India’s apathy towards the human rights violation was highlighted at the State level discussion by National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation (NCHRO). The event was held at Hotel Fanar on Saturday, as part of the International Day in support of victims of torture observed on June 26.
The discussion raised concerns over the increasing number of false cases and encounters against innocent people in Tamil Nadu and focused on the need for an immediate ratification of the Anti-torture bill.
It was pointed out that the police force, which was meant to protect the human rights, was now leading the row in torturing humans by booking false cases and carrying out false encounters involving innocent victims to please the higher dominant forces in the country.
“This increasing atrocity is said to have been influenced by dominant countries like the US, where there are various torture cells that are very well-known to the world. But it could be shocking that India also has nearly 15 secret torture chambers located at different parts of the country,” said A Mohammed Yousuf, the National General Secretary of NCHRO in his key note address.
It was a revelation that India did not have a proper legislation to protect human rights. A Marx, the National committee member of NHCRO said that India was still not part of the United Nation Convention against torture. He explained the useless state of the Anti-torture bill that was passed earlier. He said that the draft of the Anti torture bill, which was passed in Parliament in 2010, was faced with opposition in Rajya Sabha. The draft was opposed on three main points — action cannot be taken against human torture unless and until the victim is facing injuries and it cannot consider cases of humiliation as a torture; it was demanded that the case must be filed within six months of the happening and the court can take the case only if the government gives permission.
“All these three demands cannot be satisfied in majority of the cases, and also, the current legislation does not provide protection to the human rights in any ways,” he said. The prominent speakers, advocates, activists from various parts of Tamil Nadu like advocate Sathiya Sandiran, Madras High court; T S S Mani, Thanthi TV; Fakrudeer, Popular front, State Executive member; Aloor Sha Nawaz, journalist; Musarek, SDPI; State General Secretary Haja Gani participated in the meet putting forth their views and sharing various anecdotes that could justify the aggression.
It was largely expressed that the minority people, who raised their voice against any issue were targeted by the police force.
NCHRO, which was started in 2008 in Tamil Nadu has conducted various public meetings all around the State and is now working tediously on one objective, which is to create awareness among the public and start people’s movement against these brutality so that proper legislation is passed.