Kamal Munda

HRD

Khunti, Jharkhand 

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on April 12, 2021, regarding illegal detention, an arrest under fabricated charges, and custodial torture of HRD Kamal Munda by the Jharkhand Police. Mr. Munda is a member of Adivasi Adhikar Manch and was active in the Pattalgadhi movement, protesting against the abrogation of the rights of the gram sabha. 

Mr. Munda has opposed setting up of CRPF camp in Tima village without the consent of the gram sabha. He was intercepted by the police and CRPF personnel on February 19, 2021, and was told that he was required in the Maranghada police station for questioning. He was taken in a police vehicle without showing any arrest warrant or informing his family. His relatives went to different police stations and offices of the senior officials but were not informed about the whereabouts of Mr. Munda. 

Later, from media sources, they got to know that he was arrested in connection with an FIR filed in 2019 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. It even claimed that he was absconding, though he had visited the police station multiple times since this FIR was registered. Mr. Munda was brutally tortured with fists, batons, and boots by the police on February 19, 2021, after being illegally arrested and was sent to jail. 

Jharkhand Police didn’t follow any due process while arresting Mr. Munda. Further, him being subjected to custodial torture is in gross violation of national and international laws.