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Dear Prime Minister,

 

We are contacting you to express our grave concerns regarding the case of Ms. Sampa Dutta, who has reportedly been subjected to police harassment and intimidation after registering a criminal complaint against a police officer from Entally Police Station in Kolkata, West Bengal.

 

In her complaint (Case No. 31/2009, 21 January 2009), Ms. Dutta alleges that she was sexually abused by the police officer, Mr. Dharanidhar Pati, in front of her young daughter while traveling on a minibus on 21 January 2009. Several months later, an unidentified man reportedly visited her home and warned her, once again in the presence of her daughter, that she would face "dire consequences" unless she withdrew her allegations. She filed a complaint about this incident of intimidation on 3 June 2009 at Phoolbagan Police Station (Case No. 2220/2009), but to date the authorities appear to have taken no action on the matter.

 

Further, Ms. Dutta states that she has been served by the police on several occasions with notices to appear at Entally Police Station, in violation of Section 160 of India's Criminal Procedure Code of India (which states that "no male under the age of fifteen years or woman shall be required to attend at any place other than the place in which such male person or woman resides in respect to a police inquiry").

 

We are deeply concerned that instead of conscientiously dealing with Ms. Dutta's complaint against Mr. Pati as they are required to do, the police appear to be focusing their attention on intimidating Ms. Dutta and pressuring her to retract her allegations. We therefore respectfully urge you to:

 

1) Take immediate action to protect the physical and psychological integrity of Ms. Sampa Dutta and her daughter;

 

2) Ensure that a prompt, effective, thorough, independent and impartial investigation into Ms. Dutta's allegations is carried out, and those found responsible for violating the law are subject to the appropriate penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions;

 

3) Ensure that Ms. Dutta and her daughter receive adequate, effective and prompt reparation, including adequate compensation, proper medical care and rehabilitation;

 

4) Take steps to ensure the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.