03-West Bengal Report.pdf - People's watch

FF Code :W.B./MON (Sabitabrata Ghole)/
Howrah/Oct—13/10/2006/Sl.NO.—10
Victim(s) :Babua Bharati @ Ramesh Bharati
and his family
Perpetrator(s) :OC
Location :Bantra PS
Date of incident :14/12/2003 and subsequently
Case Detail:
Victim Babua Bharati, a Dalit, and his wife make a living by cleaning toilets.
Victim Babua Bharati was a tenant of Sunil Koley beginning in 2002. He and his family started
living in the ground floor of the building after paying Rs. 20,000 as an advance. He paid Rs. 800
per month as monthly rent, including the usage of electricity.
Babua Bharati repeatedly asked Sunil Koley for receipts, but the latter refused.
On 14 December 2003, Babua Bharati lodged a complaint with the Bantra PS (General Dairy
Entry No. 844). No action was taken.
In 2004, Sunil Koley forced Babua Bharati and his family to move to the third floor of the house.
On this floor, there was neither running water nor a toilet. A new monthly rent of Rs. 600 was
fixed.
In August 2005, while Babua Bharati and his family were out of their residence, Sunil Koley
broke one wall of their room. He later promised to repair the wall soon, but did not do so despite
repeated requests by Babua Bharati.
On 28 January 2006, Babua Bharati lodged a complaint with the Bantra PS (General Diary
Entry No. 1766). No action was taken.
Babua Bharati filed written complaints with the District Magistrate, the Mayor, the OC of Bantra
PS and the Councilor for Ward 22 of the Howrah Municipal Corporation. No action was taken.
Sunil Koley falsely alleged that Babua Bharati had, while drunk, broken the electric bulbs in the
building’s staircases – despite that there are no electric bulbs in these staircases. Officers from
Bantra PS thus arrested Babua Bharati, ignoring his request that they examine him for alcohol
consumption. They issued no memo of arrest. Babua Bharati paid Rs. 350 and was released;
the police did not issue him a receipt.
West Bengal
175
Annual Report on Torture
2007