Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM)

Collective of Human Rights Defenders

West Bengal

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on December 23, 2019, regarding the hindrance caused by the Kolkata Police during the International Human Rights Day event organised by the Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), a prominent human rights organisation based in West Bengal. MASUM is a collective of human rights defenders working to enforce the rights of marginalised people and to minimize their systemic discrimination. MASUM is affiliated as a member and partner with organisations such as Forum Asia, the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), Redress, Human Rights Watch, Frontline Defenders etc.

MASUM has been celebrating International Human Rights Day by organising a human rights fair for the past 22 years. Various dignitaries, lawyers, human rights activists, academics, cultural performers and CSOs actively participated in the said fair this year. Justice (retd.) Asok Ganguly, former judge of the Supreme Court of India, also inaugurated two of his books during the event.

The cultural programme, which was taking place at Ranu Chhaya Mancha in Maidan in Kolkata, began around 12 noon with a song, followed by a speech by Mr. Dipyaman Adhikary, the Assistant Secretary of MASUM. At around 12.45 PM, a few policemen in plain clothes, without verified identity cards. arrived at the venue and stated that they are from Hastings Police Station. The MASUM members were asked to stop using the microphone in the event as no prior permission to use plugged sound had been taken. The HRDs informed them that an email seeking permission to organise the event was sent to the Commissioner, Joint Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners and Hastings Police Station of Kolkata on November 28, 2019, but no response had been received from any of the officers. 

The policeman said use of megaphone will only be allowed if members visit the Hastings Police Station immediately and submit a written application regarding the usage. The members of MASUM refused to go to the police station, and then were asked by the police HRDs to write an application there itself. As a token of protest and given that MASUM had already communicated on November 28, 2019, members of MASUM refused to submit the application and decided to continue the event without plugged sound. The event was initiated again with a megaphone and continued till 6:30 PM.