Brief details of the incident

Chembu Nagamani(13) d/o Chalapathi Rao, Relli (SC) by caste is the resident of Venkatapathirajunagar, near Prema Hopital, Maharanipeta in Visakhapatnam. The victim Nagamani works  as a domestic servant in the house of Singampalli Venkatesh. She went to work as usual at about 4 p.m on 17^th September ’10. At that time Yerramsetti Prasanth, Appanna and Alibhai were also there. Nagamani went upstairs to bring utensils. Venkatesh and Prasanth dragged her inside, forcibly stripped off her clothes, pushed her on to the bed and Venkatesh raped her, he even threatened her by slapping on the face. Later Prasanth also forcibly raped her and threatened her not to disclose it to anyone. In the meantime as her mother was coming, they forcibly sent her away from the backside. Nagamani informed her parents and later lodged a complaint with II Town PS of Visakhapatnam on 17^th September itself. Though the victim has approached the PS on 17^th September itself, the complaint was registered only on 19^th September.  

Mr. Murugan belongs to Dalit community, is working as a Quality Control Inspector in the Civil Supplies Corporation, Thoothukudi district. Mr. Issac Iyyapillai was former Regional Manager in this corporation and Mr. Pichaiah is working as a Supervisor. In this industry around 15 people were working as contract laborers. There are around 300 cases have been registered regarding illegal smuggling of rice. On 16/08/2010, a complaint was registered against the Ex Regional Manager Mr. Issac and Mr. Pichaiah for smuggling civil supplies. But no action was taken on this compliant. On 17/08/2010, in the SIPCOT Police Station, while Supervisor Pichaiah was under interrogation, present Regional Manager came into the PS and asked Mr. Murugan to withdraw the complaint and told that the issue will be solved amicably through discussion. But no action was taken against the Regional Manager.

On 07/09/2010, Mr. Murugan was found dead inside the SIPCOT with injury marks all over his body. He was brutally assaulted and the perpetrators poured nearly ½ litre of Poison in to his mouth. Police filed the case as suicide, ignoring the injury marks over his body. No person can drink ½ litre of poison. Hence some social activists and relatives of the victim, staged protest seeking the arrest of the perpetrators and to investigate the case. The Victim’s family was not compensated adequately. The Police department is negligent to take action against the real culprits who were involved in the smuggling of civil supplies. Proper IPC sections regarding murder and PoA Act sections were not invoked regarding this atrocity. Direction for CBI investigation should be given to ensure fair investigation and justice to the victims family.

Laxmi Devi (18) w/o Dukhi Bhuiyan is resident of Dhaniwar Bhuiyan Bighwa village under Rishiyap police station in Aurangabad Dist., belongs to Musahar (SC) caste.

On 04/09/2010, at about 5.00 p.m, Ranjay Singh s/o Bruhaspati Singh, a rowdy of Karam Misir a neibhbouring village came to Dhaniwar Bhuiyan Bighwa village and having found Laxmi alone at home he molested and attempted to rape her. Laxmi screamed out for help. On hearing the cries Arvind Bhuiyan (14), brother of Laxmi went to the spot and tried save the victim. The accused brutally beat Arvind and left him with multiple injuries on his body.

 A case was registered in Rishiyap police station against the accused on 07/09/2010 as No. 23/10, u/s 452, 376, 511, 323, 325, 360, 379 IPC & 3(1)(x) (xi) SC/ST (PoA) Act. The perpetrator is on run till now. Charge sheet is not filed. The victim has not received any compensation from the administration.

N. Bharath (15), S/o Narayanaswamy, belongs to dalit community, is a resident of Erappavur village, Koanur Post, Thittakudi Taluk, Cuddalore District. Bharath is studying 10^th standard. He is pursuing his studies by staying in the Pennadam SC Hostel. On 02/09/2010, around 08.30 am he was found hanging in a rope tied to the window by the hostel inmate Veeramani. Veeramani reported this to the hostel warden and the cooks. Before the arrival of the Police to the spot, hostel warden and the two cooks of the hostel, untied the rope and brought down his body.

Bharath being a active member of Indian Students Movement, objected the corrupt practices and misdeeds of the hostel administration. CPI (M),  Union Secretary suspects the hostel warden and the cooks in the mysterious death of Bharath. Backialakshmi, mother of Bharath, told that Bharath was found normal on that day while going to school. She found blood leakage from his ears, this further fans the suspicion of the untimely death.

Bharath height was about 5 feet; the window in which he was found hanging was about 5 feet; and the rope he used to hang himself is about 2.5 feet. Hence 5 feet tall person, hanging himself at the height of 5 feet with a rope length of 2.5 feet is not practical and nearly impossible. Even when Veeramani reported this to the warden and the cooks, their reaction was not spontaneous and they have not shown any shock reaction to this news. Given all the circumstantial evidences the warden and the cooks were found to be involved in the heinous crime of killing him and hanged him in the window. But the police department filed this case as suicide and no further investigation was conducted with the murder perspective.

Brief Details of the Incident:

Swapna has been working in this residential school for the past three years as mathematics teacher. She is also in-charge of the hostel.  She belongs to the dominant community and often harasses the students belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The details of the recent incident of harassment by Swapna are as follows. One day she beat all the students of 10^th standard including Swetha (15) SC Madiga and Sony (15) belonging to Scheduled Tribe for not doing mathematics problem. Likewise she scolded Swetha saying “Munda”, why you are not having bindhu (bottu/ a sectarian mark on the forehead)! Have you lost your husband? Swetha informed the same to her parents. Swetha’s father brought it to the notice of the head master. Having come to know about it, Swapna intensified the harassment and asked Swetha and Sony to do a problem on the board. Having got frightened, Swetha said she would do the problem in the notes. Though they requested, Swapna insisted to do on the board, if not she will neck them out of the class. Swapna also warned the remaining students saying if they remain in the class, she will not teach.

Unable to bear the humiliation both Swetha went up the stairs to commit suicide.  Anuradha the attender, noticed them, rushed up and pulled them back and saved them. Further the students have also complained about the quality and timings of food.

The same teacher Swapna is incharge of the hostel in the residential school. The students have informed that she spends much time in the kitchen and storeroom. The parents have alleged that Swapna has colluded with the contractors of the mess. Swetha’s father has lodged a detailed complaint with the concerned MEO and in Dharoor PS, but the complaint has not been registered. The parents of Swetha and Sony are being threatened by the local leaders to withdraw their complaint.

Apart from harassment of Swetha and Sony by Swapna the teacher and the in-charge of mess, the issues such as basic amenities etc needs  to  be  addressed.

The allotment of rice is still pending as the name was wrongly written and even there is a mistake in allocation of the rice quantity. Hence, often the Special Officer (in-charge of the school) goes to the nearby schools to obtain rice. Even on the day of incident he was on the same job. Likewise the water problem is being caused due to lack of proper pipeline and overhead tank. Hence due to lack of water, cooking is being delayed and the children are also facing problem. There is no compound wall to the premises, thus making easy to the intruders and even the inmates are able to move in and out freely. Further the students have also complained against the mess contractor’s behavior and food.