In recent events unfolding in Chhattisgarh, the arrest and treatment of activist Suneeta Pottam have raised serious concerns about the state of human rights and the rule of law in our society. Ms. Pottam, a vocal advocate against police brutality and injustice in her community, has faced repeated harassment and intimidation for her activism. Her relentless efforts to expose instances of torture, sexual assault, and extrajudicial killings by authorities have made her a target of persecution rather than protection.

The most recent incident occurred on June 3, 2024, when Ms. Pottam was forcibly taken from her residence in Raipur by plainclothes police personnel. Witnesses report that she was dragged on the floor and transported in an unregistered vehicle, all without a proper warrant or due process. This flagrant disregard for legal procedures, including the failure to inform her family or colleagues about her whereabouts for hours, reflects a gross violation of her rights as guaranteed by both Indian constitutional law and international human rights standards.

The arrest of Ms. Pottam not only violates the fundamental right to liberty and due process enshrined in Article 21 of the Indian Constitution but also runs counter to international norms such as Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to life, liberty, and security of person.

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

• Direct the Director General of Investigation of the NHRC to initiate a transparent, independent inquiry in the illegal arrest and false cases on HRD Suneeta Pottam and submit the report to NHRC within two weeks.
• Based on the inquiry, order the DGP of Chhattisgarh, to take immediate and strict action against all the errant policemen including the DSP Garima Dadar, and other police personnel, who were involved in violating the DK Basu Guidelines and the law and submit a report to the NHRC within four weeks.
• Provide complete physical and psychological security to Ms. Suneeta Pottam to protect him from future assault, abduction and intimidation by the UP police.