torture of a young church member and a missionary, amid concern about Hindu violence against Christians across India, BosNewsLife reporters established Monday, May 23. The High Court of the western state of Gujarat said it wanted to know why local police were allegedly involved in detaining and torturing 25-year old Christian Amit Babubhai Dhabiin in the state capital Ahmedabad last month, BosNewsLife’s New Delhi Bureau learned.
Judges gave police till June 14 to bring "all relevant documents" before the court regarding last month’s "arrest and torture of Mr. Amit Babubhai Dhabi," a 3-wheeler taxi driver and member of a Methodist Church.
"Amit is still recovering in the Vadilal Sarabhai Hospital in central Ahmedabad," added Samson Christian, National Executive Member and Joint Secretary of the influential advocacy group All India Christian Council. "He has a bone fracture, and doctors are suspecting the injury could lead to paralysis and permanent deficiency," as a result of violence used by police forces at the Bapu Nagar Police Station (BNPS), Christian told BosNewsLife.
KIDNAPPED CHRISTIAN
He said the troubles began when a police inspector and four officers of the BNPS came "arrested, or you can say kidnapped, Amit without any warrant" on April 28. Police were apparently informed by an unknown person that Amit was in possession of arms. "[However], Amit had never had any criminal record," Christian added.
He said Amit’s father, Babubhai, protested against the "illegal arrest" but police "refused to register" his complaint. Christian claimed that police detained the young men "for four days without registering his arrest or producing him before a magistrate, and beat him up brutally." In the early hours of May 2, police allegedly threw Amit in front of his house.
"In the morning, Amit was taken to the hospital and a thorough medical examination was done, including X-rays, and Electro-Miography (EMG)." Christian also complained that some doctors at the hospital had "malafide intentions", as they discharged Amit before the completion of the treatment. "On May 9, when Amit’s condition was still critical, some doctors, in connivance with some elements behind the curtain, discharged him," he alleged.
CONSTANTLY SHIFTED
"It was only after Amit’s father complained to the Superintendent of police against the doctors that they admitted him again the same day. However, till today he is being shifted from one ward to another without any reason." He said "police is trying to minimize the case" and he demanded "that a high-level inquiry be done to find out who were working behind the curtain to get Amit discharged, and the doctors involved be suspended."
On June 14, the High Court will examine the documents related to the case and decide if the case should be handed over to the National Human Rights Commission or pass any other order. News of the investigation came as the High Court of India’s north-eastern state of Orissa also demanded an explanation for alleged police involvement in the two day detention and "severe custodial torture" of missionary Kiran Kumar, who is employed by The Church of North India.
In a report obtained by BosNewsLife’s Orissa Bureau, the court expressed "serious concern" about the apparent incident in late February and ordered the "Government of Orissa and State Director General of Police" to submit their reply "without any delay."
HINDU MILITANTS
Since last year Kumar preached in a church in the small town of Balugaon in Orissa’s Khurdha District, despite opposition from local Hindu militants. On February 27, several Hindu militants reportedly mistreated Kiran at night before handing him over to local police.
While in police custody, officers allegedly used "severe punishment" against the missionary. A court sanctioned medical investigation revealed four injuries because of beatings by Hindu militants and police, BosNewsLife learned.
It was not clear on what charges he was held by police, but Hindu militants have accused missionaries and churches of illegally forcing people to change their religion. Church groups have strongly denied those accusations. After he was released on bail, Kumar filed a petition at Orissa High Court seeking prosecution of guilty police and compensation. The next hearing is scheduled for July 11.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
Analysts say the High Court ruling may improve security for Christians in Orissa, where attacks against Christian missionaries are reportedly increasing. On May 12, four Christian missionaries of the Believer Church and Bible College Of Brajanagar were reportedly detained for one day by police within in Orissa’s Kendrapara District before being declared "innocent" by local officers. Police officials in both Gujarat and Orissa could not be reached for comments, and at least one official was reportedly "on leave."
The involvement of the courts in both states however come just over two months after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reportedly assured Christian leaders he would pressure officials to end tension in states ravaged by anti-Christian violence. "We cannot tolerate violence against minority communities," Singh told Christian leaders who met him in March, according to a transcript obtained by the BosNewsLife New Delhi Bureau.
The prime minister received an ‘Unofficial White Paper’ listing cases of violence against Christians in 2005 from the delegation, which included the Delhi Archbishop and officials of the All India Catholic Union and India Christian Council. Human rights groups have already reported hundreds of violent incidents against Christians across the country this year alone. (Based in New Delhi, Journalist Vishal Arora, 32, has covered persecution and other hard hitting news stories for a variety of international and national publications. He has traveled around the country on invitation by NGOs for seminars and talks on human rights, communalism, and religious persecution. Vishal Arora can be contacted at e-mail address vishalarora_in@hotmail.com or visit his website http://www40.brinkster.com/vishalarora/ Also introducing Satya Sundar Mishra as BosNewsLife India Reporter based in Orissa. Mishra, 26, is a Development Journalist of Orissa working on social and religious issues that are not yet on the radar screen of media and politicians. He has been working for a variety of key publications and is currently also active as Sub-editor and Senior Reporter with Odisha Bhaskar, a regional daily newspaper. He can be reached via e-mail satya_mishra11@rediffmail.com ).
With the increase in such cases the need of private Investigation India especially in the areas affected has been increased.