Ramjanam Kushwaha

HRD and social activist

Uttar Pradesh

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on July 13, 2021, regarding the externment of HRD Mr. Ramjanam Kushwaha by the Sonbhadra administration.

Mr. Ramjanam Kushwaha works for the rights of the Adivasi community over their lands, which are being forcefully confiscated by local feudal lords. 

Mr. Kushawaha has faced multiple FIRs and was even jailed once in 2001 for his activism for the rights of the Adivasi community. Mr. Kushwaha was instrumental in helping Adivasi villagers to file a complaint with the district magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police, Sonbhadra district on November 14, 2019, against the illegal grab of their land by the Gram Pradhan Mr. Ramdin.

On November 7, 2020, policemen approached him and handed over a paper and he was asked to sign it when he was working in the field. He was told by the police that he was externed. Mr. Kushwaha went to the Commissionerate office, Mirjapur on November 12, 2020 and submitted a written complaint against the illegal externment. 

Mr. Kushwaha is being harassed and charged with fake cases and externment by the police in collusion with local feudal lords for his work as an HRD for the rights of Adivasi communities. He has been categorically denied the opportunity to defend cases foisted against him and disprove the fabricated charges, which goes against the principle of natural justice and it violates his constitutional rights.