Debate competition of Para-Military Forces
Shushri Pallavi Dubey of SSB and Shri P. Balamurgan of BSF won the first prize respectively in Hindi and English debate competition organised by the National Human Rights Commission for the Para-military forces. The final round of the competition was held on the 13th November, 2009 at the Scope Convention Centre in New Delhi.
The topic of debate was "Whether a person suspected to have information about Weapons of Mass Destruction can be subjected to coercive Interrogation?"
The second, third and consolation prize in Hindi debate went to Shri Narender Kumar of Assam Rifles, Shri A.K. Mishra of CRPF and Shri Rakesh Ranjan of BSF respectively. In English, the second and third prize went to NSG's Ashok Kumar and Jagdeep Singh. Consolation prize was given to Manoranjan Kumar of CRPF. The rolling trophy of NHRC went to the BSF team. Eight teams participated in the final round which were selected from 32 teams after the zonal level competitions.
NHRC has been organising this debate competition for Para-military forces since 1996. One of the Para-military forces shares the responsibility to host this event under the aegis of NHRC. This year the Central Industrial Security Force was the co-host. The aim of the debate competition is to promote human rights awareness and sensitize the personnel of the Central Para-military forces about human rights. The debate competition has gained popularity among the Para-military forces and the number of the participants shows the prestige they attached to it.
Congratulating the winners of the debate, the Acting Chairperson of the NHRC, Justice Shri G.P. Mathur, who was also the chief guest and chief of jury said that some element of threat or force for causing bodily pain is involved in every interrogation. Those who indulge in terrorism are not likely to give any information unless any coercive method is used.
He said, "It is the responsibility of the state and its agencies to protect the human rights of everyone. It does not mean protecting the human rights of suspects alone and ignoring the human rights of vast majority of law abiding people of the country. If weapons of mass destruction are intended to be used, which are likely to cause immense damage to life and property of a large number of people, it will be the duty of the authorities of the State to take extreme measures, including coercive interrogation to get information about such weapons so that appropriate measures may be taken to prevent such destruction."
Justice Shri Mathur said, "The US administration under President George Bush, took extreme measures to interrogate the suspects who were involved in terrorists attack on World Trade Centre and Pentagon on 9/11. They were subjected to all kinds of coercive interrogation for a very sustained and a long period, which has come under severe criticism. But the fact of the matter is that post 9/11, there has been no terrorist related incident in the USA. The picture in India, however, is quite different."
The other members of the jury were renowned journalist and the Resident Editor of Hindi Daily "Hindustan", Shri Pramod Joshi and the Former Secretary, Internal Security, Shri M.B. Kaushal. Earlier, the Director General, CISF Shri N.R. Das, welcomed the jury, guests and participants of the debate competition and highlighted the importance of this event.
The DG (Investigation), NHRC, Shri Sunil Krishna appreciated the valued inputs by the participants on the subject of coercive interrogation both for and against the motion and thanked the jury and CISF for making the event successful.
He added that in India, the constitutional provisions prohibit use to torture. Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that no one shall be subjected to tortue or to inhuman, degrading treatment or punishment. India is a signatory to the convention against torture.
Mr. Krishna said that the National Human Rights Commission and several other agencies have been insisting on the early ratification of the torture convention by the Government. In these circumstances, as law enforcement agencies, perhaps one will be very reluctant to adopt a view which provides legitimacy to any element of torture for any public good.
The topic of debate was "Whether a person suspected to have information about Weapons of Mass Destruction can be subjected to coercive Interrogation?"
The second, third and consolation prize in Hindi debate went to Shri Narender Kumar of Assam Rifles, Shri A.K. Mishra of CRPF and Shri Rakesh Ranjan of BSF respectively. In English, the second and third prize went to NSG's Ashok Kumar and Jagdeep Singh. Consolation prize was given to Manoranjan Kumar of CRPF. The rolling trophy of NHRC went to the BSF team. Eight teams participated in the final round which were selected from 32 teams after the zonal level competitions.
NHRC has been organising this debate competition for Para-military forces since 1996. One of the Para-military forces shares the responsibility to host this event under the aegis of NHRC. This year the Central Industrial Security Force was the co-host. The aim of the debate competition is to promote human rights awareness and sensitize the personnel of the Central Para-military forces about human rights. The debate competition has gained popularity among the Para-military forces and the number of the participants shows the prestige they attached to it.
Congratulating the winners of the debate, the Acting Chairperson of the NHRC, Justice Shri G.P. Mathur, who was also the chief guest and chief of jury said that some element of threat or force for causing bodily pain is involved in every interrogation. Those who indulge in terrorism are not likely to give any information unless any coercive method is used.
He said, "It is the responsibility of the state and its agencies to protect the human rights of everyone. It does not mean protecting the human rights of suspects alone and ignoring the human rights of vast majority of law abiding people of the country. If weapons of mass destruction are intended to be used, which are likely to cause immense damage to life and property of a large number of people, it will be the duty of the authorities of the State to take extreme measures, including coercive interrogation to get information about such weapons so that appropriate measures may be taken to prevent such destruction."
Justice Shri Mathur said, "The US administration under President George Bush, took extreme measures to interrogate the suspects who were involved in terrorists attack on World Trade Centre and Pentagon on 9/11. They were subjected to all kinds of coercive interrogation for a very sustained and a long period, which has come under severe criticism. But the fact of the matter is that post 9/11, there has been no terrorist related incident in the USA. The picture in India, however, is quite different."
The other members of the jury were renowned journalist and the Resident Editor of Hindi Daily "Hindustan", Shri Pramod Joshi and the Former Secretary, Internal Security, Shri M.B. Kaushal. Earlier, the Director General, CISF Shri N.R. Das, welcomed the jury, guests and participants of the debate competition and highlighted the importance of this event.
The DG (Investigation), NHRC, Shri Sunil Krishna appreciated the valued inputs by the participants on the subject of coercive interrogation both for and against the motion and thanked the jury and CISF for making the event successful.
He added that in India, the constitutional provisions prohibit use to torture. Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that no one shall be subjected to tortue or to inhuman, degrading treatment or punishment. India is a signatory to the convention against torture.
Mr. Krishna said that the National Human Rights Commission and several other agencies have been insisting on the early ratification of the torture convention by the Government. In these circumstances, as law enforcement agencies, perhaps one will be very reluctant to adopt a view which provides legitimacy to any element of torture for any public good.