[sacw] NBA Baroda Office Ransacked, Activist Attacked

[Harsh Kapoor]

9 Dec.1999
We need to vigourously protest and demand the arrest of the culprits.
Harsh Kapoor
In Solidarity with the Narmada Bachao Andolan
(South Asia Citizens Web)
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Narmada Bachao Andolan
B-13, Shivam Flats, Ellora Park, Baroda
Mumbai contacts: Parvin Jehangir 2184779, 2185832, Mahendra Singh, Amrita,
Joe - 5574895

Press Release / 9.12.99

NBA activist attacked: NBA Baroda office cum residence ransacked, documents
torn and burnt, Computer damaged, money stolen. NBA asked to leave Gujarat
or face dire consequences.

Last night at 2 am, 6 unidentified men barged into NBA office in Baroda and
attacked NBA activist Raghu Raghuvanshi and ransacked the office causing
severe damage to documents, computer, documents were set on fire and they
made away with Rs 20,000/- cash.The six men also threatened that they have
been repeatedly telling the NBA to leave Gujarat and if now their warning is
not taken seriously, they would even kill.

On barging into the office two of the six men, caught NBA activist Raghu and
pinned him down after beating him up. He was made to shut his mouth at a Gun
and Knife point by two of the six persons, while Raghu was being pinned down
and manhandled he received minor knife wound and his shirt torn. The
remaining four completely ransacked and damaged the office. All this lasted
for half an hour and than the unidentified youth left taking away Rs.20,000.
These attackers were continuously threatening and warning that the NBA must
leave Gujarat immediately or else they will even not hesitate in killing.

It is important to point that NBA has been receiving anonymous threatening
calls since October this year. A written complaint to the Commissioner of
the Police, Baroda was made on 16-10-99 to take immediate action. There was
an inquiry in response to this complaint on 21-10-99 by PSI of Ellora Park
Police Station. Also a complaint was made in writing to the DSP against a
highly provocative public statement by Swami Sachidanand which was printed
in Gujarat Mitra a local leading News Paper on 17-9-99. Acknowledgements of
this complaint received on 11-10-99. A formal complaint against the
statement of Swami Sachidanand was also made to the PUCL. In spite of these
complaints anonymous threatening calls had continued ultimately resulting
into the attack on 9-12-99 early morning at 2.00 am.

One may recall that a similar attack and ransacking of the NBA baroda office
had taken place in March 1994 by leading Politicians of Gujarat belonging to
both, BJP and the Congress. This attack took place in full view of press
photographers present on the sight and the press had extensively covered the
photographs of attackers while they were attacking and sabotaging the
office.The photographs of MR Nalin Bhatt of BJP (Ex health and Education
Minister, present chairman of GEB), Dr Rajendra Rathore the Ex Mayor of
Baroda, Mr Yogesh Akolkar of Congress were printed while they were
ransacking the office. While they were burning the documents, even the
Police were present. A judicial inquiry was also initiated. In spite of
nationwide protests, documentary evidence and a Judicial probe, nothing has
come of it even after 5 years. Similar attack also took place in May 1993 on
a conference of Water organised in Ahmedabad in which leading writer of
Gujarat Ashwini Bhatt, a senior Gandhian Raju Purohit and others were beaten
up as they were supporters of NBA. This whole event too was recorded on
Vedio and submitted to the Police. Many such Attacks have taken place on NBA
activists during public Meetings at Bhavnagar, Bhuj, Ghandhidham and Navsari
in full view of Public and strong eye witnesses. On none of this occasions
any action was taken by the state or Police as each time these attacks were
politically motivated.

It is indeed sad commentary on the political state of affairs of Gujarat as
not just the NBA has been attacked and targeted but even official committees
of the Central Government have not been allowed to carry out their official
function of investigating the displacement and Environment issues
concerning the Sardar Sarovar Project in Gujarat. For example, in June 1994
Mr Ramdhan, the Commissioner of Schedule caste and Tribe , Government of
India was manhandled and prevented from executing his duty of investigating
the state of rehabilitation in Gujarat. A committee appointed by the
Ministry of Environment to investigate the impact on environment was not
allowed to set foot in Gujarat in the year 1994. Even the Jayant Patil
Committee, appointed by the ministry of water resources could not undertake
any field visits during their tenure of review of the Sardar Sarovar
Project. The World Commission on Dams too was prevented from coming to
Gujarat and ultimately India due to the opposition of the Government of
Gujarat.

This shows a complete breakdown of the State Machinery in protecting the
democratic rights of the people in the State, out right violation of Human
rights by the political parties and the Government and complete lawlessness.

Meanwhile protest statements are pouring in from all over the country,
demanding action against the culprits and protection of the Narmada Bachao
Andolan, a peaceful-non violent struggle of not just the oustees but a
popular movement in the country today. Those who have condemned the attack
are the organizations like Delhi Forum, Vadodra Kamdar Union, National
alliance of people's movements, etc. Tomorrow protest actions against this
attack will be organised at Delhi, Malegaon, Bombay- on the human rights
day.

Rehmat M K Sukamar
Nandini Oza.

For further information please contact Alok or Silvy, 011-6221703 or Joe
Athialy -022-5574895 as our Baroda office phone is out of order.