E/CN.4/1994/31
page 56
265. On 3 December 1993 the Government replied that this person had been
arrested in connection with the publication of an article in Nakkeeran
containing scurrilous, seditious, obscene and defamatory remarks. He was
immediately produced before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate who
remanded him to judicial custody. A bail application was also moved which was
posted for hearing on 16 April 1992, and to which the Magistrate recorded "No
complaints of torture or ill-treatment". No such complaint or plea for
medical treatment was made by his counsel even during hearing on the bail
application on 16 April 1992, which was dismissed. On 20 April 1992 bail was
granted by the Principal Sessions Court, Madras. On being released,
R. Ganesan was garlanded by the editor and staff of Nakkeeran near the central
prison, Madras. A photograph of this event appeared in the Nakkeeran issue of
30 April 1992, which made no mention of any torture or ill-treatment. The
weekly had, however, mentioned that Ganesan was suffering from heart ailment
and hypertension. He was admitted to Devaki hospital, on 26 April 1992. Even
the medical report did not reveal any signs or evidence of his having been
tortured.
266. Nandagopal, a university employee belonging to the Scheduled Caste
community, was arrested on 29 May 1992, reportedly in connection with a theft,
and detained for interrogation. He died in custody in Annamalainagar police
station, Chidambaram, South Arcot district, Tamil Nadu, on 3 June 1992,
allegedly as a result of four days of torture. A post-mortem examination
reportedly revealed 21 marks of injury to the body. Padmini, his second wife,
was also arrested on 29 May and taken to the same police station. She was
reportedly raped in her husband’s presence by four police constables.
267. Vidyadharan, president of a Congress Party "reformist" group in
Karthikapally Panchayat, Haripad Taluk, Alappuzha district, Kerala, was
arrested by the police on 18 February 1993 in Haripad. He was reportedly
tortured in police custody and then rushed to Haripad government hospital,
where he was declared dead on arrival.
268. On 3 December 1993 the Government informed the Special Rapporteur that
during Vidyadharan’s detention at Haripad it was noticed that he had tried to
hang himself. The following day it was noticed that he was lying motionless
and was immediately removed to Haripad hospital where he was declared dead.
A criminal case had been registered and the investigation was being carried
out by the Inspector General of Police.
269. Satyavan, from Jharoda Kalan village, died, allegedly of torture, in
Najafgarh police station in Delhi on 2 March 1993. His friends Balraj, alias
Billoo, and Ishwar Singh, who were arrested with him, reported that they had
all been beaten in the police station until Satyavan collapsed.
270. Rajinder Prasad, a worker at the India Safe Factory in Mayapuri
industrial area, died on 11 April 1993, allegedly after being tortured by
police and strongmen of the factory management. According to the reports, two
policemen were suspended from duty and an inquest was held by a sub-divisional
magistrate. However, no full inquiry by an independent authority was known to
have been held and no further action was known to have been taken against the
officials allegedly responsible for his death.
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