India
09.02.04
Urgent Interventions
India: death threats to Mr. James T. Godwin and kidnapping of Ms. Violet Godwin
Case IND 090204
Death Threats / Kidnapping / Risk to personal integrity / Impunity
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Asian
Human Rights Commission (AHRC), a member of the OMCT network, of the
death threats received by Mr. James T. Godwin of Mahim, Mubai, India,
along with the kidnapping of his sister, Ms. Violet Godwin.
According to the information received, Mr. Godwin has challenged the
corruption in the society for several years and has filed various
complaints with the Mahim Police Station regarding the illegal
activities carried out by the Mahim Police in alleged connivance with
the building construction mafia, yet no serious action has been taken
by either the police or the high authorities, and he and his family
are now being threatened and harassed. His sister, Ms. Violet Godwin,
was also active in reporting police corruption, and on December 15th,
2002, she was reportedly kidnapped from Gopi Tank Fish Market in
Mumbai. The police are allegedly delaying the investigation, despite
the a High Court order that was issued to immediately conduct an
inquiry into the matter. Since the kidnapping, Mr. Godwin has
reportedly received numerous death threats from both the police
officers and the construction mafia.
According to the information received, Ms. Violet Godwin is a
journalist and has reported about corruption at the Mahim Police
Station, notably concerning verification of passport applications.
She lodged a complaint at the police station and as a result of the
inquiry senior police officials of Mumbai police, Assistant
Commissioner of Police Mr. Bhosle, Senior Police Inspector Mr. J.
Shastri and two police constables were suspended from service. Soon
after the incident, on December 15th, 2002, Ms. Violet was reportedly
kidnapped and her whereabouts are still unknown. Given the now-
lengthy period for which she has disappeared, OMCT has grave fears
that she may have been killed.
Several complaints were made by the Godwin family with the local
police station and with the higher authorities, but to no avail. The
family also obtained an order from the Maharashtra High Court, in
which the police were ordered to conduct an immediate inquiry,
however the police have reportedly failed to take appropriate action.
The letters written by the Godwin family addressed to Mr. Deepak
Gajool of Kurla Division, the supervising officer of the inquiry,
were also never responded to. A legal notice addressed to the same
officer was replied to only after one month.
The complaints of Mr. James T. Godwin (resident of Flat No.16, 3rd
Floor, Union House No.2, off L.J.Road, Mogul Lane, Mahim, Mumbai-400
016, India) include drug peddling, illegal cutting of trees and
violation of the Bombay Municipal Corporation Act and the Development
Control Rules regarding construction of buildings. The builders are
violating all safety norms and, reportedly as a result of this, a
laborer died at the construction site.
After his complaints about the illegal activities of the construction
mafia, Mr. Godwin was approached by the local Member of Legislative
Assembly (M.L.A.) Mr. Suresh Gambir who offered him cash in return
for his abandoning the complaints. Mr. Godwin refused to accept and
was later threatened by politicians, policemen and businessmen with
having him charged in false cases. The builders also threw stones at
Mr. Godwin's house, and his car was stolen from the parking lot near
his house. The local M.L.A also published false news about Mr. Godwin
in localmagazines (which Mr. Godwin has issued lawyer notice
against), and in association with the M.L.A, Mr. V.B Chandanshive,
the senior police inspector of Mahim police station has given false
information about Mr. Godwin and his family.
Mr. Godwin has approached the National Human Rights Commission and
the Lokayut through his letter dated on 13 May 2003 for initiating
appropriate action. However this action brought in more retaliation
from the Mahim police and now they are threatening Mr. Godwin and his
family with dire consequences if he does not withdraw his complaints,
giving rise to increasing concerns for the personal integrity Mr.
Godwin and his family.
The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned for the
physical and psychological integrity of Ms. Violet Godwin, who has
disappeared since December 15th,
2002, and that of Mr. James Godwin and his family, who are under
constant harassment and who have received death threats. OMCT calls
on the Indian authorities to
guarantee the Godwin family's full protection. Furthermore, the
release of Ms. Violet and an investigation into her kidnapping should
occur as soon as possible.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in India urging them to:
i. take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and
psychological integrity of Ms. Violet Godwin, who has disappeared
since December 15th, 2002, and of
Mr. James Godwin and his family;
ii. order a thorough and impartial investigation into the
circumstances of these events, notably the death threats, kidnapping
and more generally the wide-ranging
corruption allegations, in order to identify those responsible, bring
them to trial and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative
sanctions as provided by law;
iii. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental
freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and
international human rights
standards.
Addresses
· Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Office of
the Chief Minister, Mantralaya, Mumbai 400 023, INDIA, FAX: + 91-22-
23631446, E-mail:
chiefminister@maharashtra.gov.in
· Justice Shri Arivind Sawant, Chairperson, Maharashtra Human Rights
Commission, Mumbai, INDIA, Fax: +91 22 2885858
· Dr. P.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President, Office of the President,
Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi, 110004, INDIA, Fax: +91-11-23017290,
23014570,
Email: presssecy@alpha.nic.in. presidentofindia@rb.nic.in or
Pressecy@Sansad.nic.in
· Shri Justice A S Anand, Chairperson National Human Rights
Commission of India, Sardar Patel Bhawan Sansad Marg, New Delhi - 110
001
INDIA, Fax: +91 11 2334 0016, E-Mail: chairnhrc@nic.in
· Ministry of Home Affairs, North Block, Central Secretariat, New
Delhi - 110 001, Fax: +91 23093750, 23092763, E-mail:
websitemhaweb@mha.nic.in
· Ambassadeur Puri Hardeep Singh, Rue du Valais 9 (6ème), CH-1202,
Genève, Suisse, E-mail: mission.india@ties.itu.int, Fax: +4122 906 86
96
Please also write to the embassies of India in your respective
country.
Geneva, February 9th, 2004
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this
appeal in your reply.
Death Threats / Kidnapping / Risk to personal integrity / Impunity
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Asian
Human Rights Commission (AHRC), a member of the OMCT network, of the
death threats received by Mr. James T. Godwin of Mahim, Mubai, India,
along with the kidnapping of his sister, Ms. Violet Godwin.
According to the information received, Mr. Godwin has challenged the
corruption in the society for several years and has filed various
complaints with the Mahim Police Station regarding the illegal
activities carried out by the Mahim Police in alleged connivance with
the building construction mafia, yet no serious action has been taken
by either the police or the high authorities, and he and his family
are now being threatened and harassed. His sister, Ms. Violet Godwin,
was also active in reporting police corruption, and on December 15th,
2002, she was reportedly kidnapped from Gopi Tank Fish Market in
Mumbai. The police are allegedly delaying the investigation, despite
the a High Court order that was issued to immediately conduct an
inquiry into the matter. Since the kidnapping, Mr. Godwin has
reportedly received numerous death threats from both the police
officers and the construction mafia.
According to the information received, Ms. Violet Godwin is a
journalist and has reported about corruption at the Mahim Police
Station, notably concerning verification of passport applications.
She lodged a complaint at the police station and as a result of the
inquiry senior police officials of Mumbai police, Assistant
Commissioner of Police Mr. Bhosle, Senior Police Inspector Mr. J.
Shastri and two police constables were suspended from service. Soon
after the incident, on December 15th, 2002, Ms. Violet was reportedly
kidnapped and her whereabouts are still unknown. Given the now-
lengthy period for which she has disappeared, OMCT has grave fears
that she may have been killed.
Several complaints were made by the Godwin family with the local
police station and with the higher authorities, but to no avail. The
family also obtained an order from the Maharashtra High Court, in
which the police were ordered to conduct an immediate inquiry,
however the police have reportedly failed to take appropriate action.
The letters written by the Godwin family addressed to Mr. Deepak
Gajool of Kurla Division, the supervising officer of the inquiry,
were also never responded to. A legal notice addressed to the same
officer was replied to only after one month.
The complaints of Mr. James T. Godwin (resident of Flat No.16, 3rd
Floor, Union House No.2, off L.J.Road, Mogul Lane, Mahim, Mumbai-400
016, India) include drug peddling, illegal cutting of trees and
violation of the Bombay Municipal Corporation Act and the Development
Control Rules regarding construction of buildings. The builders are
violating all safety norms and, reportedly as a result of this, a
laborer died at the construction site.
After his complaints about the illegal activities of the construction
mafia, Mr. Godwin was approached by the local Member of Legislative
Assembly (M.L.A.) Mr. Suresh Gambir who offered him cash in return
for his abandoning the complaints. Mr. Godwin refused to accept and
was later threatened by politicians, policemen and businessmen with
having him charged in false cases. The builders also threw stones at
Mr. Godwin's house, and his car was stolen from the parking lot near
his house. The local M.L.A also published false news about Mr. Godwin
in localmagazines (which Mr. Godwin has issued lawyer notice
against), and in association with the M.L.A, Mr. V.B Chandanshive,
the senior police inspector of Mahim police station has given false
information about Mr. Godwin and his family.
Mr. Godwin has approached the National Human Rights Commission and
the Lokayut through his letter dated on 13 May 2003 for initiating
appropriate action. However this action brought in more retaliation
from the Mahim police and now they are threatening Mr. Godwin and his
family with dire consequences if he does not withdraw his complaints,
giving rise to increasing concerns for the personal integrity Mr.
Godwin and his family.
The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned for the
physical and psychological integrity of Ms. Violet Godwin, who has
disappeared since December 15th,
2002, and that of Mr. James Godwin and his family, who are under
constant harassment and who have received death threats. OMCT calls
on the Indian authorities to
guarantee the Godwin family's full protection. Furthermore, the
release of Ms. Violet and an investigation into her kidnapping should
occur as soon as possible.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in India urging them to:
i. take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and
psychological integrity of Ms. Violet Godwin, who has disappeared
since December 15th, 2002, and of
Mr. James Godwin and his family;
ii. order a thorough and impartial investigation into the
circumstances of these events, notably the death threats, kidnapping
and more generally the wide-ranging
corruption allegations, in order to identify those responsible, bring
them to trial and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative
sanctions as provided by law;
iii. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental
freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and
international human rights
standards.
Addresses
· Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Office of
the Chief Minister, Mantralaya, Mumbai 400 023, INDIA, FAX: + 91-22-
23631446, E-mail:
chiefminister@maharashtra.gov.in
· Justice Shri Arivind Sawant, Chairperson, Maharashtra Human Rights
Commission, Mumbai, INDIA, Fax: +91 22 2885858
· Dr. P.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President, Office of the President,
Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi, 110004, INDIA, Fax: +91-11-23017290,
23014570,
Email: presssecy@alpha.nic.in. presidentofindia@rb.nic.in or
Pressecy@Sansad.nic.in
· Shri Justice A S Anand, Chairperson National Human Rights
Commission of India, Sardar Patel Bhawan Sansad Marg, New Delhi - 110
001
INDIA, Fax: +91 11 2334 0016, E-Mail: chairnhrc@nic.in
· Ministry of Home Affairs, North Block, Central Secretariat, New
Delhi - 110 001, Fax: +91 23093750, 23092763, E-mail:
websitemhaweb@mha.nic.in
· Ambassadeur Puri Hardeep Singh, Rue du Valais 9 (6ème), CH-1202,
Genève, Suisse, E-mail: mission.india@ties.itu.int, Fax: +4122 906 86
96
Please also write to the embassies of India in your respective
country.
Geneva, February 9th, 2004
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this
appeal in your reply.