Soni Sori

Human Rights Defender

Chhattisgarh

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on August 5, 2020 regarding the threat to life and restriction of movement of Ms. Soni Sori. Ms. Sori is an internationally known HRD and a recipient of the Front Line Defenders Award in 2018. She was subjected to police brutality and provided with Y-category security by the Chhattisgarh government in view of threats to her life.

On June 28, 2020, police prevented Ms. Sori from attending a programme to commemorate the tribal movement in Chhattisgarh. As the programme was planned in advance, she had given notice to the police regarding attending the event and had applied for all relevant permissions. A day before the programme, she was denied permission, and had to cancel the programme, which created much last-minute confusion.

On June 29, 2020, police refused to allow her to meet her sick father and participate in a rally by tribal women, in which her attendance was necessary. A car without a number plate followed Ms. Sori the same day and tried to hit her vehicle when she tried to stop it. This incident frightened her and she feels that she is being targeted by the state police, who is monitoring her activities to restrict her movement. 

Though Ms. Sori informs in advance about all her activities in writing, as directed by the police, the police is misusing the information to restrict her activities as an HRD. The Y-category security given to her is being misused by authorities.