SONI SORI, THE STATE FUCKS YOU

Branding the person with an indisputable, unquestionable tag of being a Maoist or a terrorist, is today , the most convenient and fashionable justification to imprison or to torture someone. The distinctly different terms are often used synonymously. This formula used by the state to subjugate and target innocents, is an old tactic that has been in existence since the origin of the State. The well constructed frame is capable of shattering any evolving political uprising or human rights agitation. You can torture, encounter, mercilessly kill and dump the body into a stinking gutter if you are armed with this formula.

Niranjalli Varma

Scores of people languishing in jail have the immutable, indelible, eternal Maoist insignia impressed upon them by a callous State’s draconian, undemocratic laws. It is as easy as throwing the net to capture a handful of headstrong, free spirited, wild mustangs; branding them with red hot burning iron rods and adding them to an existing herd, to breed, feed or slaughter as per the fancy of the owner. Like the horse that carries the mark for a life time, these innocent Aadivasi’s or so called Maoist sympathizers are “rounded up”, whenever it suits the state; to be thrown behind iron bars and to be blamed as the convenient scapegoat. They finally become the play toy of the State, the changing governments and authorities to torture at will. Prisons are crowded with such Aadvasi people, many of whom have no idea what their crime is.

Branding the person with an indisputable, unquestionable tag of being a Maoist or a terrorist, is today , the most convenient and fashionable justification to imprison or to torture someone.The distinctly different terms are often used synonymously. This formula used by the state to subjugate and target innocents is an old tactic that has been in existence since the origin of the State. The well constructed frame is capable of shattering any evolving political uprising or human right agitation. You can torture, encounter, mercilessly kill and dump the body into a stinking gutter if you are armed with this formula. It is the panacea, the wonder drug that can cure all the problems faced by the state. In India which movement or human rights activist has escaped from the death like clasp of this labeling? The Government or the State either directly or through other agents embosses the Maoist label. It makes us wonder, are these branding agencies that are desperately trying to contain the protest movements the ‘Maoists’?

Soni Sori a thirty six year old Aadivasi teacher and a mother of three young children from the Bastar district of Chattisgarh was arrested on October 4, 2011. She was handed over to the Chattisgarh police. Since then the innocent teacher has been a victim to gruesome abuse and torture while in custody by the police and authorities. Stones were shoved up her vagina and rectum to force a confession out of her that validates the allegations of her being a Maoist courier and sympathizer. Soni Sori faces the charge of helping Maoist rebels and exhorting money from a corporate mining firm. The same allegations were slapped on her as those that were imposed on the human rights activist, Dr Binayak Sen. Soni Sori is yet another unfortunate prey hunted down by the grey hounds. She is a number to the expanding herd of branded Maoists. The Chattisgarh government has accused more than 40 human rights activists of being Maoists.

Even as pressure was mounting on the authorities to initiate an impartial investigation into the charges leveled by Soni Sori; the State in recognition of the patriotism, bravery and courage exhibited at the time of crisis, awarded Mr Ankit Garg, Superintendent of Police who stripped, molested, verbally abused, sexually tortured, assaulted  and shoved stones up the private parts of Soni Sori, with the highest honour- the Presidents Police Medal for Gallantry on 26^th January 2012- the day that marks the 63^rdRepublic Day of India.

Soni Sori’s family has also been a target of harassment and continuous attacks. She and her family have been the convenient dart board for both the authorities and the Maoists who playfully throw darts and torture them whenever and however it suits them. Her father was shot in the leg by Maoists, her husband has been in jail for almost a year and her nephew was arrested in September 2011 for being a Maoist sympathizer. Her children who need support are living as abandoned orphans.

Soni sori is today a prisoner of conscience because she is being held in prison solely for criticizing the human rights violation committed by security forces, the civil militia – the Salwa Judum and the armed Maoists.

Several International Human Rights commissions such as Amnesty international and National Human rights commissions has taken up her case for they are appalled and shocked by the human rights violation and torture that she was subjected to. In protest Amnesty presented the State with virtual garlands of shame as they continue to foster a culture of impunity.

Except for some facebook intellectuals Soni Sori is still a non existing figure in Kerala. Soni Sori’s ordeal is a revival of the horrors witnessed during the emergency period. “ If lathi had reproductive capacity I would have been able to give birth to lathi babies”-The youth of Kerala has grown listening to these brave words of outburst of Gowriyamma who was subjected to similar torture during emergency period by a repressive dictatorial state. The story of Soni Sori the tribal teacher is one that cannot go unnoticed.

In order to comprehend the intense pain suffered by the Adivasi woman we publish her letters on next page..

SONI SORI, THE STATE FUCKS YOU

What could I do? I thought that going to jail is better than this. The Judge Madam did not hear me out, did not talk to me and just sent me off to jail.

Letter 1:

I bore the pain quietly, all by myself. Whom could I tell ? There was no one that was on my side there.

Excerpts read out from her letters written in jail.
On Sunday, October 9 2011, I bore the pain quietly, all by myself. Whom could I tell ? there was no one that was on my side there.

A letter to the Supreme Court advocate sir,

When I was sleeping I was woken up by two policewomen. I asked them, why am I being woken up? I was told that SP Ankit Garg had come. I was taken to another room. In that room, SP Ankit Garg and the SDPO of Kirandul police Station were seated. After a while the two policewomen were asked to leave the room.They were told “whatever is happening in this room should stay in this room.” “If word gets out, you know very well what will happen to you.” Constable Mankar and Basant were called.” Bitch you should know the plan was hatched by us together and it looks like the plan is yielding success.” He told Mankar, “Son you have acted very bravely.I am happy with you.” “Bitch do you know who I am? I am SP Ankit Garg who used to be in Bijapur and I am soon going to be promoted from an SP to an official of the big range.” He banged on the table and said, “Everything happens from here. Whatever we order will be carried out. We are the administration, authority and government. Do you understand , you bitch? How will you defame Mankar? He will now be given a promotion.” I was asked to sign on some papers and was asked to write down some things. When I refused, I was pressured through stern talk. I still refused. They started giving me electric current on my feet legs and clothes. Garg said, “Write a letter saying that Himanshu, Swami Agnivesh, Prashanth Bhushan, Colin, Lingaram, Kavita Srivastav, Medha Patkar, Arundhati Roy, Nandini Sundar, Manish Kunjam, Rama Sodhi, the owner of Essar company are all Naxal supporters.” I was asked to write that Linga and I used to send news from here to Delhi and that I went to Delhi since they had asked me to come. I was asked to give in writing that the Essar company officials used to always give money to Naxalites through Manish Kunjam, Rama Sodhi and me. This is the way in which we used to help the Naxalites. I did not write such a letter nor did I sign the papers on which they had written. I told them that I am willing to die but I have not committed any crime and I will also not write about people you are asking me to write about. I told them that it is better that they kill me. After repeatedly giving me electric shocks, my clothes were taken off. I was made to stand naked. SP Ankit Garg was watching me, sitting on his chair. While looking at my body, he abused me in filthy language and humiliated me. He sent three boys. These boys started molesting me and I fell after they pushed me. Then they put things inside my body in a brutal manner. I couldn’t bear the pain. I was almost unconscious. After a long time, I regained consciousness and found myself in the room in which I had slept.

On the morning of Monday October 10, 2011, the women police told me to freshen up since I had to be taken to court. I drank some tea and slowly got up and went to the bathroom. After a while I felt dizzy and fell down. As soon as I fell in the bathroom I became unconscious. Then, they took me from the Dantewada police station to the Dantewada hospital. After a long time I regained consciousness. After regaining consciousness my pains had increased and I could neither stand up, nor could I get off the bed. I did not mention my torture to anyone at that time. I had been threatened. Still I kept looking for an opportunity to talk about my torture, but I was surrounded by police at all times. Then around 2 pm I was taken from the Dantewada hospital lying down on the seat of the police vehicle and brought to the court. For a long time we were kept outside the court and were not taken inside the court.SDPO brought some papers from inside the court and asked me to sign them. What could I do? I thought that going to jail is better than this. The Judge Madam did not hear me out, did not talk to me and just sent me off to jail.

THE CHATTISGARH POLICE TOOK SONI SORI TO HOSPITALS IN JAGDALPUR AND RAIPUR LATER IN THE WEEK. REMARKABLY THE MEDICAL REPORTS FROM THESE HOSPITALS FAILED TO CONFIRM EVEN THE OBSERVATIONS REPORTED BY THE DOCTORS IN DANTEWADA AND LATER IN KOLKATTA.

MEDICAL REPORT FROM NRS MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL, KOLKATA : RECTAL EXAMINATION SNIPPET: “AN IRREGULAR HARD OBJECT WAS MANUALLY REMOVED AMD FOUND TO BE BROWNISH IN COLOUR OF 2×1.5×1.5 CMS WHICH IS PROBABLY A STONE.

GYNAECOLOGICAL EXAMINATION SNIPPET: TWO IRREGULAR OBJECTS SEEN IN THE FORNICES WHICH WERE REMOVED AND FOUND TO BE HARD. IT HAD IRREGULAR SIZE OF 2.5x 1.5×1 CM. ONE OBJECT WAS BLACKISH AND THE OTHER BROWNISH IN COLOUR.

Letter 2:

The Chhattisgarh government will kill me

(Excerpt from her last letter dated 7 March written from Raipur Jail)
“Three months have passed and I am not being given any medicines. Even after obtaining a Supreme Court order, my treatment has been left incomplete. I have problems walking. At times, my body swells up while walking and, at other times, my feet just go numb. Why this injustice? Why have I been condemned to this life of torment and punishment? I was taken to Kolkata for treatment after the Supreme Court directive to the Chhattisgarh Government. The doctor advised me to take my medicines regularly. But I am not being given these medicines and the pain is just unbearable. I have complained about this. I told the jailor madam many times. I even told the doctor madam from the jail that I need to be treated. She said, “You have come here through the administration.” She put in writing that I am a Naxalite and, thus, I was put through mental harassment. Then, I kept quiet for a few days. My pains go on increasing. One of these days, the Chhattisgarh government will surely kill me. Subjecting Adivasis to atrocities and then awarding us with death penalty is the biggest success of this government. The sonography was supposed to be done as per the doctor’s recommendations. These people did not allow it to be conducted. The government is simply waiting for me to die. I am telling you all the Chhattisgarh government will kill me. I am not safe here. In future, if something happens to me, the Chhattisgarh government will be responsible for it. Please do something. My health is not good. I don’t know if it is because of the electric shocks or something else, but my body has become weak. I want to remain alive to be able to fight this battle. I pray to all of you, please help me stay alive.”

Letter 3:

That by giving me electric shocks, will the problem of Naxalism end?

This if for all social workers intellectuals, NGOs, human rights organizations, women’s commission and citizens of India. An abused and helpless tribal woman, is asking you to answer why she is being brutally tortured and she wants to know, that by giving me electric shocks, by stripping me naked, or by brutally assaulting me and inserting stones in my rectum, will the problem of Naxalism end ? Why so many atrocities on women? I want to know from all my countrypeople.

When I was being stripped, I felt someone should come and save me and it did not happen. In Mahabharata , Draupadi’s honour was saved when she called upon Krishna. Whom should I have called? I was given to them ( police ) by the court . But now, I can’t ask to save my honour as I have nothing left. Yes, I want to know from all of you that why was I tortured?

Police officer, S. P Ankit Garg after stripping me said, “You are a whore, a bitch, who pleases naxal leaders by selling your body and they come to your house every day and night. We know everything.”, he said adding, “You claim to be a good teacher, but you sell yourself even in Delhi. What’s your status, anyway? You think the big stalwarts will support such an ordinary woman like you?”. Why will a police officer say this? Today history is witness that whenever there is war in a country or any other conflict, women have contributed a lot to the nation. Jhansi Lakshmi Bai fought with the Britishers, did she sell herself ? Indira Gandhi as the prime minister of India , she governed the country, did she sell herself ? Today all the women who are working in their respective areas, are they selling themselves ? All of us are bound with each other in unity and support, then why no one is coming to help me ? I would like to have an answer from you.

Who has made the world? Who gave birth to the powerful, intellectual fighters? If woman would not have been there, was it possible that India would have got freedom? I am a woman, so why did this happen to me, answer me.

My education has been mocked at. I got my education at the Gandhian school, Rukmani Kanya Ashram, Dimripal. I strongly believe in the power of my education. Whether it is a naxal problem or any other, I can face it. Education is my tool for survival and pen is my weapon of choice . Still they have put me in jail as a Naxal supporter. Mahatma Gandhi also had the same tools. If Mahatma Gandhi was alive today, then would he also have been put behind bars as a Naxal supporter? I want to know from all of you.

Why are only villagers and tribals being put in jails as Naxal supporters and cases been fabricated against them? Many other people can be Naxal supporters. Is it because they are illiterate, uneducated, simple people, living in huts in forests, and they have do not have money or is it because they have the capacity to tolerate torture much more? Why? I want to know from you people.

We Adivasis are being abused and tortured in many ways. We are accused of being Naxal supporters. Cases are being fabricated against us, even for 1 or 2 cases people are being kept in prison for 5 or 6 years. Neither there is judgment, nor bail or acquittal. After all, why? Is it because we Adivasi people do not have the caliber to fight the government or that government is not with Adivasi? Or because Adivasis are not sons/ daughters or relatives of big political leaders. Till when will the adivasis be exploited, till when? I am asking all citizens of India. Answer me.

In Jagdalpur and Dantewada prisons, 16 year olds boys and girls were bought and they are now 20-21 years old. But still their cases are not being heard. If their cases will not be heard in coming days or years, then what will be their future? Why so much atrocities upon the adivasis? All social workers, intellectuals, NGOs, citizens, please think.

The Naxals looted my father’s house and shot my father in the leg making him disabled. Why did they do that? They thought my father was a police informer. About 20-25 people from my father’s village Bade-Bidema have been put in jail as Naxal supporters. The Naxalites punished my father for their imprisonment. I want to know from you who is responsible for this? Government or police or my father? Today there is no support or help for my father. Instead, the police administration is trying to implicate his daughter as a criminal. If he was a politician, we would have got help but my father is a ordinary villager and an Adivasi, what will the government do for the Adivasis? Tell me.

Struggling with Torture- a Chhattisgarhi woman,
Soni Sori (Sodi)

Letter 4:

Was the abuse on me not enough?
(Letter to the Supreme Court Judge and the lawyer)

Sir Judge,

Upon your order, I was treated in Kolkata, which saved my life. Then why have I been sent back among the same people? I am not safe here. I’m having to battle many problems. If your court believes the charges against me, punish me. But don’t leave me among these people. Each day and each night is extremely difficult. I have great pain internally and I await your judgement. The Chhattisgarh government did not delay in bringing me to the Court. The Court in Delhi very swiftly handed me over to them. Then why this delay in your Court? Was the abuse on me not enough? Why did you give me a new lease of life then? You should have left me to die. I live, thanks to your order, which I’ll never forget. I don’t understand why the Delhi Court doesn’t hear my cries. If they had understood my helplessness, I wouldn’t have been in this state. Despite all that, I was handed over the Chhattisgarh police. At that point, in my heart I was saying “Please don’t send me with them; what they will do with their sister/daughter, you have no idea.” But the esteemed Court had more faith in the police than in their daughter and because of that, I have lost everything today. The Court still doesn’t understand. Anyway, today one daughter has been abused. Tomorrow it will be another.

This is a plea from a helpless daughter. Please do something otherwise they will just become stronger in the coming days. They said to me that it is the Court that has permitted us to keep you in our custody. Now which Court do I appeal in? This means, Sir Judge that your Court handed me over to them. They can do anything. I am this country’s first daughter who they brought here with the permission of the Court and then heartlessly abused mentally and physically. Why this injustice to me? Giving electric shocks, stripping me naked, shoving stones inside me – is this going to solve the Naxal problem?

Sir Judge, my body is in great pain. If, in case, I die before you are able to pass judgment, then the Chattisgarh government and police are to be held responsible. Ever since SP Ankit Garg and other police officers did what they did to me, my body is in bad shape. I have three children. After me, there is no one to look after them. My husband has been in jail for the last year and a half in a false case. The Naxals have looted my father’s house. My children need support. My three children are going through great difficulty. They live like orphans. This is a mother’s plea for her children, Sir Judge. Sir Judge, the police is committing the crime and I am being punished.

If they had made the warrant a year and a half ago, why did they not arrest me? I went to the police station and CRP camp many times. I used to meet the police officers and the cops used come home many times. Whenever there was an administrative meeting of the Collector , or any other officer in Dantewada, I was always present. Why wasn’t I arrested then? In the Essar case also, the police made a plan to take money from them and asked me to pretend to be a Naxalite. When I refused, they said we have an arrest warrant in your name. If you do this for us, we won’t arrest you. Think about it. Sir Judge, I did not do it.

I appeal to you Soni Sori(Sodi)

Letter 5:

I can feel that I am unsafe
(Letter to Supreme Court Advocate Sir)

Advocate sir,

I should have been kept in Delhi instead of Raipur. My troubles have increased ever since I was moved to Raipur. I have not even been provided with medicines. When I express my complaint of pain, they tell me that I have come through the administration, and they call me and write me down as a “Naxalite” woman, and this puts me under a lot of mental stress. I am not given my medicines, due to which my internal pains have been increasing. I have told the local court all this, but instead of solving my problem, the local court is avoiding it by saying that since my case is with the Supreme Court, whatever will be done here will be done by the Supreme Court.

Sir, I have complete faith that the Supreme Court will bring justice to a woman who has suffered torture. However, the local courts also have the ability to resolve some problems. But no! All of these people deliberately want to give me trouble. I am not safe here – I can feel that I am unsafe. I am suffering grave injustice and these people will not let me live. It is certain that I have to die some day or the other. Whatever little life I have left, I want to be close to my children, so that I can meet them from time to time. How can one trust this life – who knows what will happen next? So please get me moved back to Jagdalpur.

Sir, whether you believe it or not, the Chhattisgarh government will definitely award me with death. Only I know what I am undergoing. If only I could have stayed in Delhi while fighting this out, I would have been completely safe. But such is not the fate of adivasis! We, adivasis, are only fated to suffer atrocities and die; dying is necessary. We, adivasis, are a business for the government. The more the Chhattisgarh government will exploit us, oppress us, commit atrocities against us, torture us, rape our women, mercilessly strip us naked, the more the government will profit. It is for this reason alone that tens of billions of rupees come. Sir, if all this ends and there is peace, then the leaders who are now in the government will be seen begging on the streets. This is why, instead of ending this, they are encouraging this, enlarging this. In such a situation, how can the government let our people live?
Advocate sir, there is a lot of injustice happening to me, to my adivasi brother, sister, father… I am seeing this, I am suffering this. The Chhattisgarh government is forcing us to think about all these atrocities, into taking these steps, which is why I am now on a hunger strike. Whether inside the jail, or before the court – why does the government/ administration not listen to the problems of us adivasis? Sir, there is talk of my medical treatment – I want my medical treatment to be conducted in Delhi. The problems I have faced last time – I cannot bear them again and again. Rather, it would be better not to have any treatment at all. Last time, I was put under so much mental tension at the pretext of being given treatment. Please do not leave me to suffer and die in Raipur – please come to meet me once. I want to meet didi or someone else. I cannot stay in this place any longer. Please get me transferred.

Applicant
Smt. Soni Sori

Fr

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