Ba Singh Hassa

HRD

Jharkhand 

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on October 11, 2021 regarding the illegal detention, entrapment and arrest of HRD Mr. Ba Singh Hassa and others by Jharkhand Police and administrative officials. 

Mr. Hass is associated with Adivasi Adhikar Manch, a civil society group that protects land, forest and water rights of indigenous people. 

An FIR was filed against 8-10 unidentified persons who were accused of murder of Mr. Ganju Munda and Ms. Sanika Munda in the 2018. In 2019, police included the names of Mr. Ba Singh Hassa, his brothers and cousins and other villagers among the accused. 

On September 27, 2019 Mr. Jaydeep Toppo, officer in charge at Khunti Police Station, visited Mr. Hassa’s residence with 10-12 other policemen took him to Khunti Police Station. There the HRD was detained and tortured by the police. 

On July 14, 2021, Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) Mr. Sayyed Riyaj Ahmed issued a notice under Section 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure based on disturbing the peace and security in the area. On July 22, 2021 all 25 persons were asked to report to the SDO court in Khunti and show cause why they should not be asked to furnish a bond of Rs 50,000 and two supporting witnesses. On the 24 September, when the HRDs appeared before the SDO, Mr. Ahmed, he asked them not to leave the court without his permission and he called someone and said three absconding accused in the murder case were sitting in front of him. Khunti PS, officer in charge, Mr. B Thakur reached the court in civil clothes with three other policemen in uniform and arrested HRDs from inside the court premises. Their families or relatives were not informed nor were the HRDs shown an arrest warrant. 

This indicates that the action against Mr. Hassa and others is an act of political influence and violates their freedom of speech, expression, and assembly, which are guaranteed under national and international legal frameworks.