People\\\’s Union for Civil Liberties(PUCL), a human rights organisation, has written to the National Human Rights Commission requesting it to ensure medical facilities to Soni Sodi who is lodged in Raipur jail in Chhattisgarh at present.
PUCL has urged NHRC to send a fact finding team to the Raipur jail to verify the truth and provide basic facilities, medical assistance to her.
Soni Sori was arrested by the Chhattisgarh police on October 4, 2011 on the charge of supporting Maoist menace in the state.
She has been subjected to awful torture in the custody. In the most recent case of atrocity against her, Chhattisgarh police gave her electric shocks, stripped her and inserted stones in her private parts.
The sexual abuse was also confirmed by a Kolkata hospital. In its report submitted to the Supreme Court, the NRS medical college and hospital in Kolkata stated that two stones were found in her vagina and rectum.
SC then directed the State government to shift her to the Raipur jail after senior counsel Colin Gonsalves told the court that the teacher\\\’s life was in danger in the Jagadalpur prison.
Such unethical, horrible torture has caused outrage among the activists and human rights organisation. They have demanded strict action against the concerned police officials and the state governemnt.
Please find below full text of the letter:
Chairman
National Human Rights Commission
New Delhi
Sub: Request to Send a Fact Finding Team and ensure Medical Facilities to Soni Sodi lodged in Raipur jail in Chhattisgarh
Sir,
Soni Sodi was arrested from Delhi and has been lodged in Raipur jail of Chhattisgarh. PUCL has already written to the Commission on this, and the commission is seized of the matter.
Recently the evidence has emerged in the public domain that she has severely been tortured in a disgraceful manner which is an insult to womanhood and humanity. The kind and extent of the torture is shocking and shameful for a civilized and ruled based society and the allegations are against a senior police officer.
A recent medical examination ordered by the Supreme Court at NRS Medical College and Hospital in Kolkatta found stones inserted in her vagina and rectum.
Sir, Soni sodi, being a hapless woman with school going children is an accused in a highly suspect environment of Chhattisgarh where it is largely held perception that many a time people are charged falsely under the draconian laws endangering their life and liberty.
A visit to the jail by some concerned citizens has revealed that the Soni Sodi is on partial hunger strike and she is deteriorating physically and psychologically. Taking note of this some of the concerned citizens and organizations have observed one day fast at the Rajghat on 29th February 2011. (photographs of it are attached with this letter).
PUCL on behalf of all concerned citizens and Women Against Sexual Violence appeals to you to send a fact finding team of the Commission to the jail and ensure all basic facilities that Soni sodi is entitled including medical assistance so that she continues to retain her sanity to fight for justice and ensure that all those who indulged in torturing her are brought to justice as per the ongoing cases in the Court. We understand that by sending such a team the Commission would honor the sentiments of hundreds of concerned women who have been campaigning for justice for soni Sodi and it would be an appropriate way of commemorating the International Women’s Day that is round the corner.
With Thanks
Pushkar Raj
National General Secretary, PUCL