http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/UP-tops-human-rights-violators-list/233312/
'UP tops human rights violators list ' Express news service Posted online: Sunday , October 28, 2007 Lucknow, October 27 August 13, Hardoi: A Dalit girl of Class VII is brutally beaten up. Her offence: She unknowingly touched a glass placed at her class teacher's table. Villagers lodge complaint against the teacher but to no avail. September 18, Suhao village in Ballia: Police beat up locals for protesting against shifting of a bank. Students and teachers of a school, and labourers working in a farm nearby also beaten up. These are two of the several cases, which were presented at the public hearing on human rights violation here in the state capital today. Organised by the People's Union for Human Rights, the public hearing was an example of how human rights are being violated everyday in the country. And according to former IPS officer S R Darapuri, who was one of the jury members, UP tops the list of human rights violators. Other members of the jury included Delhi University's S A R Gilani, former IAS Harish Chandra, legal expert Prashant Bhushan and social activists Arundhati Dhuru and Irfan Ahmed. Cases including the alleged rape case in Dhanadeeh in Shrawasti and the molestation in Hashimpura riots were also presented in front of the jury. Speaking on the occasion, Darapuri said that even though the state has a Dalit chief minister, yet, it tops the list of human rights violation and atrocities against Dalits. Barely 30 per cent of the cases are reported and FIR lodged, while the rest remain unheard, he added. Legal expert Prashant Bhushan said that incidents of violation could be seen all over the country and actions of the government only add to it the trauma. Cases from other states were also presented at the hearing. Irom Singhajit Singh, brother of Irom Sharmila, human rights activist from Manipur, was also present at the hearing. Sharmila has been protesting against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
