Murder in a Speaker's Chamber

A dalit human rights activist was allegedly murdered in the chamber of the Speaker of the Rajasthan Assembly. Police refused to take action. Resignation of the speaker sought by dalit groups.

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Alleged brutal murder of dalit Human Right Defender namely Mr Raghunath in the chamber of the Hon’ble Speaker of Rajasthan Assembly for not giving statement in favor of the all powerful accused involved in of the corruption case and suppression of this murder case by violating all statutory provisions- High Court now directed to investigate the matter by CBI.

The fact finding of the case was conducted by Centre for Dalit Rights, Jaipur and following points were emerged which are enumerated below:

1. The deceased Raghunath was kidnapped and forcibly brought in the chamber of Speaker. This incident was informed to the local police who refused to entertain and take action on the application.

2. The Post Mortem of the deceased was not undertaken.

3. What were the circumstances led to a blocked of high way in Shri Madhopur?

4. Why the police changed the contents of the FIR No 116/2009?

5. Why the police prepared the site map of the house of the deceased in his native place when his death was occurred in chamber of Speaker?

6. Why police closed the case without sending the FSL report?

7. Did police manage to record the statements of all the concerned witnesses and connecting persons of this case?

8. Why the record of the Dispensary situated in the Assembly was tainted?

9. Why the information of death of the deceased was not given to nearest Police Station of the Assembly?

10. Why the medical officer of Assembly reached to the conclusion that the death of the deceased was caused due to heart attack without undertaking the Post Mortem of the deceased?

11. Why the medical officer of the Assembly issued a slip to take the dead body of the deceased to the native place without conducting the Post Mortem?

When this matter was pursued by the family members of the deceased especially by his son who are now facing constant and potential threats at the hand of local police, accused persons and also the top politicians of the State. The Tea Shop run by the son of the deceased in the premises of local Collectorate had been demolished and he was threatened not to pursue this matter any more. The other son who was under BPL list of the village, now his name has been removed from the list of BPL’s and now entire family is facing the persecution and harassment forcing them to run away from the village. Their problems need to be looked into and redressed.

The chain of the circumstances relating to this murder case led a suspicion that the Speaker of the Rajasthan Assembly is somehow involved in this matter. The present Speaker belongs to the feudal Rajput community and Dalits are suppressed and oppressed in his Constituency. This area is dominated by the Rajput and other dominant communities and in past few years, many Dalit activists have been eliminated, harassed and it appears as no rule of law prevail in this area.

Earlier this case was dumped and closed by the police but the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Sikar refused to accept the finding of the police. Now the Hon’ble High Court has directed the Government to conduct the enquiry by the CBI. We now apprehend that the enquiry may be influence by the Speaker as was done earlier.

We, therefore strongly demand that Speaker of the Assembly Mr Deependra Singh Shekhawat should immediately resign from the post of Speaker ship to facilitate a fair and impartial enquiry into the matter. We further demand that the death of Human Right Defender Mr Raghunath should be investigated by an agency even higher than CBI to ensure an unbiased probe. A judicial inquiry should preferably be ordered into the matter in view of its seriousness.

We, therefore earnestly solicit your support and urge upon all the Human Rights Organizations & Activists to support our demands by sending appeal/letters to the Central Government & State Government authorities so that a justice is secured in this matter.

(P.L.MIMROTH) (R.K.ANKODIA) (SATISH KUMAR) (TOSHITA VERMA)

Chief Patron Chairperson Director State Coordinator Mob No.9351317611 Mob No 9828627537 Mob No.9982246312 Mob No.9982246330

Centre for Dalit Rights, Jaipur

Office:- C-56,I Floor, Siwar Area, Bapu Nagar, Jaipur (Rajasthan) 302015

E mail- cdrjaipur@gmail.com,rajasthancdr@yahoo.com Posted by collective at June 05, 2010 10:55 AM