PUCL Statement on Hyderabad Bomb Blast

People's Union for Civil Liberties, National Office Delhi

puclnat@gmail.com, pucl.natgensec@gmail.com

Delhi / 23rd February, 2013

PUCL strongly condemns the serial blasts in Hyderabad on 21.02.2013 which has resulted in loss of life and grievous injuries to many. PUCL extends its sympathies to the families of all those who lost relatives and hopes that the injured recover speedily.

PUCL re-iterates its stand that all organizations – whether State or non- state players - functioning for the people and in the public arena are accountable and answerable for their acts. PUCL appeals to all organizations to refrain from acts of mindless violence, especially when they endanger innocent persons. Violence can never offer a solution to any issue however genuine it may be.

In the past such blasts have invariably been followed by motivated targeting and illegal detention by the police of scores of educated and young members of the minority community, physical and mental torture, prosecution under as many draconian sections and laws as possible and repeated implication of the same persons in multiple cases thereby stigmatising a section of the population of the minority community who live for years with the shame of being a “terrorist”. The stigma is never erased even when prolonged trials end in acquittal the acquitted persons and their families forever live devastated lives, ostracized and feared by their own community. Such unlawful motivated police action has ended up in immense alienation and disaffection of an already traumatized community.

PUCL reiterates that the State and Central police and various intelligence agencies inquiring into the incidents should uphold the principles of fair, independent and unbiased investigation. This will strengthen rule of law and ensure investigations and interrogations in a civilized manner. Only such conduct of investigating agencies will reinforce established and accepted norms of fair and lawful investigation. We caution the police not to indulge in baselessly targeting of persons belonging to any particular community, especially those from the minority communities.

PUCL is apprehensive that the current events provide fodder for partisan politics and use of the tragedy to score political points. It is crucial that political parties respond with sensitivity and work to create a sense of confidence and amity amongst different social sections.

PUCL is concerned over some sections of the media indulging in speculative reporting and alluding to the alleged involvement of some groups, even when investigation is still underway. Such competitive posturing and motivated reporting fans communal hatred, creates mass paranoia and vitiates communal harmony.

In this time of tragedy and disturbance PUCL appeals to citizens, be they in media, political parties or state agencies, not to fall prey to rumours inciting reprisal by fanning enmity between communities.

Those guilty of this ghastly incident should be expeditiously brought to book. The situation demands that we, as a nation, should remain calm, restrained and peaceful.

Sd./-

(Dr. V. Suresh)

National General Secretary, PUCL

Contact No.: V. Suresh, +91-9444231497

President Pranab Mukherjee rejects mercy pleas of four Veerappan associates

ByKarthick S, TNN | Feb 13, 2013, 03.48 PM IST

CHENNAI: The mercy petitions of four Veerappan associates, sentenced to death in a landmine blast case, were rejected by President Pranab Mukherjee, an advocate S Balamurugan, appearing for the accused, said.

"We have received information from reliable sources that the message has been sent to Belgaum jail authorities and apparently it has also been conveyed to the prisoners," Balalmurugan, who is also the Tamil Nadu PUCL state secretary, said.

The dreaded sandalwood bandit Veerappan was killed in an encounter with the Tamil Nadu police of the special task force in October 2004.

The four accused, Gnanprakasham, Simon, Meesekar Madaiah and Bilavendran, were sentenced to death by the Supreme Court in January 2004 in connection with the killing of 21 policemen in a landmine blast at Palar in Karnataka near the inter-state border in 1993. They were sentenced to undergo life imprisonment by the Mysore court. But the government moved the Supreme Court, which awarded them the death sentence. Their mercy pleas have been pending since 2004.

A division bench of Justice YK Sabharwal and Justice BN Agrawal had converted the life imprisonment of convicts to death sentence and dismissed the convicts' appeals against the order of conviction passed by a Special TADA court in Karnataka.

 

 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/President-Pranab-Mukherjee-rejects-mercy-pleas-of-four-Veerappan-associates/articleshow/18482370.cms

Repeal the Sedition Law - PUCL

• An Appeal to All Indians!!

       Please join the mobile campaign launched by PUCL demanding the Repeal of the Sedition law in India by calling the number 09266802178. You will hear a recorded thanks message. Please circulate the number in your circle of friends, acquaintances and e-groups.

       This is part of the larger campaign launched by PUCL and other human rights organisations in India demanding repeal of s. 124A of IPC (Indian Penal Code). We are hoping to get 10 lakh signatures to be presented to the Indian parliament by the Budget session in March, 2013 representing the growing voices of ordinary citizens against the anti-democratic law which was first passed by the British Government to suppress India's national movement; and which is being used by independent India to crush voices of dissent and protest.

       Please also see the following site for more details: www.repealseditionlaw.in.

We shall shortly be uploading banners with this same message on Facebook and other social media sites.

PLEASE CIRCULATE TO OTHERS WHO MAY BE INTERESTED.

with thanks,

Dr. V. Suresh, National General Secretary, PUCL.

rightstn@gmail.com, puclnat@gmail.com