[Reader-list] WSS Statement- condemning assault on women undertrials in Mumbai

[asit das]

WSS Statement- condemning assault on women undertrials in Mumbai

*Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS), condemns the
assault <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault> on three women under-trials,
Angela Sontakey, 42, Sushma Ramteke, 22, and Jyoti Chorghe,19, in the
Mumbai<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai>District Women’s
Prison <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison> in
Byculla<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byculla>
.*

*On March 31 they witnessed an assault upon some other inmates by the
prison staff. When they tried to intervene, they too were attacked by the
staff. The jail authorities responded to their subsequent demand for an
apology by sending them into solitary confinement, without any medical
assistance before or after the confinement.*

*In addition to the assault, the women have complained that there have been
attempts to block their access to books, and to classes held in the prison
by non-government groups. Their books that included Mahatma
Gandhi<http://www.biography.com/people/mahatma-gandhi-9305898>‘s
biography and a pamphlet on prison rights have been confiscated, in
complete violation of their basic
rights<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights>as under-trials. They
claim that they are being targeted as they have
consistently raised their voice against practices of corruption rampant in
the jail, and on various problems faced by the
prisoners<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner>including access to
nutritional food. They have also referred to an
atmosphere of fear and terror of jail authorities among the prisoners. A
complaint has been filed by their lawyers demanding action against the
staff responsible for the assault, and to look into their demand for
wholesome food for all prisoners. *

* *

*We at WSS believe that issues of custodial treatment are of the utmost
importance and that prison authorities must not abuse the power they have
over prisoners.*

* *

*Angela Sontakey, Sushma Ramteke, and Jyoti Chorghe** completed one year in
jail on May 16th. In response to their consistent agitation for the rights
of the inmates of the Women’s Prison we at WSS demand*

* *

   - *·        A thorough investigation, and suitable punishment of those
   found guilty, in the incidents of assault upon all the women prisoners,
   including  Angela Sontakey, Sushma Ramteke, and Jyoti Chorghe, housed in
   the Mumbai District  Women’s Prison in Byculla.*

* *

   - *·        An investigation of the issues raised by these women such as
   the routine corruption in prison administration as well as the demands
   of bribes for access to resources and medical treatment.*

* *

   - *·        Provision of healthy, hygienic and nutritious food, apart
   from other basic amenities, to all women prisoners, as stipulated by law.
   *

* *

   - *·        Immediate halt to the use of ‘Solitary
confinement<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solitary_confinement>’
   - a provision in the jail manual meant to be used to punish or control
   errant prisoners - as a method of punishing under-trials or prisoners
   demanding their basic and legitimate rights.*

*
*

*Contact email* i*d: againstsexualviolence at gmail.**com *

*Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS) is a non-funded
effort started in November 2009, to put an end to the violence perpetrated
upon our bodies and societies. We are a nationwide network of women from
diverse political and social movements comprising of women’s
organizations, mass
organizations <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_party>, civil liberty
organizations, student and youth organizations, mass movements and
individuals. We unequivocally condemn state repression and sexual
violence<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_violence>on women by any
perpetrator (s).
*