Front Line is deeply concerned following the attack against, and arrest of, human rights defender Arumugam Katuraja Kanagaraj. Arumugam Katuraja Kanagaraj is the District Human Rights Monitor in the Salem district, Tamil Nadu, of the National Project on Preventing Torture in India which is coordinated by People's Watch and sponsored by the European Union. Arumugam Katuraja Kanagaraj has also campaigned for the protection of the human rights of the Dalit minority community in the Salem district.

Further Information

Posted 22/02/2008 On 15 February 2008, at approximately 7.30am, Arumugam Katuraja Kanagaraj was attacked at his home in Ganaesapuram by persons working for the Panchayat President of Vellalapatti, Mr Moorthy. Following the beating he was taken to the house of Mr Moorthy where he was reportedly subject to further beatings. He was then handed over to police officials from Ethapur Police Station.

Mr Moorthy has reportedly filed charges against Arumugam Katuraja Kanagaraj relating to the case of a local boy and an under-age girl whom he is accused of having assisted to elope, as well as allegedly breaking into the Panchayat President's home with the intention of killing both him and his wife. Arumugam Katuraja Kanagaraj has not yet been officially charged. His unidentified assailants have reportedly threatened to kill him on his return to the village, and also threatened members of his community against bearing witness to the attack. Arumugam Katuraja Kanagaraj is currently at the Government Hospital in the Salem district where he is undergoing treatment due to injuries sustained during the beatings.

Arumugam Katuraja Kanagaraj has spoken out publicly against reported irregularities involving the Panchayat President during the past year, in particular with regard to his suspected embezzling of funds that had been allocated to infrastructure projects in the Salem district as well as reports that the Panchayat President has been receiving bribes to redistribute housing plots allocated by the Government to members of the Dalit minority community. In addition, the National Project on Preventing Torture in India has reportedly come under considerable scrutiny by local police due to its focus of ending impunity and uncovering corruption at the local levels of government in India.

Front Line believes that Arumugam Katuraja Kanagaraj has been targeted as a result of his legitimate human rights activities, in particular his work to end impunity and defend the human rights of the Dalit minority community in India. Front Line expresses concern for the security and physical and psychological integrity of Arumugam Katuraja Kanagaraj, as well as that of his family members and all members of the National Project on Preventing Torture in India.