Urgent appeal regarding the alleged murder of Krupasindhu Sahu an RTI Activist and also a farmer on the 26th of January, 2015 in Nacchinga, Cuttack, Odisha, INDIA.

Sanjay Sharma <tahririndia@gmail.com>	Mon, Feb 16, 2015 at 10:56 PM
To: “HRD Focal Point in NHRC” <hrd-nhrc@nic.in>, cmo <cmo@ori.nic.in>, dm-bargarh@nic.in, spbgr.odipol@nic.in, ohrc@nic.in, cs-orissa <cs-orissa@nic.in>, dgofpoliceorissa@sify.com, sphqrs.odpol@nic.in, spctc.odpol@nic.in, dm-cuttack@nic.in, delegation-india@eeas.europa.eu, DELEGATION-INDIA-HRD-FOCAL-POINT@eeas.europa.eu, urgent-action@ohchr.org, jgaziyev@ohchr.org, defenders@ohchr.org, hrd@forum-asia.org, cecile@forum-asia.org, saartje@forum-asia.org, info@frontlinedefenders.org, caitrionarice <caitrionarice@frontlinedefenders.org>, omct <omct@omct.org>, dr@omct.org
To, 1-      Shri A. K. Parashar National Focal Point - Human Rights Defenders & Joint Registrar National Human Rights Commission ManavAdhikarBhawan, Block-C, GPO Complex, INA, New Delhi – 110 023 Email: hrd-nhrc@nic.in 2-      Sri Naveen Pattnaik, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha At- Naveen Nivas, Aerodrome Road, P.O.-Bhubaneswar, Dist.-Khurda, Pin-751001 (Odisha) Tel. No.(O) 2531100,2535100,2531500, EPABX 2163 Tel. No.(R) 2590299, 2591099,2590844,2591100,2590833 Email :cmo@ori.nic.in  3-     ShriAnjan Kumar ManikOAS(SAG) District Collector, Collectorate, Bargarh Office of the Collector and District Magistrate, At/Po-Bargarh PIN-678028, Dist.Bargarh Phone : 06646-232340 Email : dm-bargarh@nic.in 4-      Sri UmashankarDash,IPS Office of the Superintendent Of police, At/Po-Bargarh,Dist-Bargarh Phone : 06646-234480 Email : spbgr.odipol@nic.in 5-      Justice B.K.Mishra Acting Chairperson, Odisha Human Rights Commission, ToshaliBhawan Complex 2nd floor, Satya Nagar PO Saheed Nagar, Bhubaneswar – 751007. Odisha E.mail: ohrc@nic.in 6-      The Chief Secretary, Govt. of Odisha, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Phone: +91 674 2536700 Fax: +91 674 2536660 E.mail: cs-orissa@.nic.in 7-      Director General of Police, Police Headquarters, Bakshi Bazar, City-Cuttack, Pincode-753001 Ph: 0671-2304001(O) Fax: 0671-2304354 dgofpoliceorissa@sify.com sphqrs.odpol@nic.in 8-      Superintendent of Police, O/o The Superintendent of Police Cuttack District. Ph:0671-2428116 Fax: 2428301 E.mail: spctc.odpol@nic.in 9-      Sri Nirmal Chandra Mishra OAS (SAG) O/of The District Collector and District Magistrate, Collectorate, Cuttack Dist. 753002 Ph: 0671-2508100 Fax: 0671-2301103 E.mail: dm-cuttack@nic.in 10-     Delegation of the European Union to India 65, Golf Links, New Delhi - 110003 Phone: +91-11-4949 6565 Fax : +91-11-4949 6555 delegation-india@eeas.europa.eu DELEGATION-INDIA-HRD-FOCAL-POINT@eeas.europa.eu 11-     Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mr. Michel Forst c/o Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights – Palais Wilson United Nations Office at Geneva CH 1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland Email: urgent-action@ohchr.org jgaziyev@ohchr.org defenders@ohchr.org 12-     Human Rights Defenders Desk Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) 66/2 Pan Road, Silom, Bang Rak Bangkok, 10500 Thailand Tel: +66 2 6379126 Fax: +66 2 6379128 E.mail: hrd@forum-asia.org, cecile@forum-asia.org, saartje@forum-asia.org 13-     Front Line - The International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders Head Office, Second Floor, Grattan House, Temple Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin, Ireland, Tel: +353 (0)1 212 3750, Fax: +353 (0)1 212 1001 E-mail: info@frontlinedefenders.org, caitrionarice@frontlinedefenders.org 14-     OMCT International Secretariat PO Box 21 8, rue du Vieux-Billard 1211 Geneva 8 Switzerland Phone: + 41 22 809 4939 Fax: + 41 22 809 4929 E-mail: omct@omct.org 15-     DelphineReculeau, The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders PO Box 21 8, rue du Vieux-Billard 1211 Geneva 8 Switzerland Phone: + 41 22 809 4939 Fax: + 41 22 809 4929 E-mail: dr@omct.org Letter No. : TAHRIR/15/2014-15/160213 Date : 16-02-2015 Sub.: Urgent appeal regarding the alleged murder of Krupasindhu Sahu an RTI Activist and also a farmer on the 26th of January, 2015 in Nacchinga, Cuttack, Odisha, INDIA. Sir/Madam, TAHRIR ( Transparency, Accountability & Human Rights initiative for revolution ) is a Bareilly/Lucknow based Social Organization, working at grass-root level by taking up & solving issues related to strengthening transparency & accountability in public life and protection of Human Rights in India. We are now writing to express our grave concern over the alleged murder of Krupasindhu Sahu an RTI Activist and also a farmer on the 26th of January, 2015 in Nacchinga, Cuttack, Odisha. Source of Information on the Incident: •       Pradip Pradhan, an RTI Activist and Human Rights Defender from Odisha •       Media Reports The Human Rights Defender: KrupasindhuSahu, aged 40 years was an RTI Activist and also a farmer, of Nachhigan village in KrushnaprasadPanchayat in the Niali Block. He had sought information on utilisation of funds under BGREI (Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India) towards line sowing of paddy, fertiliser and seeds for development of agriculture in Niali. The Perpetrators: 1.      Politicians of the Ruling Party 2.      Henchmen who carried out the murder at the behest of the above Date of Incident: 26th of January 2015 Place of Incident: In Niali in the Cuttack District of the Eastern Indian State of Odisha Incident detail: According to sources, following the RTI Application that the deceased Human Rights Defender had filed regarding utilisation of funds under BGREI (Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India) towards line sowing of paddy, fertiliser and seeds for development of agriculture in Niali that exposed huge corruption and irregularities in the BGREI fund by influential and powerful political people, he had reportedly received threat calls.  KrupasindhuSahu is said to have gone missing on the evening of the 26th of January when he had gone to the local market. Police later retrieved the decomposed body of the farmer from the nearby riverbed. Pratap Kumar Jena, SushilaPani and ManjuSahu were arrested in this connection on the 31st of January while another accused KartikPani is said to be on the run. But sources have reason to believe that the investigation is callous and suggest that the independence of the investigating agency may have been compromised at the behest of powerful persons involved in Mr.Sahu’s alleged murder. The death of Mr.Sahu under such suspicious circumstances is close on the heels of the alleged murder of another RTI activist Mr. Ganesh Chandra Panda, in Odisha on the 28th of December, 2014. It only points towards the danger that all RTI users face from vested interests that are allowed to operate with impunity. Appeal : We, therefore urge you to immediately take necessary steps to ensure that the Superintendent of Police for Cuttack District in Odisha •       Orders an immediate, thorough, transparent, effective and impartial investigation into the above-mentioned events of the detention of the human rights defender and arrest not only the remaining accused but also the powerful persons at whose behest the murder was carried out. •       Along with local district officials guarantees in all circumstances due compensation to the family of the deceased and give this assurance to the NHRC of India in writing immediately and urgently; •       Conducts an inquiry into the corruption and irregularities in the BGREI fund that could have been  exposed by the late Mr.Sahu and take due action if and when the same is proved; •       Along with local district officials puts an end to all acts of harassment against all RTIActivists and all human rights defenders in general to ensure that in all circumstances they carry out their activities without any hindrances; •       Conforms with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially: - Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels” - Article 12.2, which provides that “"the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”; •       More generally, ensures in all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and with international human rights instruments ratified by India is strictly adhered to in the state of Odisha. Yours sincerely, Sanjay Sharma سنجے شرما संजय शर्मा ( Founder & Chairman) Transparency, Accountability & Human Rights Initiative for Revolution ( TAHRIR ) 101,Narain Tower,F Block, Rajajipuram  Lucknow,Uttar Pradesh-226017 Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/sanjay.sharma.tahrir Website :http://tahririndia.blogspot.in/ E-mail : tahririndia@gmail.com Twitter Handle : @tahririndia Mobile : 9369613513  TAHRIR ( Transparency, Accountability & Human Rights initiative for revolution ) is a Bareilly/Lucknow based Social Organization, working at grass-root level by taking up & solving issues related to strengthening transparency & accountability in public life and protection of Human Rights in India.   तहरीर (पारदर्शिता, जवाबदेही और मानवाधिकार क्रांति के लिए पहल  )  भारत में लोक जीवन में पारदर्शिता संवर्धन, जबाबदेही निर्धारण और आमजन के मानवाधिकारों के संरक्षण के हितार्थ  जमीनी स्तर पर कार्यशील संस्था  है  l