NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF PEOPLE'S

MOVEMENTS
National Office :6/6 Jangpura B, New Delhi 110 014 . Phone :011 2437 4535 | 9818905316
E-mail: napmindia@gmail.com | Web :www.napm-india.org
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th
Date: 11 May, 2017

To,
Shri Balram Das Tandon,
The Honble Governor,
Raj Bhawan,
Raipur, Chhattisgarh,

To,
Shri Raman Singh,
The Chief Minister,
Civil Lines, Raipur,
Chhattisgarh,

Sub: Revocation of suspension orders of upright, Dalit woman officer, Ms. Varsha
Dongre, Asst. Jail Superintendent, Raipur Central Jail and restoration of peace and
good government in the V Schedule adivasis areas of Bastar Reg.

Respected Balram Das Tandon ji and Shri Raman Singh ji,

We the undersigned, representing a large number of peoples movements and organizations, across India,
as the National Alliance Peoples Movements (NAPM), are writing to you with a deep sense of anguish
regarding the arbitrary suspension of a young and dynamic dalit woman officer of your state, since she
publicly expressed concerns over the serious human rights abuses of young adivasis girls in the jails of
Chhattisgarh.

You are already, we believe, aware of the facts of the matter, which are in public domain. The officer in
question, Ms. Varsha Dongre, Assistant Superintendent of Raipur Central Jail, published a post on her
personal Facebook account last week (which she later deleted), wherein she expressed pain over the
avoidable loss of lives (jawans, adivasis and Maoists) and stated that after all it is Indian citizens who are
being killed in this mayhem. She wrote about the general displacement in the V Schedule adivasis areas
and alienation of adivasis from land, forests and rivers, in violation of constitutional safeguards, for
corporate interests. She also shared her horrifying first-hand experience of witnessing the stripping,
electric shock, sexual and other forms of torture of minor adivasis girls in the police stations and jails,
including how the breasts of some of them were squeezed to check if they are lactating (and, therefore,
not Maoists!).

While we do re-iterate our condemnation of the recent killings of 25 CRPF Jawans by the Maoists and
express our heart-felt sympathies for the families of the deceased, we would also like to state that the
military counter-offensive to an essentially political problem is only jeopardizing the possibilities of
peace in the region, for the ordinary adivasis. The state government cannot ignore or be a party to the
gross violations of peoples rights in the name of combing operations and combating Naxalism. Varshas
post reinforces the worst face of this combat i.e. inhuman torture of young adivasis girls, which by no
stretch of argument can be justified.
We are of the considered opinion that akin to any other equal citizen of India, Varsha is entitled to her
views, as long as they are within the framework of the Constitution of India. Having seen her posts, we
are convinced that not only the views she put forth, but the manner in which she conveyed them were
also well-within the constitutional limits. Varsha has also raised very pertinent questions about the
developmental approach of the State which would never lead to resolution of the conflict, as long as the
adivasis are not respected as the primary stake holders and decision-makers in their development. Your
good selves are well-aware that the Honble Supreme Court, CBI, NHRC, National ST Commission have
in the past expressed serious concerns about the human rights violations in the Bastar region. Infact the
NHRC recently confirmed many of the grave allegations against the police and para-military in the state,
including the rape of 16 adivasi women and also directed payment of interim compensation, pending
further penal action.

We are pains to understand as to how Varshas post, which infact speaks of safeguarding the Constitution
in the interests of the adivasis, has violated the service and disciplinary rules. Her post does not in any
way reveal any departmental secrets or confidential state information. All that she has stated is
information available in public domain and also in reports of various authorities. Instead of going into a
defensive mode and suspending an upright officer who speaks from experience and concern for the law
of the land, we think it would be appropriate and necessary for the state government to initiate necessary
course-correction and to begin with, undertake a rapid inquiry into the serious allegations of torture of
adivasis girls and ensure that such instances are not repeated whether in jails or police stations and
wherever such instances have taken place, stringent action, as per law is guaranteed.

It has come to our notice that the preliminary investigative officer Mr K.K. Rai who was required to
probe the matter in seven days, gave Varsha only 2 days to file a reply, which she did, in the form of a
detailed 376-page counter, annexing directions of the Supreme Court, CBI, NHRC, Planning
Commissions Expert Group etc. We find it intriguing as to how the senior jail authorities issued a
suspension order, holding her face book post irresponsible, wrong, misleading and in violation of the
service rules and posted her at the Ambikapur Central Jail, before assessing her reply and giving her a full
hearing. Clearly, basic principles of natural justice seem to have been taken lightly by the state
government here.

We would infact like to know from you as to why senior officers like Mr. SRP Kalluri had a free hand in
using social media posts to vilify adivasis, human rights and peace activists and lawyers working in the
area and as to why till date the state government has not considered any effective disciplinary action
including suspension or charge-sheeting him (except transfer, that too after NHRCs multiple
interventions) ? Why no action on Mr. Indira Kalyan Elesela, SP of Sukma who stated, in the presence of
Mr. Kalluri that human rights activists should be crushed on the highway using advanced motor
vehicles. These differential approaches in dealing with officers give an impression that the state
government is primarily motivated by the questionable political policies and not by any service rules or
violations, thereof.

As an officer from a marginalized (SC) community, who has a proven record of high integrity, starting
with her very entry into the State service when she approached the Bilaspur High Court against
irregularities in the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission examination and selection process, Ms.
Varsha has demonstrated her concern for upholding the law. We find it necessary to quote the relevant
observations and directions by Honble Chief Justice Mr. Deepak Gupta of the Chhattisgarh High Court
while delivering an 88-page judgement on 26 th Aug, 2016 in Writ Petition No. 4028/2006, filed by Ms.
Varsha on the CPSC irregularities:

"The Petitioners have fought a long drawn out battle. It is only because of the persistence and
tenacity of the Petitioners, especially Ku. Varsha Dongre that these irregularities, acts of
corruption, nepotism, favouritism etc. have been brought out. Therefore, Chhattisgarh Public
Service Commission is burdened with costs of Rs.5,00,000/- in the writ petition of Petitioner Ku.
Varsha Dongre, which shall be paid to her and Rs. 2,00,000/- in the other writ petition where
both the Writ Petitioners will get Rs.1,00,000/- each. Exemplary costs have been awarded
 because of the totally false stand taken by the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission earlier
and its obstinacy in not correcting the mistakes for which permission was granted to it on its own
application by this Court vide order dated 26.10.2007.
Notably, even in her latest face book post, Varsha has only repeated her request to the state government to
ensure implementation of constitutional safeguards in the V Schedule adivasis areas. Such officers, we
earnestly feel, must be valued and their concerns, which are in the interest of the people and rule of law
must be addressed; rather than being harassed in this manner. In the light of the above, we urge you to
consider this matter in utmost seriousness and immediately ensure:

a) Revocation of the suspension orders of Ms. Varsha Dongre and her re-instation at the
Raipur Central Jail.
b) An independent inquiry by a Retired High Court Judge into the allegations levelled by Ms.
Varsha, especially torture of adivasis girls at the police stations and in jails.
c) Peace and good government in the adivasi areas of Bastar, as mandated by the Constitution
of India and scaling down of military offensive with a parallel initiative to build peace in the
region with the involvement of local adivasis, human rights and social organizations.

We look forward to a response to this letter and immediate action as requested.

Thanking You and with regards,

Signed by the National Team of Advisors, Convenors and Special

Invitees of NAPM
Medha Patkar, Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA)
and National Alliance of Peoples Movements
(NAPM)
Aruna Roy, Nikhil Dey and Shankar
Singh Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS)
and National Campaign for Peoples Right to
Information and NAPM
Prafulla Samantara, - Lok Shakti Abhiyan &
NAPM, Odisha;
Lingraj Azad Samajwadi Jan Parishad -
Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti, NAPM, Odisha;
Binayak Sen and Kavita Srivastava, Peoples
Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL)
Sandeep Pandey, Socialist Party and NAPM,
Uttar Pradesh
Sudhir Vombatkere, Senior Activist, NAPM,
Karnataka
Gabriele Dietrich, Penn Urimay Iyakkam,
Madurai and NAPM, TN;
Geetha Ramakrishnan, Unorganised Sector
Workers Federation, NAPM, TN;
Arul Doss, NAPM Tamil Nadu
Arundhati Dhuru, Nandlal Master, Manesh
Gupta - NAPM, UP;
Richa Singh, Sangatin Kisan Mazdoor
Sangathan, NAPM-UP
Vilayodi Venugopal, CR Neelakandan and Prof.
Kusumam, NAPM, Kerala
Vimal Bhai - Matu Jan Sangathan, NAPM-
Uttarakhand & Jabar Singh, NAPM,
Uttarakhand;
Sister Celia - Domestic Workers Union & NAPM,
Karnataka;
Rukmini V P, Garment Labour Union, NAPM,
Karnataka;
Anand Mazgaonkar, Krishnakant - Paryavaran
Suraksh Samiti, NAPM Gujarat;
Kamayani Swami, Ashish Ranjan Jan Jagran
Shakti Sangathan & NAPM Bihar;
Mahendra Yadav Kosi Navnirman
Manch, NAPM Bihar;
Sister Dorothy, NAPM Bihar
Dayamani Barla, Aadivasi-Moolnivasi Astivtva
Raksha Samiti, NAPM Jharkhand
Dr. Sunilam and Adv. Aradhna Bhargava
- Kisan Sangharsh Samiti NAPM Madhya Pradesh
Bhupender Singh Rawat Jan Sangharsh Vahini,
NAPM, Delhi
Rajendra Ravi, Nanu Prasad, Madhuresh
Kumar, Amit Kumar, Himshi Singh, Uma
Kapari, Zaved Mazumder, NAPM, Delhi
Faisal Khan, Khudai Khidmatgar, NAPM
Haryana
J S Walia, NAPM Haryana;
Kailash Meena, NAPM Rajasthan;
Amitava Mitra & Avik Saha, NAPM West
Bengal;
P. Chennaiah, Andhra Prdaesh Vyavasaya
Vruttidarulua Union (APVVU) and NAPM-AP
Ramakrishnam Raju, United Forum for RTI and
NAPM, AP
Suniti SR, Suhas Kolhekar, Prasad Bagwe
- NAPM, Maharashtra;
Gautam Bandopadhyay, NAPM, Chhattisgarh
Anjali Bharadwaj, National Campaign for
Peoples Right to Information and NAPM
Kaladas Dahariya, RELAA, NAPM,
Chhattisgarh
Bilal Khan, Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan,
Mumbai,
Meera Sanghamitra, NAPM Telangana-AP