Asian Centre for Human Rights

I am writing pertaining to the torture of one Mr. Ratan Sil under Chakdah Police Station, Nadia district of West Bengal on 16 March 2002 by the Officer in Charge of the Police Station, Mr Surajit Dey. Mr. Sil is 32 years old and a barber by profession.

I am writing to seek intervention of the NHRC against the torture of Ajoy Das who ran a tea stall near Serampore Walsh Hospital,Chinsura allegedly by the security guard of the Serampore Sub-Divisional Police Office (SDPO) on the night of 24 June 2003. Mr Das had protested the cop's alleged misbehaviour with a woman near his shop.

The policeman had allegedly passed filthy remarks on a woman while having tea at the stall. "As soon as my brother protested the cop severally beat him up before leaving the spot around 8 p.m. Later he came back with his associates and dragged my brother in front of the office of the SDPO, where he was beaten with sticks. The cop left leaving Ajoy critically wounded," said Sanjoy Das, brother of Ajoy Das. Local people admitted Ajoy Das to Walsh Hospital after he was found in an unconscious state.

Though a complaint was lodged, no action has been taken against the cop till now.

shall be grateful if the National Human Rights Commission could kindly intervene against the torture of Mr. Sil and consider taking the following measures:

1. Direct the State government of West Bengal to take necessary action against Officer-in-Charge, Mr. Surajit Dey for the torture of Mr Ratan Sil;

2. Direct the State government of West Bengal to pay exemplary compensation to Mr Ratan Sil, including medical treatment of his punctured eardrum and that the same be recovered from Mr. Surajit Dey; and

3. Take any other measures that the NHRC deems fit.

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely

Suhas Chakma
Director