Kamal Shukla, a 57-year-old senior journalist from Chhattisgarh, has been a vocal advocate for human rights, particularly concerning Adivasi rights and police accountability. As the editor of Bhumkaal Samachar, he has actively exposed extrajudicial killings and corruption within the police force, making him a frequent target of threats and attacks.

On the night of October 31, 2024, a shop illegally storing LPG cylinders and firecrackers in Kanker City caught fire, causing explosions and endangering public safety. Shukla had previously warned local police about the shop’s hazardous storage, but no action was taken. When he rushed to the police station at 10:30 PM to report the incident, he was informed that no officers were present. Upon insisting that the constables call their superiors, he was assaulted—slapped repeatedly, breaking his spectacles and causing a blood clot in his left eye.

The following day, he was admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital, Kanker, for treatment. On November 2, Shukla filed a complaint with the police inspector, demanding an FIR against the constables. Local journalists, outraged by the attack, escalated the issue to the Superintendent of Police and later, on November 6, collectively petitioned the Governor of Chhattisgarh for action. Despite protests and appeals, no action has been taken against the responsible officers.

This assault on Kamal Shukla highlights the misuse of power by law enforcement to suppress dissent and silence human rights defenders. Attacks on journalists who expose corruption and injustice are a blatant violation of press freedom and human rights. The Human Rights Defenders Alert (HRDA) strongly condemns such actions, emphasizing that torture in any form is illegal under national and international law.

Appeal:

We urge the Hon’ble Commission to take cognisance of the above case and urgently:

• To direct the Investigation Division of the NHRC  or a dedicated Special Rapporteur or Special Monitor of the commission to conduct an independent enquiry and submit a report to the NHRC within two weeks.
• To direct the Director General of Police, Chhattisgarh, to produce all CCTV footage of the Kanker City Police Station from 10.00 PM to 12.00 PM on 31.10.2024 and copies of all relevant documents pertaining to the assault on Senior Journalist Kamal Shukla for an independent examination by the Hon’ble Commission as directed by the Supreme Court in Paramvir Singh Saini V. Baljit Singh and others (2021) 1 SCC 184.