Statement of WSS in response to the attacks on an independent study team in Bastar and local villagers helping them, and a solidarity event in Kolkata
WSS (Women against Sexual Repression and State Violence) strongly condemns two recent incidents of harassment, malicious intimidation and vilification employed by the BJP government and its youth wing, the Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha, to silence critics of the ruling regime’s policies in Bastar. Continue reading
Posted in Press Releases, Statements
Tagged Chhattisgarh, impunity, operation green hunt, security forces, state repression
Encountering Injustice : The Case of Meena Khalko
Posted in WSS Videos
Tagged Chhattisgarh, impunity, meena khalkho, operation green hunt, rape, security forces
Women’s groups condemn president’s medal to Ankit Garg, Soni Sori’s torturer
We are deeply shocked and outraged by the conferring of the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry on Ankit Garg, Superintendent of Police, Dantewada, Chhattisgarh. Ankit Garg has been named by the Adivasi school teacher, Ms. Soni Sori, in several letters to the Supreme Court, of ordering and supervising her torture and sexual violence against her, on the night of October 8th, 2011 when she was in his custody at the Dantewada police station. Continue reading
Eminent citizens and groups write an open letter to the Chief Justice of India seeking justice for Soni Sori who is currently under trial in Chhatisgarh. A brief introduction to her case and a link to the letter can be found below.
As you are aware, Soni Sori, an adivasi school teacher and warden from Chhattisgarh, is currently facing trial in Chhattisgarh. Accused as a Maoist supporter, despite evidence of her having being framed as one in several cases, she has been in custody in Chhattisgarh for about three and a half months. What has been terribly shocking and perturbing is the fact that while in custody she has been subjected to gross sexual torture, evidence of which has come to light following a Supreme Court directive for medical examination in a government hospital in Kolkata. Compounding her crisis is the fact that despite this damning evidence, Soni Sori has remained in the custody of the Chhattisgarh police for all this while.
On the 12th-13th January 2012 a women’s group went to Raipur to meet Soni Sori in Central Jail, Raipur. The Superintendent Jail did not allow them to meet her; only the two lawyers were allowed to meet her. The team was shunted around and asked to meet the government officials to get permission. They met the Principal Secretary (Home), DG (Prisons), IG (Prisons), and were sent back by all these officials to the Jail Superintendent, who finally denied permission on grounds of concern for security of Soni Sori and the Women’s Prison, and sections 692 and 695 of the jail manual.
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