Happy Father’s day INDIA

June 19, 2016

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY INDIA
Farewell Abba – Father's Day June 19, 2016
It is now two days since the Judgement in the famed Gulberg Society Case. It is also Father's Day.
**Nargis Nishrin Hussain nee Jafri** posted this on her FB Wall this morning, a poem by Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Chashm-e-nam, jaan-e-shoreeda kafi nahin
Tohmat-e-ishq-posheeda kafi nahin
aaj bazaar main pa-bajolan chalo
Dast afshan chalo, mast-o-raqsan chalo
Khak bar sar chalo, khoon badaman chalo
Rah takta hai sub shehr-e-janaan chalo
Hakim-e-shehr bhi, majma-e-aam bhi
Teer-e-ilzam bhi, sang-e-dushnam bhi
Subh-e-nashaad bhi, roz-e-naakaam bhi
Unka dum-saaz apnay siwa kaun hai
Shehr-e-janaan main ab baa-sifa kaun hai
Dast-e-qatil kay shayan raha kaun hai
Rakht-e-dil bandh lo, dil figaro chalo
Phir hameen qatl ho aain yaro chalo

Faiz Ahmed Faiz

कैराना:- जहर बुझी राजनीति जहर का नया दौर

June 19, 2016

भारतीय राजनीति विशेषकर उत्तर भारत में दंगों और वोट का बहुत गहरा सम्बन्ध रहा है. कवि गोरख पांडे की लाईनें “इस बार दंगा बहुत बड़ा था, खूब हुई थी खून की बारिश,अगले साल अच्छी होगी, फसल मतदान की” आज भी हकीकत है और कई बार तो लगता है कि हम इस दलदल में और गहरे तक धंस चुके हैं.आपसी रंजिशों की खायी चौड़ी करके,डर व अफवाह फैलाकर लामबंदी करने के इस खेल में लगभग सभी पार्टियाँ माहिर हैं लेकिन भाजपा और बाकी सियासी दलों के बीच एक बुनियादी फर्क है, दूसरे दल यह काम फौरी सियासी फायदे के लिए करते हैं जिससे जनता का ध्यान उनके असली और मुश्किल सवालों से हटाते हुए उन्हें ज़ज्बाती मसलों पर तोड़ कर अपना उल्लू सीधा किया जा सके लेकिन भाजपा का मामला थोड़ा अलग है वह जिस विचारधारा से संचालित है वो अलग तरह के हिन्दुस्तान रचना चाहती है, इसे वे हिन्दू राष्ट्र कहते हैं. अपने इसी मिशन को ध्यान में रखते हुए भाजपा और उसका पूरा संघ परिवार व्यवस्था और पूरे समाज पर अपना वैचारिक हिजेमनी कायम करना चाहते हैं. इसके लिए वे स्थायी रूप से लोगों का दिमाग बदलने की कोशिश करते हैं. इसीलिए दूसरी पार्टियों के मुकाबले जब भाजपा सत्ता में आती है तो वह समाज के हर हिस्से में अपनी विचारधारा के वर्चस्व स्थापित करने के लिए बहुत ही सचेत और गंभीर प्रयास करती है.

पूर्व में भी लामबंदी होती रही है, भाजपा पहले भी केंद्र में सत्ता में रह चुकी है और कई राज्यों में तो उसकी लम्बे समय से सरकारें हैं, लेकिन पिछले दो साल से व्यवस्था को अपने हिसाब से ढालने और समाज में ध्रुवीकरण करने का जो संस्थागत प्रयास किया गया है वैसा पहले कभी नहीं हुआ है.

2014 में सिर्फ सामान्य सत्ता परिवर्तन नहीं हुआ था यह एक विचारधारात्मक बदलाव था जिसके बाद तय हो गया कि भारत 15 अगस्त 1947 को नियति से किये गए अपने वायदे से मुकर कर हिन्दू बहुसंख्यवादी राष्ट्र बनने की दिशा में आगे बढ़ेगा. आज यह सब कुछ खुले तौर पर हो रहा है और इसमें सत्ताधारी पार्टी के सांसदों से लेकर केंद्रीय मंत्री तक मुखरता से शामिल होते देखे जा सकते हैं.

पिछले दो सालों में इस देश ने बीफ, लव जिहाद, राष्ट्रवाद, योग जैसे मुद्दों को एक सियासी हथियार के तौर पर उपयोग होते हुए देखा और झेला है. यह एक ऐसा चलन है जिससे देश की तासीर बदल रही है.

दिल्ली और बिहार के सदमे के बाद भाजपा को असम में ऐतिहासिक सफलता मिली है. अब उसकी निगाहें उत्तर प्रदेश पर हैं जहाँ अगले साल विधान सभा चुनाव होने वाले हैं.

अमित शाह कह चुके है कि यूपी को किसी भी कीमत पर जीतना है. यूपी में जीत से 2019 का रास्ता तो निकलेगा ही साथ ही राज्यसभा में भी पार्टी का वर्चस्व हो जाएगा. इसलिए भाजपा और मोदी सरकार यूपी के चुनाव को लाइफलाइन मान कर चल रहे हैं .

यह हैरान कर देने वाला मामला है”. इस खबर को मीडिया विशेषकर इलेक्ट्रॉनिक मीडिया द्वारा भी खूब प्रचारित किया गया और नेताओं के भड़काऊ बयान प्रसारित किये गये.

इसलिए उत्तर प्रदेश में हर वह दावं आजमाया जाएगा जो वोट दिला सके भले ही इसकी कीमत पीढ़ियों को चुकानी पड़े.

भाजपा द्वारा उत्तर प्रदेश में एक ओबीसी को पार्टी में राज्य का कमान सौप कर जाति की गोटियाँ फिट की जा चुकी हैं, मोदी विकास के कसीदे गढ़ने के अपने चिर-परिचित काम में लग गये हैं, “योगी” और “साध्वी” जैसे लोग जहर उगलने के अपने काम पर लगा दिए गये हैं और अब मीडिया के एक बड़े हिस्से की मदद से “कैराना” में “कश्मीर” की खोज चल रही है. यह तो खेल का शुरूआती दौर है आने वाले दिनों में आग में घी की मात्रा बढ़ती जायेगी.

इस बार भी विवाद के केंद्र में पश्चिमी उत्तर प्रदेश ही है जहाँ मुजफ्फरनगर सांप्रदायिक हिंसा के आरोपी और बीजेपी के वरिष्ठ नेता हुकुम सिंह ने खुलासा किया है कि शामली जिले के कैराना कस्बे में मुस्लिम समुदाय की धमकियों और दहशत की वजह से हिन्दू परिवार पलायन कर रहे हैं. उन्होंने बाकायदा लिस्ट जारी करके बताया कि 346 हिंदु परिवार पलायन कर चुके हैं.

उस दौरान इलाहबाद में चल रही राष्ट्रीय कार्यकारिणी की बैठक से बीजेपी अध्यक्ष अमित शाह द्वारा इस मुद्दे को तुरंत आगे बढ़ाते हुए बयान दिया कि ‘कैराना को हल्के में नहीं लिया जाना चाहिए,यह हैरान कर देने वाला मामला है”.

इस खबर को मीडिया विशेषकर इलेक्ट्रॉनिक मीडिया द्वारा भी खूब प्रचारित किया गया और नेताओं के भड़काऊ बयान प्रसारित किये गये. हालांकि बाद में इस लिस्ट को लेकर कई सवाल खड़े हुए और इसमें कई खामियां पायी गयीं जैसे इसमें लिस्ट में शामिल कई नाम ऐसे पाये गये जो अवसरों की तलाश और अपराधियों के डर से बाहर चले गए और कई लोग मर चुके हैं.

मीडिया के एक हिस्से और प्रशासन द्वारा विपरीत खुलासे के बाद हुकुम सिंह थोड़े बैकफुट पर नजर आये और लिस्ट में कार्यकर्ताओं की चूक बताने लगे. हालांकि इसके बाद उनकी तरफ से कांधला से पलायन करने वालों की दूसरी सूची जारी की गयी है जिसमें सभी नाम हिन्दू हैं.

अब वे अन्य शहरों और कस्बों की इसी तरह सूची जारी करने की बात कह रहे हैं. कैराना के इस पूरे घटनाक्रम में अपने आप को लोकतंत्र का चौथा स्तंभ कहने वाले मीडिया की भूमिया भी बहुत निंदनीय है.

जिस मीडिया से इस तरह के समाज को बाटने वाले साजिशों का पर्दाफ़ाश करने की उम्मीद की जाती है उसका एक हिस्सा अफवाह और नफरत फैलाने वालों का भोपूं बना नजर आया.

2014 के लोकसभा चुनाव के दौरान भी कुछ इसी तरह का खेल खेला गया था, तब मुजफ्फरनगर केंद्र में था जहाँ नफरती अफवाहें गढ़ी गयीं थी और परिवारों या व्यक्तियों की लड़ाईयों को समुदायों की लड़ाई में तब्दील कर दिया गया था. जिसके बाद भाजपा को उत्तरप्रदेश से ही सबसे ज्यादा सीटें आयीं थी. इसलिए कोई वजह नज़र नहीं आती कि इस खेल को दोहराया नहीं जाए. भाजपा एक बार फिर हिंदू वोटों के ध्रुवीकरण की कोशिश में है ताकि अगले साल होने वाले विधानसभा चुनाव में फायदा उठाया जा सके.

लेकिन इस खेल में भाजपा अकेली नहीं है,गणित बहुत सीधा सा है अगर हिन्दू वोटों का ध्रुवीकरण होगा तो मुस्लिम वोटर भी पीछे नहीं रहेंगें. सत्ताधारी सपा इस खेल की दूसरी खिलाड़ी है.

पिछले दो सालों में इस देश ने बीफ, लव जिहाद, राष्ट्रवाद, योग जैसे मुद्दों को एक सियासी हथियार के तौर पर उपयोग होते हुए देखा और झेला है. यह एक ऐसा चलन है जिससे देश की तासीर बदल रही है.

पिछली बार मुज़फ्फरनगर भी में जो हुआ उसमें सपा सरकार का रिस्पोंस बहुत ढीला था, जिसकी वजह से मामला इतना आगे बढ़ सका था. पिछले कुछ सालों से पश्चिमी उ.प्र में जो खेल रचा जा रहा है अखिलेश सरकार उसपर पाबंदी लगाने में पूरी तरह नाकाम रही है.

इस बार विधानसभा चुनाव में यह सम्भावना जताई जा रही है कि सपा के मुस्लिम वोट बसपा को जा सकते हैं. ऐसे में अगर भाजपा हिन्दू वोटरों की लामबंदी करती है तो मुस्लिम वोट सपा की तरफ आ सकते हैं. दरअसल कैराना में पूरा मसला राज्य सरकार और प्रशासन की बेपरवाही, निकम्मेपन और गुंडों के राजनीतिक संरक्षण से जुड़ा हुआ है.

ऐसे में अगर भाजपा इसे साम्प्रदायिक घटना के तौर पर पेश कर रही है तो इससे सपा को फायदा ही है. वैसे भी भाजपा पहले ही कह चूकी है कि विधानसभा चुनाव में उसका मुख्य मुकाबला समाजवादी पार्टी से ही है.

दरअसल समस्या आपसी भरोसा टूट जाने का है जिसे यह जहरीली राजनीति और चौड़ी कर रही है. यह केवल कैराना या मुजफ्फरनगर की बात नहीं है और ना ही एक समुदाय का मसला है आज देश के एक बड़े हिस्से में हिंदू और मुसलमान दोनों एक-दूसरे के 'इलाकों' को छोड़कर अपने सहधर्मियों के इलाकों में बस रहे हैं, और नयी बस्तियां धार्मिक आधार पर अलग-अलग बस रही हैं.

अगर सोशल मीडिया को समाज का आईना माना जाए तो कैराना में फैलाया गया जहर अपना काम कर चूका है लेकिन धरातल पर हिन्दुओं और मुसलामानों को डरा डराकर वोट बटोरने की रणनीति कितनी कामयाब होगी यह आने वाला समय ही बताएगा. लेकिन हमारे समाज, व्यवस्था और राजनीती से जो लोग इस खेल में शामिल नहीं हैं उन्हें कुछ बुनियादी सवालों को लेकर गंभीरतापूर्वक सोचना होगा.

चुनाव तो इसलिए कराये जाते हैं ताकि एक लोकतान्त्रिक प्रक्रिया के तहत जनता अपने राजनीतिक प्रतिनिधियों को चुन सके लेकिन इस पूरी प्रक्रिया को समुदायों को एक दूसरे के खिलाफ भिड़ा देने का इवेंट बना दिया गया, कहाँ सियासी जमातों से यह उम्मीद की जाती है कि अगर समाज में वैमनस्य और आपसी मनमुटाव हो तो उसे दूर करने की दिशा में आगे आयेंगीं लेकिन वे इन्हें दूर करना तो दूर इसे हवा देने के काम में लगे रहते हैं और कई बार झूठे मुद्दे गढ़े जाते हैं ताकि समाज को बांटा जा सके. भाजपा आज सबसे बड़ी पार्टी बन चुकी है और पूरे बहुमत के साथ केंद्र में सत्ता में है भविष्य में भी उसकी संभावनायें अच्छी जान पड़ती हैं.

उसे पता होना चाहिए कि समुदायों के बीच अदावत पैदा करके सत्ता भले ही हासिल कर ली जाए लेकिन स्थायी शासन के लिए समाज में शांति और आपसी सौहार्द का बना रहना बहुत जरूरी है. समाज को भी मिल बैठ कर सोचना चाहिये, क्योंकि आखिर में वही इस पर लगाम लगा सकता है. फिलहाल 2017 के चुनाव का दौर उत्तर प्रदेश पर भारी साबित होने जा रहा है वहां 2013 में आपसी रिश्तों के जो धागे टूटे थे वे अभी तक नहीं जुड़े हैं अब इस धागे सिरे से ही गायब करने की साजिश रची जा रही है.

How Gujarat’s Top Cops Deserted Residents of Gulberg Society

June 18, 2016

Where were the Top Cops when Armed Mobs Surrounded and Attacked Gulberg Society?

Analysis with Chart

Commissioner of Police PC Pande

Curfew was declared in the Meghaninagar area where the Gulberg Society is located at 12.54 pm (according to the Police Control Room Records—PCR). By then, according to data of the PCR itself, the Gulberg Society had already been surrounded by a mob of 4-5,000 armed with weapons.
(12.38 p.m., PCR Records). In law, the Commissioner of Police, PC Pande has the responsibility of declaring curfew on time.

At 2.09 p.m. PI Meghaninagar KG Erda even asked for Central Forces but the PCR records show no deployment of paramilitary forces in the area till late in the evening, a decision that should have been taken by the Commissioner of Police, PC Pande.

Joint Commissioner of Police, Sector II, MK Tandon

He finds himself more comfortable in the Revdi Bazar area between 2 and 3 p.m. immediately after he received a call from his boss, Commissioner of Police PC Pande informing him of the attack on the residents of the Gulberg Society in the Meghaninagar area. (Revdi Bazar is five kilometres away from the Gulberg Society)

When the PCR sent a message to Tandon mentioning that Shri Ahsan Jafri and other residents of the Gulberg society were in danger, Tandon was still seen in Revdi Bazar area which was apparently calm, with no incidents of violence.

In spite of Meghaninagar PI KG Erda desperately seeking additional deployment at Gulberg around 2.30 p.m. MK Tandon leaves the Revdi Bazar area only after he was ordered to do so by City Police Commissioner, PC Pande around 3 p.m. Ironically, Revdi Bazar where Tandon appears to have sought asylum falls under the jurisdiction of his counterpart Shivanand Jha who during those crucial minutes was in the comfort of his own office at Shahibaug.

Click on the Chart for Zoom

DCP Zone IV, P.B. Gondia

Not only did Tandon shy away from the engulfed and burning Gulberg society, even his deputy,
DCP Zone IV, PB Gondia inspite of being repeatedly informed by PCR (Police Control Room) about the attack on Gulberg Society stayed away from the worst affected areas and from attending
to the helpless cries of residents. He preferred to stay at the Kuber Nagar area, 6 kilometres away.

Gondia arrives at the Gulberg Society a few minutes before 2 p.m. on that fateful day only to leave the place in less than one hour, leaving a free way of passage to the armed mob. Later that afternoon Gondia moves to the Kalupur area which does not come under his jurisdiction.

The safety of the entire Meganinagar area during the most crucial periods of the day, from 11.30 a.m.-3.30 p.m. was left on PI KG Erda’s shoulders despite the fact that Erda had himself asked the PCR to inform his bosses about the gravity of the situation and also to ensure that senior officers remain physically present as things were beyond his control. Today, KG Erda is an accused in the trial but P.B.Gondia, M.K. Tandon and P.C. Pande have escaped the investigator’s net.

Clearly evident is the fact that the top Gujarat officers turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to the pleas of victims under attack for reasonsbest known to them. The entire Meghaninagar area was left unmanned by senior police personnel even when a residential society along with a neighbouring police chowkey were set afire leading to huge casualties. Among the 70 persons maimed, massacred and burnt to ashes, were former parliamentarian Shri Ahsan Jafri.

KG Erda

(Source: Phone Call Records Analysis Co-Related with PCR Records,Citizens for Justice and Peace)

UoH Admin Backtracks, Revokes Suspension of Two Professors After Rare Show of Faculty Unity

June 17, 2016

Arrest Appa Rao, re-Instate Suspended Faculty: Radhika Vemula was the demand made by Radhika Vemula yesterday, January 17 the fifth month anniversary of Rohith's death. The protest took place at the university gate between 11 am and 1 p.m. yesterday. Suspended Vice Chancellor Appa Rao had hurriedly called a meeting of the Review Committee to look into the suspension of two professors, KY Ratnam and Tathagata Sengupta. In law, the Review Committee has to sit and review the decision of the administration within 90 days of its effect. The VC had pre-dated the suspension to the date of the peaceful protest, March 22 making it mandatory for the committee to take a decision soon. It is learned that over 40 professors expressed outrage at the suspension and they were joined in this by the non-teaching staff of the university. In panic it appears that the university administration revoked the suspension late yesterday evening at about 7 p.m.
Hence, it was on the same day that Radhika Vemula sat on the protest that the university revoked the suspension of the two professors ordered just days back; On June 16 it had become public knowledge that the District Collector, Guntur had unequivocally certified that Rohith and his family were and are Dalits putting to rest a controversy fuelled by central ministers in the Modi regime in Delhi

June 17 marked the 5th Month Anniversary of Rohith’s Institutional Murder

Radhika Vemula joined the relay hunger strike today in support of two suspended faculty, KY Ratnam and Tathagata Sengupta and to demand the arrest of suspended Vice Chancellor, Apparao at the University of Hyderabad yesterday .

Yesterday, marked the fifth months after Rohith Vemula’s departure from all of us physically. But till now, none of the culprits responsible for his institutional murder have been arrested. On the contrary, those who have been standing up for justice were arrested, lathi charged, jailed and suspended. Radhika Vemula joined the relay hunger strike in support of faculty at the Abandoned Main Gate, UoH on JAnuary 17.

Only the day before yesterday news of the National SC Commission Chairperson PL Punia seeking action under the Atrocities Act against Appa Rao and Union Minister Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya had revealed that the report of the Guntur District Collector, Kantilal Dande had stated clearly on affidavit that Rohith Vemula and his family is and were always Dalit

NCSC will direct Cyberabad Police to file act on the Prevention of SC/ST Atrocities (POA) charges against Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and Vice-Chancellor, HCU P. Appa Rao

Despite these clampdowns, the movement for social justice has not been stymied or stopped, it has got only further intensified. Said the Campaign for Social Justice, University of Hyderabad (UoH) that the slogan of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar, “For ours is a battle not for wealth or for power. It is battle for freedom. It is the battle of reclamation of human personality” became a reality when Prof.V.Krishna has resigned from the post of Controller of Examinations, later when another culprit in the suicide of Senthil Kumar, Prof.Vipin Srivatsava was appointed as Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof.Sreepathi Ramudu had also resigned through an open letter.

When the two faculties Dr.K.Y.Ratnam and Tathagat Sen Gupta were suspended, they chose not be in silenced, and instead resolved to fight back, and their fight is continuing.

Radhika Vemula, mother of Rohith Vemula, who has been an inspiring force in the struggle, has also proved to this nation that self-respect and aspirations for justice cannot be purchased, and the way she rejected 8 lakhs of compensation by Apparao Podile led University of Hyderabad shook the entire nation. Following the advice of her son and following the foot-steps of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar she accepted Buddhism from the hands of Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar on April 14, Ambedkar Jayanti.

The revocation orders were ordered yesterday.

Gulberg Sentence: Survivors say Life over Death

June 17, 2016

Credit:AFP, Sam Panthaky

UPDATE:

Today, June 17 is the day that final judgement will be delivered in the Gulberg Society Massacre. Witness Survivors have filed detailed Written Arguments making a strong case for life sentence. The advocates for the survivors, backed by Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) have also ,ade out a strong case for Compensation under Section 357 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. After June 2, when Judge PB Desai first declared that a total of 24 persons have been convicted and that the charge of conspiracy not accepted, there were three further dates when detailed arguments, largely on behalf of the accused (for reduction of sentence) took place. SM Vohra with Salim Shaikh argued strongly for a strong life term for all accused and also submitted written arguments.

Despite falling into the Rarest of the Rare Category, Victim Survivors, in written arguments to be submitted in Court on June 6, press for complete Life Imprisonment and also make out a strong Case for Compensation

Asked by Special Judge, P.B. Desai to make written submissions on quantum of punishment to be given to the accused, advocates for the victim survivors of the Gulberg carnage have argued for a full life term imprisonment for all accused and compensation awards under section 357 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. A copy of the written submissions can be read here.

A team of lawyers for the Mumbai-based Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) spent the entire weekend preparing the written arguments based on recent jurisprudences into the issue. A slew of judgements of India’s Supreme Court has deliberated in detail the question, holding in several cases that even in the rarest of the rate, most gruesome and pre-meditated crimes, death penalty should not be the automatic choice.

On June 2, Special Judge PB Desai had convicted 25 persons out of the total 66 accused; 11 for offences related to murder (section 302), 436 (arson) and illegal assembly (149) and another 14 for attempt to murder (Section 307) and other offences. Four of the accused convicted have been in custody for 14 years, another four for 12 and 8 years each while 17 of the accused have been out of bail. A Table on with details on this can be read here:

Gulberg Case: Details of Accused Held Guilty by Judge PB Desai

Accused No.	Name of Accused	Convicted of u/s of CrPC	Order
1	Kailash Lalchandbhai Dhobi	143,147,148,149,153(A),153(A)(B),153(A)(1)(B),186,188,201, 295,302,323,324,332,337,395, 396,397,398,427,435,436 MkkÚku Mku.135(1) çke.Ãke.yuõx	Convicted	He has served 14 years
2	Yogendrasinh @ Lalo Mohansinh Shekhawat	143,147,148,149,153(A),153(A)(B),153(A)(1)(B),186,188,201, 295,302,323,324,332,337,395,396,397,398,427,435,436,447, 449,452 With Sec.135(1) B.P.Act	Convicted	He got bail within months
14	Jayeshkumar @ Gabbar Madanlal Zingar	143,147,148,149,153(A),153(A)(B),153(A)(1)(B),186,188,201,295,302,323,324,332,337,395,396,397,398,427,435,436,447,449,452 With Sec.135(1) B.P.Act	Convicted	He has served 14 years
34	Krushnakumar @ Krushna (Son of Champaben) Munnalal Kalal	143,147,148,149,153(A)(1)(B),153(A)(B),153(A)(1)(B),186, 188,201,295,302,323,324,332, 337, 395, 396, 397, 398, 427, 435,436,447,449,452With Sec.135(1) B.P.Act	Convicted	He got bail within months
41	Jayesh Ramjibhai Parmar	143,147,148,149,153(A)(1),153(A)(B),153(A)(1)(B),186,188, 201, 295,302,323,324,337,395, 396,397,398,427,435,436,447, 449,452 With Sec.135(1) B.P.Act	Convicted	He has been in jail for 12 years
42	Raju @ Mamo Kaniyo Ram Avtar	143,147,148,149,153(A)(1),153(A)(B),153(A)(1)(B),186,188, 201, 295,302,323,324,332,337, 395, 396,397,398,427, 435,436 With Sec.135(1) B.P.Act	Convicted	He has been in jail for 8 years (SIT arrest)
43	Naran Sitaram Tank @ Naran Chenalwala @ Naran Kodhiyo	143,147,148,149,186,188,153 (A),153(A)(B),153(A)(1)(B), 302,323,324,332,337,395,396,397,398, 427, 435, 436, 447, 449, 452 With Sec.135(1) B.P.Act	Convicted	He has been in jail for 8 years (SIT arrest)
46	Lakhansing @ Lakhiyo Bhuriyo Lalubha Chudasma	143,147,148,149,153(A)(1),153(A)(B),153(A)(1)(B),186,188, 201, 295,302,323,324,332,337, 395,396,397,398,427,435,436, 447,449,452 With Sec.135(1) B.P.Act	Convicted	Though SIT arrested him he is on bail
54	Bharat @ Bharat Taili Sitlaprasad Balodiya	143,147,148,149,153(A),153(A)(B), 153(A)(1)(B),186,188,201, 295,302,323,324,332,337, 395, 396,397,398,427,435,436,447,449,452 With Sec.135(1) B.P.Act	Convicted	He is on bail
55	Bharat Laxmansinh Gade (Rajput)	143,147,148,149,153(A),153(A)(1)(B), 153(A)(B),186,188,201, 295,302,323,324,332,337, 395, 396,397,398,427,435,436,447,449,452 With Sec.135(1) B.P.Act	Convicted	He is on bail
63	Dinesh Prabhudas Sharma	143,147,148,149,153(A)(1),153(A)(B),153(A)(1)(B),186,188, 201, 295,302,323,324,332,337, 395, 396,397,398,427, 435,436,447,449,452 With Sec.135(1) B.P.Act	Convicted	He is jail since 2008 or 2009
25	Mangilal Dhupchand Jain	143,147, 149, 153(A)(1), 153(A)(B),153(A)(1)(B),186, 188, 307 With Sec.135(1) B.P.Act	Convicted	He got bail within months
3	Surendrasinh @ Vakil Digvijaysinh Chauhan	143,147,148,149, 153(A)(B), 153(A)(1)(B),186,188,435	Convicted	He has served 14 years
16	Dilip @ Kalu Chaturbhai Parmar	143,147,148,149,153(A)(1),153(A)(B),153(A)(1)(B),186,188, 427, 435,436,447 With Sec.135(1) B.P.Act	Convicted	He got bail within months
21	Sandeep @ Sonu Ghughruvadvado Ramprakash Mahera (Punjabi)	143,147,148,149,153(A),153(A)(B),153(A)(1)(B),186,188,435 With Sec.135(1) B.P.Act	Convicted	He has served 14 years
29	Mukesh Pukhraj Shankhla	143,147,148,149,153(A)(1)(B),153(A)(B),186,188,427,435,436,447	Convicted	He got bail within months
32	Ambesh Kantilal Jingar	143,147,148,149,153(A)(1)(B),153(A)(B),153(A)(1)(B),186, 188,427, 435,436,447 With Sec.135(1) B.P.Act	Convicted	He got bail within months
37	Prakash @ Kali Khengarji Padhiyar	143,147,149,153(A)(1),153(A) (B),153(A)(1)(B),186,188	Convicted	He got bail within months
38	Manish Prabhudas Jain	143,147, 149, 153(A)(1), 153 (A)(B),153(A)(1)(B),186,188,427, 435,436,447	Convicted	He got bail within months
47	Dharmesh Prahladbhai Shukla	143,147,148,149,153(A)(1),153(A)(B),153(A)(1)(B),186,188, 427, 435,436	Convicted	He is on bail
50	Kapil Dev Narayan @ Munnabhai Mishra	143,147,148,149,153(A)(1),153(A)(B),153(A)(1)(B),186,188, 427, 435,436	Convicted	He is on bail
52	Suresh @ Kali Dahyabhai Dhobi	143,147,148,149,153(A)(1),153(A)(B),153(A)(1)(B),186,188,427, 435,436,447 With Sec.135(1) B.P.Act	Convicted	He is on bail
59	Atul Indravadan Vaid	143,147,148,149, 153(A)(1),153(A)(1)(B),153(A)(B),186,188,427, 435,436	Convicted	He is on bail
66	Babu Hastimal Marwadi	143,147,148,149,153(A)(1),153(A)(1)(B),153(A)(B),186,188,427, 435,436,447 With Sec.135(1) B.P.Act	Convicted	He was the accused who was arraigned after the witnesses 319 application. He is on bail

In the application the victim survivors have argued that:
“The accused who have been convicted of offences other than under S. 302 also need to be imposed punishment which is the maximum under the provisions under which they have been convicted.

The accused were part of a mob which admittedly was carrying out mayhem, well armed and with pre-determination to cause harm, injury and death, for more than 5 hours. They are bound to have known that an attack on the Society will, in all likelihood lead to murder(s).

They have also been found guilty of burning and destroying houses (Section 436 of the Indian Penal Code) the normal consequence of which would be death of persons who were residing there or who tried to run out. Therefore in view of the judgments in (please cite the above three cases) these are aggravating circumstances and deserve to be dealt with no leniency whatsoever.

Besides, in the application the witness survivors have argued that even for offences under Section 436 (Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc.) there are provisions in the law for punishment of imprisonment for life. As far as being convicted under Section 149 (illegal assembly) is concerned the Supreme Court has often held that the very act and common intent of being in such an illegal assembly, armed and with criminal intent is sufficient to be considered a grave offence.

Section 357 of the CRPC, reads:
(1) When a Court imposes a sentence of fine or a sentence (including a sentence of death) of which fine forms a part, the Court may, when passing judgment, order the whole or any part of the fine recovered to be applied-
(a) in defraying the expenses properly incurred in the prosecution;
(b) in the payment to any person of compensation for any loss or injury caused by the offence, when compensation is, in the opinion of the Court, recoverable by such person in a Civil Court;
(c) when any person is convicted of any offence for having caused the death of another person or of having abetted the commission of such an offence, in paying compensation to the persons who are, under the Fatal Accidents Act, 1855 (13 of 1855 ), entitled to recover damages from the person sentenced for the loss resulting to them from such death;
(d) when any person is convicted of any offence which includes theft, criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust, or cheating, or of having dishonestly received or retained, or of having voluntarily assisted in disposing of, stolen property knowing or having reason to believe the same to be stolen, in compensating any bona fide purchaser of such property for the loss of the same if such property is restored to the possession of the person entitled thereto.
(2) If the fine is imposed in a case

The argument that even though the crime falls under rarest of the rare, punishment should be life was dealt with in detail in this judgement in 2015. For example in para 53 of the recent 2015 Judgement, (Vishal Yadav v/s State of UP, the Court has held that:
“53. The Supreme Court observed that principles of deterrence and retribution are the cornerstones of sentencing in (1994) 2 SCC 220, Dhananjoy Chatterjee Vs. State of West Bengal and (1996) 6 SCC 241, Gentela Vijayavandhan Rao v. State of Andhara Pradesh. It was also observed that these principles also cannot be categorised as right or wrong as much depends upon the belief of the judges. The court extracted the following portion of the decision of the Supreme Court in (2006) 2 SCC 359, Shailash Jasvantbhai v. State of Gujarat :

―7. xxx xxx Protection of society and stamping out criminal proclivity must be the object of law which must be achieved by imposing appropriate sentence. Therefore, law as a cornerstone of the edifice of "order"should meet the challenges confronting the society. xxx xxx Therefore, in operating the sentencing system, law should adopt the corrective machinery or deterrence based on factual matrix. By deft modulation, sentencing process be stern where it should be, and tempered with mercy where it warrants to be. The facts and given circumstances in each case, the nature of the crime, the manner in which it was planned and committed, the motive for commission of the crime, the conduct of the accused, the nature of weapons used and all other Crl.A.Nos.910, 741, 958/2008, Crl.Rev.P.No.369/2008, Crl.A.Nos.1322/2011 & 145/2012 pg. 30 attending circumstances are relevant facts which would enter into the area of consideration.‖ (Underlining by us) Death sentence jurisprudence – divergence in views The discussion on this subject is being considered under the following sub-headings:

63. In this evaluation of the jurisprudence, it is essential to note the pronouncement of the Supreme Court reported at (2013) 5 SCC 546, Shankar Kisanrao Khade v. State of Maharashtra in which the appellant, a man of 52 years, had been convicted for murder and strangulation of an 11 year old minor girl with intellectual disability after repeated rape and sodomy. Despite the satisfaction of the crime test, the criminal test and the rarest of rare case test, the court was of the view that the extreme sentence of death penalty was not warranted. The court therefore, directed the life sentence awarded for rape and murder to run consecutively.”

Salaams and Salutes to the Witness-Survivors of Gulberg Society as We Wait for Justice: Advocate SM Vohra

June 17, 2016

UPDATE:
Today, June 17 is the day that final judgement will be delivered in the Gulberg Society Massacre. Witness Survivors have filed detailed Written Arguments making a strong case for life sentence. The advocates for the survivors, backed by Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) have also ,ade out a strong case for Compensation under Section 357 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. After June 2, when Judge PB Desai first declared that a total of 24 persons have been convicted and that the charge of conspiracy not accepted, there were three further dates when detailed arguments, largely on behalf of the accused (for reduction of sentence) took place. SM Vohra with Salim Shaikh argued strongly for a strong life term for all accused and also submitted written arguments.

Charred remains of a home at Gulberg Society, Ahmedabad; Photo Credit: Ram Rehman
The verdict of the Trial Court in the Gulberg Society case is due tomorrow, June 2.

The experience for standing up for the survivor eye-witnesses of the Gulberg massacre between 2009 and 2016 has been a unique experience. The experience tells me that without a strong and committed legal aid team, as we could provide, it is impossible for those who have been rendered homeless and hopeless to fight back, for justice and ensure that the guilty are punished.

This was possible due to the fact that we ensured good legal aid throughout the process, the Supreme Court of India ensured protection to the witness. Finally salaams and salutes to the witness- survivors themselves who saw the struggle for justice as paramount to any other concern.

Since 1985, I have been fighting such cases. But with this case I saw that witness-survivors rendered homeless and helpless after an attack such as the one in Gujarat 2002 was cannot negotiate the system without a strong and committed legal aid team. That we could provide.

Today, we anxiously await the verdict and hope that justice will be done.

Initially, I recall that there were issues when we felt that the judge showed no empathy. A woman, Sairabehn Sandhi who has seen her only son killed in front of her eyes was lightly dealt with, almost humiliated, her grief mocked. This behaviour caused much pain. But thereafter, we have fought hard and hope to get a good judgement tomorrow.

Our team of lawyers backed by the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) team in Ahmedabad and Mumbai stood strong and ensured that at every stage we could take up matters with the with the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the apex court itself. This made it possible for there to be substantive justice in the other Supreme Court monitored cases handed.

Mental and legal support was provided by us. The rest of the courage and tenacity was shown by witness survivors. Our salaams to them.

It was also saddening to see the hostility of the SIT to us given the fact that it is witnesses and CJP that had in the first instance ensured a transfer of investigation to the SIT (2008). Do people register that though Gulberg society was in the heart of Ahmedabad the fire brigade did not once go to Gulberg to put out the fires that gutted the entire society? Not even as late as four or five days after the incident took place there? Why?

I have been in practice since 1985 and it is for the first time that we can see that in a real sense justice has been done in other trials. Hence we are hopeful in this one also. But for the determination that CJP showed in its continued support despite all adversity, we would not have reached here.

(Sabrang India: CJP’s legal team in the Gulberg Society case was led by senior advocate SM Vohra and supported by lawyers Salim Shaikh and Sadiq Shaikh).

Rohith Vemula a Dalit, Action under Atrocities Act Mandatory: NCSC Chairman PL Punia

June 16, 2016

Image: Business Standard

Image: Scroll.in
Rohith Vemula and his family is and were always Dalit, says the Guntur District Collector, Kantilal Dande
NCSC will direct Cyberabad Police to file act on the Prevention of SC/ST Atrocities (POA) charges against Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and Vice-Chancellor, HCU P. Appa Rao

As the Guntur District Collector has certified that Vemula’s caste was Hindu Mala (Scheduled Caste), “Telangana police will have to act on atrocity charges pressed against the accused in the PoA case, failing which they will be in violation of constitutional provisions and the law”, Mr. Punia has told The Hindu.

Further, the media has reported that the National Schedule Caste Commission (NCSC) will direct Cyberabad police to act on Prevention of SC/ST Atrocities (PoA) charges slapped against five persons including Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and Vice-Chancellor of University of Hyderabad P. Appa Rao in connection with Rohith Vemula suicide case. This was stated by the NCSC Chairman P.L. Punia in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

The Commission’s direction will be based on Guntur District Collector’s report on Mr. Vemula’s caste status, Mr. Punia has said. “In the meeting which is to be convened next week, the Commission will table the report and ask Cyberabad police to act on it,” he said adding that the Guntur Collector has already sent a copy of the report to both the investigating officer and Cyberabad Commissioner C.V. Anand.

The NCSC Chairman said that the District Collector is the highest authority in issuing caste certificate. “The Collector’s certification in this case was based on the data and documents provided by Revenue Divisional Officer and Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Guntur. As per the documents, a permanent Caste certificate was issued to Rohith Vemula by the Guntur Tahsildar in 2005. His caste was always recorded as Mala (SC) and with the Collector certifying this, the police should go ahead with the proceedings,” Mr. Punia said. The NCSC is legally bound to ask police an explanation if a PoA case goes unattended, he said.The NCSC received the Collector’s report last week, Mr. Punia confirmed.

On February 25, Teesta Setalvad had, in Sabrangindia raised pertinent questions about the speech made by the minister for human resources development (MHRD), Smriti Irani in parliament. Among the questions raised were, 'Is it or is it not true that senior functionaries of the GOI, including two central ministers (both women) have questioned the authenticity of Dalit identity of Rohith?' Secondly, 'After January 17, 2016 and the tragic step that Rohith Vemula took, did or did not the GOI appoint Ajit Duval, National security Advisor the Task to investigate the real caste of Rohith Vemula? Moreover, the writer had asked, 'Did the trail not begin politically: with the Vice President, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Hyderabad, Nandanam Diwakar writing to Central minister Dattareya, (August 10, 2015), seven days before the latter writes to Irani, a letter in which wrong and exaggerated accounts of ABVP student, Susheel Kumar’s injuries are given as well as a litany of political opposition to Ambedkarites listed? '

Further, the Times of India also reported on June 16, that the delay in the investigations under the SC/ST Act was because the Hyderabad police was deliberately delaying investigations. Reportedly, the Vice Chancellor is yet to be interrogated despite the NCSC having given the green signal for it, sections of the faculty have alleged.

In a vindictive action that has drawn further protest and outrage, the university administration has suspended two professors, KY Ratnam and Tathagata Sengupta for supporting the peacefully protesting students on March 22. The suspension order is dated Hune 13 and there has been a relay protest since June 14. The administration and the Modi regime appear to be taking full advantage of the vacation period when students numbers diminish at the university.

Is the University of Hyderabad (UoH) management working hand in glove with the police to `protect' Appa Rao Podile? Most definitely, allege students and faculty members, pointing to the lackadaisical attitude of the police in fast-tracking probe into the Rohith Vemula suicide case, which names vice-chancellor Podile as an accused. And this, despite the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) green-flagging the VC's interrogation, they say .

“Minutes of the NCSC meeting reveals that the commission had instructed the police to go ahead with the investigation -nearly two to three weeks ago -on the basis of the brief submitted by the additional district magistrate of Guntur. Despite this, the police has not questioned or arrested Podile. It is clear that political pressure is leading to the delay in this matter,“ alleged Prashanth Dontha, a close friend of Vemula. He hoped that the police will soon interrogate the VC under the SCST Atrocities Act. Accusations about the powersthat-be trying to “safeguard“ Podile are being voiced even by faculty members, who have condemned the police for deliberately dragging its feet on the case and making “lame excuses“ to delay the process.

“It appears that the police is giving all sorts of reasons to manipulate the circumstances. Based on the magistrate's report, they must ideally go ahead with the investigation. But the police is only safeguarding Podile by saying that they haven't heard from the Andhra Pradesh government on Vemula's caste,“ said Sudhakar Babu, convener, SCST Teachers Forum. He appealed to the police to be more proactive in handling the matter.

Incidentally, Guntur Collector, Kantilal Dande, in his report tabled recently before the NCSC, has confirmed that Vemula was a Dalit. This came five months after the PhD scholar committed suicide on January 17.
Speaking to TOI, advocate S Gunaratna, representing Vemula's family, said that he intimated the Hyderabad high court about the Guntur collector's report last Monday . “Five petitions filed by the accused had sought relief from arrest. Now, with the collector's report, we will file a fresh petition to cancel those relief petitions,“ Gunaratna said.

Meanwhile, feigning ignorance about this development, the police claimed it is yet to receive a copy of the collector's report. “I did not receive any report either from the Guntur authorities or the commission about Rohith's caste,“ said M Ramana Kumar, assistant commissioner of police, who is the investigating officer in the case. SabrangIndia's repeated efforts to get a response from the Telangana government administration (Home Secretary, Director General of Police) received no response. On contacting Commissioner of Police, CYV Anand, he requested us to get in touch with the Investigating Officer (IO) who too did not offer a response. Amongst other questions, Sabrangindia had asked whether the criminal cases against 29 students and two faculty members of the HCU had been withdrawn. On March 27, during the State Assembly session which had turned turbulent on the violent police action against students and faculty of HCU, chief minister, K Chandrasekhara Rao had promised to convey to the 'PM the mood of the House.' It is the Telangana (Hyderabad) police that had allegedly misbehaved with the student protesters and faculty while the government tried to shrug its shoulders off the movement saying that the matter related to a Central University.

Meanwhile, the relay hunger strike by Tathagata Sengupta and K Y Ratnam, who were suspended by the university executive committee, intensified on Wednesday, June 15 . Members of the All India Students Association joined the agitation, terming the suspension as “unwarranted“.

In the meantime, a fresh statement issued by the Hyderabad University management insisted that the two faculty members were suspended strictly in accordance with Rule 10 of the Central Civil Services (classification, control and appeal) Rules, 1965. According to the rule: “It is the duty of an employee, who is arrested for any reason, to intimate the fact of their arrest and the circumstances connected therewith to their official superior promptly, even though they might have subsequently been released on bail.“The statement added: “The two faculty members have failed in this respect and hence were issued a memorandum on June 13 requesting them to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against them in terms of CCS (CCA) Rules 1965.“

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