AP Human Rights Under Scrutiny

By Swati Reddy

The human rights record of Andhra Pradesh continues to be dismal despite claims by the government to the contrary. As the nation observes the World Human Rights Day on December 10, NGOs of the state blame the government and the police for blatantly disregarding even basic rights of people, especially those arrested for various offences.

In recent times, the Andhra Pradesh police faced much criticism for the alleged torture of many youth who were detained after the twin blasts which shook the city in 2007.

There were widespread allegations that police randomly picked up many youth belonging to a particular community and kept them in interrogation cells for months on end without filing any case against them. However, the government has strongly refuted the allegation. A senior police officer denied the charge and said the youth were merely detained for interrogation.

Despite umpteen denials by the police, the issue has sullied the already muddy human rights record of the state. Another incident, which created much commotion in recent times was the killing of Moddu Srinu, one of the accused in Telugu Desam leader Paritala Ravindra murder case, in Anantapur prison.

Several NGOs and human rights activists saw it as an instance of the government’s inability to provide security to the prisoners. The State Human Rights Commission also intervened and took a suo motu case. Justice Subhashan Reddy, chairman of the APHRC, said that the Director General (prisons) had admitted to lapses on his part in the issue.

"The state has a dubious record in maintaining human rights," said Prof. Hara Gopal, a prominent human rights activist in the state. He added that the government was not sincere in solving many issues that had human rights implication. "For instance, the government got a golden opportunity to solve the Naxal issue in 2004 but its lack of sincerity spoiled the entire process," he said. "Now both the parties have become dreaded enemies."

Prof. Gopal said minorities of the state were also the subject of many rights violations. "Though the government claims to be a protector of minorities, it has indulged in many cruel actions against them," he added. Andhra Pradesh slueths, however, complain that human rights activists are focused on excesses of the police and security forces.

"In India, human rights violation by the security forces will be less than two per cent of the total violations," a senior police officer said. "There are other issues — teachers abusing students, harassment of women employees at work and similar violations. But rights groups don’t focus on these things."

The Inspector-General of Police (CID), Mr Umapathi, said that police was now under the constant watch of the public and political parties. " In the past, police actions were not openly questioned," he said. "Nowadays, our personnel are dismissed even for slightest errors."

Official agencies meant to protect human rights of certain groups are also functioning in a lacklustre manner. For instance, the Women’s Commission in the state has been functioning without a chairperson and members for an year. It is now left to the NGOs to raise issues relating to violation of rights of women.