After the formation of Human Rights Commission, the improvement has been observed in the functioning of police administration. It has developed the sense of responsibility and created sensitivity among them. – Nirmal Kumar Bisht, CO UP Police Jahanabad
Kashif Ahmed Faraz for BeyondHeadlines
On the occasion of Human Rights Day, a symposium “Protection of Civil Rights in UP and Our Responsibilities” was organized by Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) UP West in Youth Library, Pilibhit (UP) on 9th Dec. 2014.
Introducing APCR, Ahmad Azeez (President, APCR UP West) said “Association for Protection of Civil Rights is committed to the protection of society from violation of human rights, Illegal detentions, custodial deaths, fake encounters etc. and it conducts training workshops on criminal law and human rights issues, investigates in to the cases of human rights’ violations, addresses issues of prisoners’ rights, keeps a watch over law making process to make positive intervention, involves in awareness of general masses and initiates campaigns on various socio-legal issues”.
Social Activist Afroz Gilani opined that illiteracy is the biggest curse for the society and for being aware about our civil rights, we need to educate our society first.
Nirmal Kumar Bisht, CO UP Police Jahanabad stated that after the formation of Human Rights Commission, the improvement has been observed in the functioning of police administration. It has developed the sense of responsibility and created sensitivity among them.
Raising the issues of crime against women and children Babita Saxena (Social Activist) stated that the women and children are the most exploited and vulnerable section of the society and we need to work together for their rights.
Presiding over the symposium, National Coordinator of APCR, Mr. Akhlaq Ahmad opined that UP has the highest figure of communal riots in India. In spite of so many FIRs being registered in rape cases in Muzzafaranagar Riots, no arrest has been made of the named accused which shows the poor plight of human rights in UP. No action has been taken on Nimesh Commission Report which was formed by state government to investigate the illegal detention of Tariq Qasmi and Khalid Mujahid (now deceased). The state government kept silence in custodial death of Khalid Mujahid and didn’t take any action against the alleged culprits named in the FIR.
He also expressed his concern on corruption in public distribution system and deaths due to different diseases despite dozens of government health schemes running on papers.
“For the establishment of peace and justice in the society we have to be aware, organized and prepare ourselves for the long term struggle”, said Mr. Akhlaq.
The others who addressed the symposium were Mushaffey Hussian (Retired Judge, Allahabad High Court), Dharinndar Singh (Dist. Health Officer), TH Khan (Social Activist) and others.
(Kashif Ahmed Faraz is a Delhi based freelance journalist, he can be reached at kkashif.peace@gmail.com)
