Human rights defender Ajimuddin Sarkar facing threats and judicial harassment
On 27 June 2024, police officers from the Raninagar police station visited the residence of human rights defender Ajimuddin Sarkar in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal. Although Ajimuddin Sarkar was not present at the time, his family members were informed that a case would be registered against him in connection with a local dispute involving his brother.
Ajimuddin Sarkar is a 63-year-old human rights defender based in West Bengal. He works as a District Human Rights Monitor for Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) and is involved in documenting human rights violations in the Murshidabad district, including torture, extrajudicial executions, and deaths in custody by the Border Security Force (BSF) and the police. He also documents and responds to incidents of trafficking and violence against women and plays a crucial role in providing medical and legal support to victims of torture and police violence
On 27 June 2024, police officers from the Raninagar police station visited the residence of human rights defender Ajimuddin Sarkar in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal. Although Ajimuddin Sarkar was not present at the time, his family members were informed that a case would be registered against him in connection with a local dispute involving his brother
Ajimuddin Sarkar is a 63-year-old human rights defender based in West Bengal. He works as a District Human Rights Monitor for Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) and is involved in documenting human rights violations in the Murshidabad district, including torture, extrajudicial executions, and deaths in custody by the Border Security Force (BSF) and the police. He also documents and responds to incidents of trafficking and violence against women and plays a crucial role in providing medical and legal support to victims of torture and police violence.
On 27 June 2024, Ajimuddin Sarkar attended a hearing for a criminal case pending against him at the Lalbagh ACJM court. When he returned home at around 7 PM, the human rights defender found approximately 20-25 police officers at his residence. The officers left before he could inquire about their visit. However, his family was informed that a case would be registered against him in connection with a local dispute involving his brother. Subsequently, the sub-inspector of Raninagar police station in Murshidabad confirmed that a new criminal case had been registered against Ajimuddin Sarkar. While the present incident appears to be linked to a local dispute, the filing of baseless criminal cases against him is part of a pattern of legal persecution related to his human rights work, which also impacts his safety within his local community.
Previously, Ajimuddin Sarkar has been falsely accused in six cases, including serious charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. In 2013, he was accused in two cases after he helped organize a medical camp for victims of torture in Murshidabad. That same year, he was severely tortured in police custody at the Raninagar police station, for which he was recommended compensation by the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRCI).
Ajimuddin Sarkar has informed the NHRCI, the Superintendent of Police of Murshidabad, and the Raninagar police station of the continuous harassment he has been subjected to because of his human rights work.
Front Line Defenders is extremely concerned for the physical safety and well-being of Ajimuddin Sarkar due to the persistent harassment he faces. The human rights defender has serious underlying medical conditions that are worsened by the repeated trauma and targeting by police. He is unable to continue his human rights work peacefully due to the reprisals and threat of false legal cases. His targeting is part of the systemic persecution faced by human rights defenders, especially those linked to MASUM in Wes Bengal state.
Front Line Defenders calls on Indian authorities to immediately cease the reprisals and legal persecution against Ajimuddin Sarkar and to guarantee his safety in India.
