Front Line is deeply concerned that human rights defenders, Duskar Barik, Mamata Barik, Jayanti Sethy and Ranjan Patnaik currently fear arrest by police following reports that they have alleged links with armed Maoist groups. The above-mentioned human rights defenders all work for the Keonjhar Integrated Rural Development and Training Institute (KIRDTI), an organisation that campaigns for the land rights of adivasis, or indigenous populations, ecological protection from mining and illegal felling of woods, in Harichandanpur and Banspal Block of Keonjhar district in Orissa. KIRDTI is also involved in working on development activities with the 'Juang' tribal community.

Further Information

Posted 14/08/2008 On 11 July 2008, the above-mentioned human rights defenders were forced to leave the Keonjhar District as a result of reports they received that police in Keonjhar intended to arrest them for alleged links with armed Maoist groups. According to the information received by the four, the names of three women human rights defenders, Mamina Munda, Mamata Barik and Jayanti Sethy appear on the police witness statement in the case.

Between 2 July and 11 July 2008 three other members of KIRDTI, Ravi Majhi, Madhu Munda and Kanderam Hemram, were arrested and produced before the magistrate. The three members of KIRDTI have been charged under sections 294, 392, 397, 427, 435, 436, 458, 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections 25 and 27 of the Indian Arms Act. According to reports the four human rights defenders have been beaten by police and forced to sign documents stating that they are involved in Maoist activities. Mamina Munda was also arrested but was released two days later.

Front Line believes that Duskar Barik, Mamata Barik, Jayanti Sethy and Ranjan Patnaik, as well as all members of KIRDTI, have been targeted as a result of their legitimate work in the defence of human rights. Front Line is gravely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of all of the above-mentioned human rights defenders and believes that the attempts to link them to armed Maoist groups in fact constitutes an attempt to dissuade them from carrying on with their legitimate human rights activities in defence of the indigenous and tribal populations of Orissa. The harassment and persecution of members of KIRDTI has led to the effective cessation of activities of the organisation and resultant discontinuance of support to the communities with whom they work.