Mohammad Ramzan, 60, would run a kirana shop. He is survived by wife and three daughters and three sons.
Tazeem Haider | India Tomorrow
New Delhi, May 4— “My father was tortured on religious grounds. He was abused and was not even given drinking water. Even though he was in custody, he was not unchained. He was not allowed to go to toilet. He would relieve himself on bed. Then they (guarding cops) used to beat my father. He was not allowed to wear skull caps…” said Mohammad Rizwan, eldest son of Mohammad Ramzan, while addressing a press conference at the Press Club of India here on Friday.
Ailing elderly prisoner Ramzan, 60, was admitted at a government hospital in Kota district of Rajasthan where he was allegedly assaulted by cops deployed for guarding him. He died on April 26. His family initially refused to give permission for autopsy before registration of FIR against the erring cops and announcement of compensation. They gave their nod after assurance from authorities.
After the press conference, Rizwan, who runs a mobile repair shop in Mangrol town of Baran district in Rajasthan and is now the sole bread-earner for the family, gave details about the incident.
Talking to India Tomorrow, he said: “My father would run a kirana shop. He had a case in 1987, for which he was sentenced to four years imprisonment in 1993. He remained in jail for one and a half month before he was released on bail.”
In February 2018, a higher court upheld his conviction by the lower court. His bail was cancelled and he was sent behind bars in August last year.
“Since then he was in Baran district Jail. He was in Baran Jail till February 2019. He was Ok in jail. In the month of March he was admitted to New Medical College and Hospital in Kota when he fell ill. There in the prisoners’ ward he faced several difficulties,” said Rizwan.
“When my father fell ill, on 19th of April I went to see him. On-duty policemen misbehaved with us and didn’t allow us to meet him, we requested them but they did not allow. The next day when we requested them to allow us to meet my father, the doctors told us that the condition of my father was not good. On 20th April, my father was referred to Jaipur hospital. I personally went with him. The next day when his condition was stable he told me that one day in Kota he was beaten by the guards with pipes. He was abused for his religion. He was told not to offer ‘namaz’ there. He was not allowed to wear skull caps. On 25th of April he was referred to gastroenterology department. But against our will, the guards took him to Kota in a private ambulance. I opposed it, but they did not listen to me. He was taken to Kota from Jaipur where he died on the night of 26th April,” recalled Rizwan.
After the death, his family didn’t allow autopsy demanding registration of an FIR against the accused cops first. They were later sent to Police Lines.
However, Rizwan wants a murder case against them. At the press conference in Delhi, he demanded the case to be registered under section 302. As the family has no permanent source of income he demanded a govt. job for any member of the family and a compensation of Rs. 50 lacs. Ramzan is survived by wife and three daughters and three sons. Only eldest daughter is married. The youngest is 11-year-old son.
At the press conference organized by National Confederation of Human Rights Organizations (NCHRO), some eminent civil rights activists and lawyers were also present.
Prof. Apoorvanand said, “In such kind of incidents, we cannot expect justice through ordinary law process. Perhaps we need to think about some new processes. We are calling it a custodial killing, which it is. The incidents recently reported from Rajasthan and if you add the incident reported from Delhi, in which ‘Om’ was engraved on the back of a prisoner, show that the constitutional organizations are not on right track.”
He demanded special investigation in Ramzan’s case.
“The work of police is not to give punishment. Usually people think that the work of police is to punish people. The job of police is to maintain law and order. To punish is the job of the court. In the prison, police can’t punish, but they have to safeguard the prisoners. If this pious principle is violated in India then we have no right to call ours a civilized country. For the last few years we have been observing that people belonging to a specific religion are being targeted easily. Culprits have almost firm belief that they will not get punished. Rajasthan government, which claims to be a secular party’s government, should be questioned for this. The whole blame should be put on the government. This can’t be said that a guard has done this, but a government police officer of Rajasthan government has committed this crime,” said Prof. Apoorvanand and demanded a special investigation in this matter.
Addressing the press, Supreme Court lawyer Fuzail A Ayyubi said: “When we read details of such cases or go through the files having such heinous details, it is very painful. We can understand the suffering of the person who suffered that. Such incidents are happening despite clear laws and guidelines set by the Supreme Court. What to do when the accused are state officials themselves? Who will implement the laws? There is a need for engagement of civil society at larger level.”
Adv. Ansar Indori also spoke on the occasion.
Renowned social activist and member of United Against Hate, Nadeem Khan gave various instances of hate crimes and deaths in the police custody. He said, “On record, there are statements of the victim, but no FIR under section 302 has been registered. The kind of environment has been created in the country proves that this all is to gain political benefits”.
