Latest news with #People'sUnionforCivilLiberties
The Hindu
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Writers, activists, judges write letter to CM demanding mechanism for handing custodial death cases
Coalition of People's Movements Against Police Violence, a forum comprising civil society organisations, human rights activists, writers and artists, has penned a letter to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to emphasise the need for creating a separate mechanism to handle cases of custodial torture and deaths. During a press meet here on Saturday, R. Murali of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), said, 'Though various governments have condemned the custodial tortures and deemed them illegal, there remains a deeply entrenched belief within the police force- from police constables to officials – that truth can only be extracted from the suspects through physical or psychological torture.' He added that the mindset was enforced by unchecked power, lack of accountability, and systemic failures. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) section 125 (8) criminalises unlawful confinement for the purpose of obtaining confessions or retrieving property, with a maximum punishment of three years. However, Mr. Murali said that the provision was inadequate to address serious crimes such as torture, custodial deaths and extrajudicial killings. As several bitter truths like operation of special forces have come out in the recent custodial death of B. Ajith Kumar in Sivaganga, the illegality and administrative lapses leading to such killings should be addressed immediately, he noted. Through the letter, the forum has demanded to enact a separate and comprehensive law to criminalise torture and custodial deaths. 'To handle complaints against police and act on it, an independent authority should be appointed. As the investigating officers are often the same persons who register FIRs, this leads to bias, suppression, or distortion of facts. The authority to be appointed should comprise retired judges, legal professionals and qualified human rights activists.' Other demands included ensuring accountability at the district level by involving senior police officials in cases of custodial violence, creation of a non-police investigative body, maintaining service records of officers involved in torture cases, among others. Further, making CCTV cameras functional at police stations mandatory, initiating criminal and departmental action against officers found guilty of torture, were the other demands. Some of the prominent personalities like writer, activist S.V. Rajadurai, Justice D. Hariparanthaman, Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam leader Kolathur Mani, V. Vasanthi Devi, former Vice-Chancellor, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Henri Tiphagne, Executive Director, People's Watch, among others have signed the letter.
Hindustan Times
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
MSPSA critics vow to fight the law in courts, on the streets
MUMBAI: The passage of the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act (SPSA) in the state legislature has evoked sharp reactions from civil society groups, which say they will challenge the law in the courts and won't hesitate to take their protest to the streets. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in state assembly while passing the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act. The law has also exposed cracks within the opposition, as the bill was supported by opposition parties in the legislative assembly on Thursday but opposed in the legislative council on Friday, even as the ruling parties cleared it in the upper house. Civil society groups and social organisations, which have opposed the law ever since the draft bill was first tabled in the legislature last year, had submitted more than 12,300 objections to the proposed legislation. They say that although the state claims the bill is aimed at curbing 'urban naxals', the preamble is open-ended and does not specify 'urban naxal' and 'unlawful activities'. This empowers the government to take action against any individual they want to silence, they argue. Critics of the bill say they will approach the governor of Maharashtra, to urge him to refrain from notifying the law. 'We will also move court against the act on grounds that it violates Article 19 of the Constitution, which guarantees the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression to all citizens,' said Ulka Mahajan, state convenor of the Bharat Jodo Andolan. She said the other four states that had passed the law had done so when there were no stringent provisions in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). 'We will go to the court of the people by holding protests to make everyone aware of the suppression by the government.' Civil society groups also claim that the advisory board under the law would not act independently as it would be appointed by the government. Furthermore, district collectors and the police have been given 'excessive powers' to deal with the properties of organisations targeted by the law, pointing to the misuse of UAPA and other laws in Maharashtra in the Bhima-Koregaon and other cases. Organisations standing firmly against the law are the People's Union for Civil Liberties, Free Speech Collective, Human Rights Defenders Alert, People's Watch, Centre for Promoting Democracy, Citizens for Justice and Peace, Kamgar Ekta Union, and many more. They met leaders from opposition parties on Friday, including Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, urging them to oppose the MSPSA. The new law also saw a split in the opposition, which staged a walkout when the bill came up for discussion in the state legislative council on Friday, after it was unanimously supported by the opposition in the assembly on Thursday. 'Most of the opposition members in the 25-member joint select committee (JSC) that had reviewed the bill were from the assembly. They did not ensure that all 20 amendments suggested in the original draft in the JSC were incorporated,' said a Sena (UBT) leader, requesting anonymity. NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad, said, 'We were told by the chairman (of the JSC) that all the changes we had proposed would be incorporated, but only three were taken.' Civil society groups had attempted to challenge the draft bill well before its passage. 'After we were denied the opportunity to have our say before the JSC, we met opposition leaders on June 25. It was decided that the opposition would submit a dissent note in the JSC and strongly oppose the bill it when it came up for passage. Nothing of that sort happened in the assembly and hence we urged leaders in the upper house to oppose it,' said a member of the delegation. The only sliver of protest was a walkout staged by the opposition in the legislative council when the bill was passed on Friday. Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said they had submitted a dissent note to the chairperson of the legislative council, Ram Shinde. 'The definition of 'unlawful activities' and 'unlawful organisations' is ambiguous, allowing the government to book anybody who raises their voice against the state. We are not against the bill if it really intends to act against naxals, but the law should be more specific. It is likely to be misused like MISA and TADA,' he said.
Scroll.in
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Muslim residents forced to flee Pune villages after boycott calls, allege rights groups
Muslim residents of several villages in Maharashtra's Pune district have been forced to flee their homes and shut businesses in the past two months amid boycott calls by 'majoritarian forces', two human rights organisations have alleged. In a letter to the Pune divisional commissioner on June 30, the People's Union for Civil Liberties and the Association for Protection of Civil Rights also urged authorities to act against those creating a 'sense of insecurity' in Paud, Pirangut, Kolvan, Suatarwadi and the surrounding villages of Mulsi taluk. The two groups had conducted a fact-finding exercise in the district on July 2 after reports emerged that residents of the villages were threatened 'not to allow any Muslim to work or employ him/her in any business or profession or allow them to stay as a tenant'. The threats came after a Muslim boy allegedly desecrated an idol of the Hindu deity Annapurna in Paud village on May 2, according to the letter. 'Some residents of the village beat him up and handed him over to the local police,' it said, adding that a case was registered and the boy was arrested. Following this, political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party, organised protests condemning the incident. The situation was brought under control by the police, the letter said, adding that a few local leaders and activists also made efforts later to settle the matter. However, placards and boards displaying notices banning Muslims from outside the village from entering the area began appearing in public places soon after, said the rights groups. They alleged that Muslim shopkeepers, traders and vendors were also forced to close their businesses, compelling a few establishments dealing in scrap material to shut down and leave the villages. 'Moreover, we are told that with the 'cooperation' of local police, the identity proofs are checked and verified to ensure that no Muslim other than permanent/local Muslim resident be allowed to live in the village,' the human rights groups claimed. They added: 'Because of such terrifying, chilling atmosphere, many Muslim persons/families have been forced to leave their respective villages and to seek temporary shelter to some other place – many have been made to go back to their native places in other states.' A few Hindus in the area also told the human rights groups that they had been told not to help anybody from the Muslim community, claimed the letter. 'This is certainly undesirable and affecting peace and harmony in the villages.' It further claimed that similar instances of a 'boycott call' of the Muslim community were seen in Pune city in the past three months. Residents have been urged to boycott businesses owned by Muslims and not to avail any service from them, it added. Such instances and messages circulating online have been brought to the notice of the police, the letter said. 'However, despite that, such appeals, affecting the harmony in society, are being made openly and intermittently and as if with impunity,' it added. In their letter, the People's Union for Civil Liberties and the Association for Protection of Civil Liberties urged the divisional commissioner to conduct an inquiry into the matter and take action to restore normalcy in the villages. They also asked the authorities to remove the notices calling for a boycott of Muslims. The groups asked the divisional commissioner to 'identify those anti-social elements who have been actively and deliberately threatening people due to their deep-rooted prejudices or for political reasons and to take necessary preventive action against them'.
The Wire
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Hindutva Groups' Threats, Boycott Calls Drive Muslim Families Out of Two Pune Villages
Communalism A team of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) members conducted a fact-finding exercise on July 2 in both villages, only to find a palpable climate of fear, shuttered businesses, disrupted lives, and displaced families. Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty. Mumbai: In a disturbing wave of targeted communal intimidation and socio-economic boycotts, several Muslims have been forced to flee the Paud and Pirangut villages in Mulshi taluka, Pune district. Although most of these Muslim individuals and their families have lived in these villages for over two decades, many Hindus from the villages have justified the boycott claiming that they are 'non-native Muslims'. A team of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) members conducted a fact-finding exercise on July 2 in both villages, only to find a palpable climate of fear, shuttered businesses, disrupted lives, and displaced families. The PUCL and APCR investigations followed reports of illegal posters calling for a boycott of non-native Muslims, which surfaced after an alleged desecration of an Annapurna Devi idol on May 2, in Paud, followed by a march by BJP and other right-wing groups on May 5. At these rallies, open threats were given to the Muslims of the village. The posters, along with threats and harassment, created a communal atmosphere, PUCL says, prompting them to submit a memorandum to Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandeep Singh Gill. The posters eventually were removed. But the damage it caused were much deeper. The Muslim-owned businesses like bakeries, scrap shops, salons, and chicken shops continue to remain closed. 'Despite repeated complaints to the police, we've received no protection to reopen our businesses,' said owner of Roshan Bakery in Paud, during a press conference that the PUCL organised in Pune on July 4. The owner further added, 'Our family has lived here for 40 years, yet we're labelled outsiders because my father's village is in Uttar Pradesh. We were warned not to reopen our bakery or face consequences.' Besides Roshan Bakery, two others – New Sangam and New Bharat – have been padlocked, costing around 400 workers their daily wages. The bakery provided employment to both Muslims and non-Muslims. 'Five Hindu vendors who sold our bread door-to-door are now jobless,' added owner of Bharat Bakery, which was established over 32 years ago. 'This isn't just about religion; it's about destroying our means of survival,' he said. The fact-finding committee met with Paud Police Station Inspector Santosh Girigosavi, who confirmed that controversial posters were removed following the SP's orders. However, the issue does not get resolved just with the removal of the posters. Several Hindutva members have allegedly been openly intimidating Muslim business owners to lease their shops and leave. Hindu Rashtra Sena member Dhananjay Desai, who has earlier faced trial in the killing of a IT professional Mohsin Shaikh in 2014 and was subsequently acquitted for want of evidence, has been once again accused of orchestrating threats from a farmhouse near Vitthalwadi village in Pune. Police confirmed a case against Desai for seizing a farmhouse, declaring that he is absconding. Another scrap shop owner, whose shop was set ablaze in early June, causing a loss of Rs 20 lakh, recounted his ordeal. 'I've lived here for years, married here, but after my shop was burned, I had to move my family to Kamshet. I filed a complaint and requested compensation, but nothing has come of it.' Like many others, he hopes to return once the situation stabilises. The hate campaign has also targeted religious spaces. Posters outside two mosques restricted namaz to local Muslims, deterring worshippers from nearby Kolvan village. Though removed, the fear lingers, with Muslims avoiding the mosques. 'The atmosphere is still tense,' a local Muslim resident, requesting anonymity, has said. The displacement has taken a severe toll. Many have had to flee to their ancestral villages in Uttar Pradesh; several have found refuge in close by Kamshet. In all this, along with livelihood, the children are the worst affected. Many had to abruptly stop their education. One of the villagers also shared instances of heightened surveillance that he and other Muslims from the village have been facing. 'A WhatsApp group of 400 villagers tracks our movements. When I went to a medical store for my son's medicine, my photo was immediately shared in the group,' he said. Ashok Matre, former Congress taluka president in Pirangut, lamenting the erosion of Mulshi's 'historical harmony', said, 'Muslims used to participate in the [Hindu religious festival of] Harinaam Saptah, wearing traditional attire. But groups like RSS, Shiv Pratishthan, and Hindu Rashtra Sena have poisoned minds.' PUCL condemned the economic boycotts as 'unconstitutional'. The Indian constitution, the human rights group emphasises, guarantees that an individual can conduct business anywhere. Civil rights groups are preparing legal action to address the violations. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Hindustan Times
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Police remove controversial signboards barring entry of non-local Muslims in Mulshi
Three signboards announcing that the entry of non-local Muslims is not allowed in a few villages of Mulshi taluka have been taken down by the police following complaints by civil rights organisations, Pune (Rural) superintendent of police Sandeep Singh Gill confirmed on Sunday. 'We have removed the objectionable boards after holding separate meetings with PUCL representatives and the gram panchayats of three villages. The matter is under review,' said Gill. PUCL member Milind Champanerkar said the group had also written to Baramati MP Supriya Sule and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, demanding action. (REPRESENTATIVE PIC) According to the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), Muslims running businesses or working as vendors and labourers in Paud, Pirangut, Kolvan, Suatwadi and surrounding areas have been facing threats, forced shutdowns, and boycott appeals after a temple idol was allegedly desecrated by a minor boy in May. The two organisations, in a joint complaint submitted to the state chief secretary, Pune district collector, and senior police officers, alleged that the banners targeting Muslims who do not belong to the particular area were put up in many areas, including religious places, without any legal sanction. They also alleged that several bakeries and scrap shops owned by Muslims had shut down due to pressure from the fringe elements, and the local police failed to check it. PUCL member Milind Champanerkar said the group had also written to Baramati MP Supriya Sule and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, demanding action.
