and village life is subdued and in fear. CPIM Harmads and Mamata Harmads, in their respective spheres of influence , are working with the Joint Forces to attack the masses. The mask of democracy and mass acceptance that the new government, especially Mamata had is now gone. Thus, the pain of the Jungal Mahal is not being recorded naymore. Now, whatever they may say publicly, as far as Jungal Mahal goes Mamata’s position is one of perpetrating terror.

Afer a long time, we too are being forced to prepare for a protest rally. We had hoped for the return of peace to Jungal Mahal. That is why we have not ben agitating. Mamata in the interim hatched scheme after scheme and finally created an army. Now we are being pushed to take the same kinds of preparations that we took to save ourselves from the CPIM Harmads. On 25th August, Mukul Ray came to Jhargram and warned that just because the government was using soft hands, it should not be thought of as weak. But Mukul Babu couldn’t mention the new attacks on the Jungal Mahal. He couldn’t because that would expose them.

We are residents of Jungal Mahal. Mukul Babu may be quiet, but we will tell the world about what is happening in Jungal Mahal today. That is why after such a long time, on 5th September, we are gathering from all over in Jhargram, and protesting Mamata’s terror. Come, let us make this protest a success. Come let us all speak out about the truth in the Jungal Mahal, the truth that Mamata is suppressing from The Writers.

Jyotsna Mahato
Mahamichhil Samannay Samiti
Nari Ijjat Bachao Committee
Translated by Kuver Sinha

A Fictitious Conversation !! Or Is It Fictitious?

This write-up was published in Indian Mirror on September 9, 2011. Thanks to Indian Mirror.

PA To Minister, “Sir a revolution in India seems imminent, just like in the Middle-East. People had always known that corruption existed, but now with RTI they finally have proof. CWG, 2G, RadiaJi, and now fueling the nation’s unrest are those like Annaji … We got to do something.”
“There’s a saying: when in the midst of corruption’s cloud, terrorize it out.”
“Means?”
“Means use terrorism to fight corruption.”
“You mean hire terrorists to kill every corrupt in the country.”
“Fool there aren’t enough bullets with all the terrorists in the world to wipe out the nation’s corrupt. What I meant was that when the mind of the masses shifts towards the rampant corruption and injustice around them, divert their attention to bigger problems – their own survival. Use terrorism to remind them that we maybe corrupt, but we are at truce with them and this truce saves their lives… till that is they shout too much.”
“How?”
“Simple. Explode more than two bombs within a gap of few minutes and everyone will see conspiracy behind it. They will think India has been attacked just because a few bombs blew up simultaneously. They will want war with Pakistan, and in the ensuing melee, forget all about the real problems plaguing them… corruption, the plunder and sale of the nation, the rape of its resources, the mass murder of its poor and oppressed everywhere…”
“But what about those that do manage to see that the true conspiracy behind the blasts.”
“Don’t worry. They will be called ‘conspiracy theorists’ by the same people who cried conspiracy in the first place. You see there can only be one conspiracy. You can either be right or wrong, you can’t be ‘righter’ than the rest… So delay no more Psmith, contact our sources in Pakistan and Afghanistan and tell them that it’s time to open the burqa.”
“Psmith?”

“May god have mercy on Wodehouse… never mind. Make that call.”

After an hour, the PA returns.
“Sir the Pakistani groups says that they are laying low, after the Obama thing… oops Osama thing. What now?”
“Shit, we have to go for the Indian groups. Those are an unprofessional lot, lazier than our politicians. They don’t even have high intensity bombs.”
“Well sir, how could they- they have not been trained by the US Special Forces unlike the Afghani and Pakistani militants.”
“Yes, that’s the problem. Anyways, contact the Indian groups. Tell them it’s time to apply orange vibuthi.”

The PA arranges for some Hindutva terror group to plan a series of coordinated blasts in Mumbai. The requisite money is paid, dates fixed strategically to coincide with an important date and all the intelligence security clearances given. The new PA however has pangs of self-doubt and anxiety so he seeks help.
“Sir, pardon me. I don’t understand life and politics as you do, but what about the people who’d die in the blasts?”
“Don’t worry, like you said before, these Hindu fundamentalists, trained as they are by ex Indian military and not American, are not as good as their Muslim brothers. So even if they want to, the maximum they can kill in these three blasts, would be 20 or 30 people and injure about 200-300.”
“20-30 people? Isn’t that too much? We are talking about living things here sir… living, breathing, feeling beings sir, beings with families, who feel pain and die…”
“Do you eat meat?”
“Yes sir.”

“Well then, don’t you realize when you eat animals that we are killing and eating living things… living, breathing, feeling beings… beings with families, who feel pain and die…”

“But animals… they don’t have a say sir. That’s why they are called animals.”

“Bingo. You see, they do have a say – they do cry and protest when they are being taken for slaughter. But you ignore them. Why? Because we humans are more powerful. It is always about power. People who don’t have a say, who don’t have power are as good or bad as animals up for slaughter. How many times have you cried over the death of 30 chicken. It’s the same with the mango-people. Don’t cry over lives that don’t matter, that are already dead just that they don’t know it yet. They are more like the living-dead. If not in the blast, they’d fall off trains and die. Do you know that on an average 15 people die and hundreds are maimed for life or injured after falling from the packed, over crowded Mumbai trains EVERY SINGLE DAY? They should be on the street protesting this daily manslaughter, no? But, do they protest even when they are stuffed in sweaty trains like chicken are in their cages? No. Do you know why? Because they know that their living or dying doesn’t really matter. And they need to be reminded of that once in a while, they need to be reminded that they are collateral damage.”
“Collateral damage to what?”

“To their own protection, from their foolish beliefs that they matter, that they can make a difference. You see that’s the problem with democracy. Those who believe they can make a difference, have to be killed to make them change their minds… literally… ha ha ha.”

“But sir this is too much, this allaying with the Muslim and Hindu fundamentalists at the same time. I mean don’t we have a policy against who we ally with?”

“Of course. We always have. Haven’t you noticed that we always ally with the strong, the powerful – in true democratic, liberal and progressive spirit. If you are strong it doesn’t matter whether you’re a Hindu or a Muslim, Upper Caste or Dalit. You see there aren’t even any countries anymore today. All we have are the powerful and the powerless, the haves and the havenots. The ones without power are as helpless in a developed nation, as they are in a developing one and they are up for being collateral damage every time they are required to. It’s their greatest sacrifice to the idea of their nation they so cherish, to their ‘freedom’… it’s a price a few have to pay, so that others may live. It’s a price they pay to protect themselves.”
“Protect them from what.”
“Are you kidding me… from themselves.”

The PA is too stunned to say anything… and the conversation ends in a long silence, till bomb blasts kill close to 30 people and injure hundreds in Delhi on 7th September, 2011.

By: Debashis
General Secretary, Rationalists’ and Humanists’ Forum of India
On 8th September, 2011

Courtsey: India Mirror
Picture Courtsey: Jokesprank.com

NAPM (National Alliance for People’s Movement) to launch nationwide signature campaign on `Save Sharmila`

Published on September 3, 2011 in Top Stories in kanglaonline.com

IMPHAL, Sept 3: Showing solidarity to the decade-long struggle of Irom Chanu Sharmila for the repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, the Delhi-based National Alliance for Peoples’ Movement (NAPM) has decided to launch a nationwide signature campaign from October 2 to December 10 in all major state capitals and cities of India with an objective to spread awareness on Irom Sharmila’s struggle and to generate public support for “Save Sharmila” campaign.

The proposed campaign of NAPM has been officially intimated to Sharmila Chanu and the members of Just Peace Foundation today.

The signature campaign will be held at Ambedkar Statue near Tank Bund in Hyderabad, Guwahati in Assam, Kargil Chowk in Patna, Bihar, Gujarat Vidyapeeth in Gujarat, Sector 17 in Chandigarh, Panchayat Bhawan Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, Hazratbal/Lal Chowk in Srinagar, Albert Ekka Chowk in Ranchi, Bangalore in Karnataka, Truchur Corporation office in Kerela, Top and Town new market Trischur, Madhya Pradesh, Grand road Pachim, Mumbai, Gandhi Peeth Puri Ghat, Cuttak, Orrisa, Jaipur, Rajasthan, Gandhi Statue, Marina Beach, Chennai, Gandhi Bhawan Hazatganj Lucknow, Dehradun Uttar Pradesh, Shyam bazaar in front of Maharaja Mahindra college and Shyambazar metro station Kolkata, India Gate and Jantar Mantar New Delhi and Puducherry.

In an e-mail message, NAPM elaborated that the proposed “Save Sharmila” campaign needs initiation of positive talks with Irom Sharmila on her demands seriously by the government, sending all party delegation, sending members of National, Women Commission and National Human Rights Commission and sending of special team of doctors to examine her health condition.

These signatures will be handed over to the President of India Pratibha Devi Singh Patil on the observation day of International Human Rights Day on December 10 followed by a peace march from India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhawan to be participated by the representatives of Just Peace Foundation.

NAPM further stated that non-violent protest of Irom Chanu Sharmila should not be ignored. It is time for all to come forward regardless of our ideological differences to strengthen Irom Sharmila Chanu for creating a peaceful democratic society, the message added.

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Irom Sharmila Chanu and the fight to end impunity in Manipur

(Compiled from a statement and petition of the Asian Human Rights Commission: AHRC-STM-017-2010, http://campaigns.ahrchk.net/manipur/)

Menghaobi, alias Ms Irom Sharmila Chanu, known as Manipur’s beacon of peace and hope, received the Lifetime Achievement Award on 26 January 2010. Sharmila shares the award with Mr Tenzing Tsude, Professor Hassan Mansoor, Fr Claude, Mr Abhay Sahoo, Mr Prasanta Paikray, Mr Cherkadi Rama Chandra Rao, Mr H Ganapati Appa Sagara, Ms Anasuyamma Allalasandra and Mr Himanshu Kumar.

The award is organized by a collective of Indian NGOs and was presented in a ceremony held at Bangalore. Unable to be present during the ceremony, since she is held in house arrest in Manipur, Sharmila, accepting the award, sent a letter to the Union Minister of Law and Justice, Dr Veerappa Moily, reproduced below—

Message from Ms Irom Sharmila Chanu

The Civil Society Submit 2010
Bangalore, 24-26 January

The tranquility or disorderliness of a society is dependent on the relationship between the civil society and it Rulers. Just like the relationship between the King and the Queen bees on the one hand and their numerous offspring on the other. The offspring build a hive in accordance to the directives of the Rulers. And they all settle together happily inside the hive with plenty of food, honey and in the safety of a secured shelter.

But this pristine peace is not eternal. As the offspring matures and assumes multiple roles, contestation and competition crops up. One tries to outsmart

the other right besides the much coveted Couple. The harmony of the hive is disturbed. The inevitable intermittent fractional fighting leads to dilapidation of the hive and ultimately ruined the bees.

The role of civil society within a nation, much like the offspring bees, is enormous. They are the very backbone of the nation. The capacity to stand united by overcoming our narrow sectarian interest, by realizing the common good in building up a just social order and by our commitment to work hard to achieve this higher goal is the only way to bring about emancipation in our society. These virtues alone can make our dream of Justice—social, economic and political — come true. This alone can abolish starvation and poverty that has been chronically plaguing our society.

I am of the firm belief that it will also heighten Nature’s Beauty. And Her Beauty will ultimately harmonize with mankind’s well being. And in the same manner as honey contributes towards our well being and wax enhances the beauty of our cloths, an organically-evolved, value-based civil-society can bring about a Civilized Universe wherein all our fundamental rights and basic freedoms can be realized in its true sense.

My warmest regards to each and every one of you who have contributed toward sustaining this hope for a just-world order! From the confines of my hospital bed in Imphal, I wish the Civil Society Summit 2010 a Grand Success!

Also known as the Iron Lady of Manipur, a human rights activist, journalist and poet living in Manipur, Sharmila’s birthday is on March 14. The Asian Human Rights Commission has initiated an online signature campaign to support her 10 year hunger strike and to demand the government of India and the Manipur state government end impunity in the state. The campaign also urges the government to withdraw the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) from Manipur.

Sharmila is on an indefinite fast since 4 November 2000, protesting against the violence committed by state and non-state actors in Manipur. Her protest also demands an immediate end to impunity in the state, for which the withdrawal of the martial law, the AFSPA, is a prerequisite. The government has not withdrawn the law; neither has Sharmila stopped her fast.

Within a few days into the fast, Sharmila’s health deteriorated. Fearing adverse political repercussion and failing to admit defeat, the government arrested Sharmila and detained her under section 309 of the penal code, a provision penalizing the attempt to commit suicide. The government of Manipur is now force-feeding her through a nasogastric tube. Sharmila has been in this state for the past 10 years, confined under police custody in her small room in Manipur.

As Sharmila’s protest gained publicity, several persons wanted to visit her and express their solidarity with the cause of ordinary Manipuri people that she represents. However, the government has denied her any visitors.

In the meantime, Manipur has become increasingly militarized. Each day innocent persons are killed by underground militant groups as well as state agents. Most of these incidents are not investigated or even registered as extrajudicial executions. In 2009, Manipur’s Director General of Police, Mr Joy Kumar Singh, openly stated in an interview that his officers had killed more than 260 persons in 11 months, insisting they were all ‘terrorists’.

There is no credible data available from Manipur that provides a reasonable estimate concerning the number of deaths and/or other forms of human rights violations. The state government, with overwhelming support from the central government, is relatively successful in silencing human rights activists in the state. The arrest and detention of Mr Jiten Yumnam is the latest of these cases. For further details please see AHRC-STM-010-2010.

Extrajudicial execution is not legalized in India, yet it happens every day in states like Manipur. National institutions like the National Human Rights Commission and the Supreme Court of India have expressed concern about the increasing number of extrajudicial executions reported in the country, to no effect.

The AFSPA is one more addition to the overall impunity framework that has contributed to the deterioration of the rule of law in Manipur. A number of national bodies including the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee, the Second Administrative Reforms Commission and the Prime Minister’s Working Group on Confidence-Building Measures in Jammu and Kashmir have recommended that a law like AFSPA will only facilitate violence and not prevent it.

The ongoing armed conflict in Manipur has only benefited two categories of individuals. The underground militant groups use the conflict to create a climate of fear so that they can extract resources from citizens and receive support from foreign entities that encourage internal disturbances in India. It also benefits politicians like the Chief Minister of Manipur, who in the past two decades has become one of the richest persons in the state. He has reportedly used the conflict as a catalyst for his political and economic growth. Not too long ago the Chief Minister was a petty contractor who paid extortion money to militant groups.

Caught between the two evils are the ordinary people of Manipur, forsaken by state and central institutions.

REPEAL SPECIAL POWER ACT, RESTORE HUMAN RIGHTS

This article was published in South Asia Forum for Human Rights (SAFHR) on Nov 6, 2006

Dear friends,
During the last few decades, the people of north eastern statesand J&K have witnessed severe repression with the implementation Armed Forces Special Power Act (1958). Under this law security forces have:

The power to shoot, arrest and kill at the mere hint of suspicious activity (ref. 4A)
The power to destroy the property of people (4B)
The power to arrest and enter property without warrant (4D)
Immunity against legal action. No right to file a case against an Armed Force Person however brutal his crime may be. ( Ref. 6)

Or in other words Armed Force has the legal right to rape, loot and kill in the name of counter-insurgency, in the name of restoring peace.

The implementation of this law has led to brutal rape, arbitrary detention, killing and loot. This law is being used actively by security forces to terrorize and subordinate local communities in the name of counter-insurgency. The implementation of this draconian law has challenged not only the democratic norms of Manipur, also of the entire freedom loving people of India for allowing such blatant repression to take place.
=0 A

In 1991 and 1997 Human rights Sub-Committee of UNO stated this act is ultimate violation against human right. Despite signing the International law public and democratic rights of 1984 and 1996 what India Government is doing is illegal.

Protesting against AFSPA , Irom Sharmila Chanu, the young poet from Manipur has been on an indefinite hunger strike for many years . On November 2, 2006 the hunger strike of Sharmila has completed six years . She is being forcefully nasal-fed in AIIMS , Delhi, by the authorities. She has only one demand: withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Power Act from Manipur.
Irony is India Government is celebrating this year 2006 as 100th year of the non-violent peaceful protest “Satyagraha” initiated by Mahatma Gandhi.

Various Human rights organization and political activists are protesting against AFSPA. Science and Rationalist Association of India ( Bharatiyo Bignan O Yuktibabdi Samity) and Humanist Association of India under leadership of Prabir Ghosh (sec. gen. SRAI) and Sumitra (gen. sec. HAI) are continuously fighting to abolish this brutal act.

We appeal to all democratic forces to extend full support to the struggle of people oppressed by AFSPA.
Debasis
(sec. Science and Rationalist Association of India )

Watch “Uttal Manipur : Indian Army Rape Us” (A film By Debasis. Produced by Humanist Association of India)

Courtsey: South Asia Forum for Human Rights (SAFHR)

We Oppose Death Sentence against Adivasi and Dalit Cultural Activists Jeeten Marandi, Anil Ram, Manoj Rajwar and Chhatrapati Mandal!

Jeeten Marandi and others in Death Row are Targets of Indian State’s Conspiracy!
Immediately Withdraw the Death Sentence Pronounced against Adivasi and Dalit Cultural Activists Jeeten Marandi, Anil Ram, Manoj Rajwar and Chhatrapati Mandal!

27 June 2011–The Giridih Lower court has awarded death sentence to peoples’ cultural activists Jeeten Marandi, Manoj Rajwar, Chhatrapati Mandal and Anil Ram in connection with the Chilkhari killings. On 27 October, 2007, Anup Marandi, the son of Babulal Marandi, ex-chief minister of Jharkhand, was shot dead by the Maoists along with 19 members of the Nagarik Suraksha Samiti, a vigilante gang promoted and patronised by the ex-chief minister.

Jeeten was deliberately and falsely implicated in this case, because Jeeten as a cultural activist has been exposing and opposing the anti-people and repressive policies of the state, through his organisations Jharkhand Aven and Krantikari Janvadi Morcha. Through his songs, plays and articles he consistently opposed displacement, corporate loot and state repression.

Jeeten had been arrested and jailed in the past too as he tried to spread consciousness among people through his cultural activities about the anti-people policies of the government. The state wants to strangle his bold voice. He was being implicated in the Chilkhari case because he wrote an article in three parts in a Hindi daily Prabhat Khabar. In the article he tried to explore the reasons behind the spreading of the Naxalite movement where he analysed and exposed the anti-people role of the state and showed the close relations the Naxalites have with the people. On 5th April 2008, after the third part of the article was published, the police immediately arrested its writer when he was returning home from a state committee meeting of Visthapan Virodhi Jan Vikas Andolan, which took place in Ratu Road, Ranchi.

The state had first put the charge of sedition on Jeeten Marandi where they alleged that he has given ‘inflammatory speeches’ in the rally that took place on the issue of release of political prisoners on 1st October 2007, in front of Raj Bhavan in Ranchi. After that a series of false cases were slapped on him. Along with the Chilkhari case, the state had put two cases from Thana Gaon, one case from Pirtand police station and two cases from Teesri police station. It must be noted that when the cases of Pirtand and Teesri P.O. took place, Jeeten was in jail for different cases. This clearly reflects the real intention of the government to implicate him in false cases to silence his voice.

Even in the Chilkhari case, the police denied the possibility of involvement of Jeeten Marandi. While reporting the incident of Chilkhari the Hindi daily Prabhat Khabar published Jeeten’s photo in the first page calling him the prime accused of the case. Later

the editor of Prabhat Khabar acknowledged his mistake and publicly apologized to Jeeten. That time the police officers also confirmed that the prime accused of Chilkahri case was not cultural activist Jeeten Marandi, but allegedly a Maoist commander of the same name. But later the police changed its statement and said both cultural activist Jeeten Marandi and Maoist commander Jeeten Marandi are involved in the case. In order to involve the cultural activist Jeeten Marandi, three new witnesses were incorporate in the case. This is how the conspiracy to falsely implicate Jeeten Marandi was hatched.

On 24 March 2009 Jeeten Marandi was produced in the Sessions court for the Chilkhari case. There he was waiting in the Sessions lock up along with other accused, when a person who claimed himself to be the OC of Giridih Town police station came and met Jeeten Marandi, and left. Later the police constables forcefully took Jeeten out alone and took him to the Sessions court. Outside the Sessions lock up the Giridih P.S. O.C showed Jeeten to some people and said this is Jeeten Marandi, remember his face. Then all those people followed Jeeten till the court. In the sessions court they tried to take him out without signing the attendance register. Later the people to whom the police had shown Jeeten in the court gave false witness and said Jeeten Marandi was present when the incident happened. Jeeten Marandi even intimated the court of this whole incident. None of these so-called witnesses were the family members of the ones who died in Chilkhari. They were all members of Babulal Marandi’s party Jharkhand Vikas Morcha. The Sessions court sentenced Jeeten Marandi and three others to death on basis of these ‘witnesses’.

The sentence awarded to Jeeten Marandi and three others once again exposes the puppet nature of the criminal court procedures of the government and police. This is the way the criminal court implicates and frames people who resist the state policies or raise their voice against oppression or injustice. Especially the most oppressed sections, the dalits, adivasis, backwards sections and minorities are always targeted and are given the harshest of punishments like death sentence by the court. The ones who have been given death sentence in Chilkhari case, i.e. Jeeten Marandi, Manoj Rajwar, Chhatrapati Mandal and Anil Ram are also from extremely poor adivasi, dalit, and backward families. The use of the judicial process and criminal court proceedings that led into the capital punishment of Jeeten Marandi is not a new thing. Earlier also the revolutionary leader from Andhra Pradesh Kista Gaud and Bhumaiyya were sentenced to death. In Barah, Bihar, five poor peasants have been given death sentence. Justice Bhagvati from the Supreme Court had accepted earlier that ‘many times the police create witnesses in order to prove their cases’.

In the same case the Supreme Court said that death sentences can be awarded in the ‘rarest of the rare’ cases. But despite that in the Indian judicial system death sentences are being distributed like freebies. According to a report by the Amnesty International, as many as 140 death sentences were handed out in India during 2006-07. In 130 countries death sentence has already been abolished. But the country that claims to be the world’s largest democracy is not ready to end the practice of death sentence so that it

can use death sentences in largest numbers to strangle the voices of the revolutionaries and the people who dream to change the society and can implement the policies of loot and exploitation without any resistance or dissent.

Science and Rationalists’ Association of India and Humanist Association of India demands the immediate withdrawal of the death sentence of Jeeten Marandi and three others and their unconditional release. The politicians and police officers involved in the conspiracy against Jeeten and the rest three must be punished. Death sentence must be abolished. SRAI and HAI appeals to all intellectuals and democratic people and organizations to unite and intensify the struggle for the release and justice of Jeeten, Anil, Manoj and Chhatrapati without delay.

By: Debashis
General Secretary, Rationalists’ and Humanists’ Forum of India