Thursday, December 1, 2011

HC issue notice-on Killing of Bounded Adivasi Killing Thane(Shahpur)

Activists Indavi Tulpule and Vivek Pandit went on a fact-finding mission to the village, the brick kiln where the adivasi died and the hospital where he had been taken to. http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_bid-to-hush-up-tribal-killing-exposed_1619209

Mumbai: Calling it a "serious violation of human rights", the Bombay high court has directed the Thane rural superintendent of police (SP) to file a reply in the death of Jhipru Mukane, a Katkari adivasi who was allegedly tortured and beaten to death by brick kiln owner Balu Choudhari for not repaying a loan of Rs6,000.

Late on Tuesday night, Choudhari was arrested. His son Ganesh, also an accused, has absconded.

With the HC taking notice of the case and activists breathing down the Thane rural police's neck, finally the statement of Jayabai, Mukane's widow, was recorded around 10pm on Tuesday. Choudhari was booked and arrested soon after.

Jhipru Mukane, 35, a Katkari adivasi of Shere village in Shahpur taluka, died last Tuesday after being kept chained and tortured into working as a bonded labourer. Jayabai, 30, had alleged police complicity and apathy as they refused to take her complaint.

The police registered an offence against Choudhari and his son Ganesh for murder and atrocities by an upper caste member against an adivasi.

A division bench of chief justice Mohit Shah and justice Roshan Dalvi took suo moto (on their own) cognisance in the case.

The court has issued notices to the State government, SP Ramesh Kumar Mor and the Senior Inspector of Vasind police station. The court has asked Mor to file his reply by December 14.

The Thane rural SP Ramesh Kumar Mor, who has come in for considerable criticism for his lax attitude to human rights excesses against the Kathkari tribals in Murbad and Shahpur of Thane district, is said to be personally overseeing investigations.

http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/MAH-MUM-adivasis-death-hc-issues-notice-to-thane-sp-2603397.html


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