Damodar Turi

Tribal Rights Defender

Jharkhand

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on March 12 regarding the arbitrary arrest of Mr. Damodar Turi on February 15, 2018 afternoon at Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Mr. Turi is a human rights defender and has been active in Jharkhand for many years. He has raised issues related to the forceful displacement of tribals. He is the convener of Jharkhand Visthapan Virodhi Jan Vikas Andolan (JVVJVA).

On February 15, 2018, a meeting was organized at Gossner Theological Hall, Ranchi, under a collective banner -- Loktantra Bachao Manch. After the meeting, Mr. Turi was going to media offices to distribute the press release when was been arrested by the police in Lower Bazar Police Station. He was kept all night in detention.

Mr. Turi was arrested in a case registered under Section 353 (obstructing a public servant from performing his duty) of the Indian Penal Code at mufassil police station in Giridih district on November 7, 2017. He was produced before the court and sent to 14-days judicial custody. It is been alleged by his wife that police are not allowing anyone to meet him in Giridhi Jail.