Fact finding mission urges judicial inquiry into Dodo Bheel’s mysterious death

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Fact finding mission urges judicial inquiry into Dodo Bheel’s mysterious death

KARACHI Aug 10,2021: The fact finding mission of Ministry of Human Right has urged to constitute a JIT or judicial inquiry to probe the Dodo Bheel death in mysterious circumstance. The mission expressed grave concern that the Coal company not implementing human rights, labour laws and other statutes.

Dodo Bheel, resident of Abn jo Tar Taluka Islamkot district Tharparkar was allegedly tortured in custody of security staff of the mining company where he was working as a daily wage labour. He succumbed to injuries on June, 30 which created uproar in print, electronic and social media.

Ministry of Human Right constituted a broad based15 member fact finding mission led by the Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights Lal Chand Malhi. The mission visited the affectees and other stakeholders during its three day visit.

Lal Malhi the head of the mission submitted fact finding 9-page report to the minister of Human Rights Ms Shireen Mazari

Coal company not implementing human rights, labour laws and other statutes

The mission after recording the statements and witnessing the conditions expressed its concern that the human rights, labour laws and other statutes are not being implemented or properly applied by some elements inside the company which is diminishing the image of the company. Sindh and Federal Government to ensure laws are properly implemented.

Security staff of the coal mining company

The Human rights ministry’s fact finding mission in its report said that the security staff of the coal mining company misused their authority by illegally confining laborers in their own premises and developed a wrong image of running torture cells inside the company. The security company should have reported the matter of thefts or anything else to the police.

The mission maintained that at large company has failed to establish a mechanism and system to keep check on misuse of power by its staff members and shown lack of trust in law and police and criminal justice system.

Dodo Bheel Death: SSP even claimed that the protest by the family members and friends of the deceased was a conspiracy

Concern over Senior police officers’ attitude

The mission in its findings said that based on the testimonials of the locals and eyewitnesses -the Mission also observed the local police was not only biased towards the workers and the labourers, but the senior officers were directly or indirectly aware of torture and mistreatment of the labourers by the private security staff.

The mission also noted that the district police officials were visibly seen trying to manage the whole incident and distract from core issue of torture and illegal confinement of workers.

The report said the mission pointed out that the SSP even claimed that the protest by the family members and friends of the deceased was a conspiracy hatched by the enemies of the country against the strategic national level project.

The Mission also noted that use of force against the protestors was unwarranted and registering case under the Anti Terrorism Act against peaceful protestors was an act by police that could have been arrested.

Media persons barred from reporting protest

The report further said that the police also used improper and illegal force against media persons reporting the protest.

Coal company and local community

The mission suggested that the management of the coal company must ensure relations between community and management are dealt with properly and cordially and benefits should be shared with local community and labourers.

It was also noted that Local community made complaints that they are not being recruited on higher positions despite education and qualification which is creating anger in the villagers and community of Thar. There was also a communication gap between company management and locals.

Political Board of the company

Political Board of the company is adding to the wrong image of the company and creating discriminatory feelings in voters who belong to other political parties not part of ruling Sindh Government.

No sign of’ prosperity in the coal area

The report said that approximately 150 persons in the area of Dodo Bheel were working in the coal mining company but the delegation observed that their families were living in financially deplorable conditions. There was no sign of’ prosperity in the area of Aban-Jo-Tarr. This is also a big question mark on the company. The members of the Mission also observed that there was a serious trust deficit of the local people over the local police which was a question mark on the performance of police in that area.

Local be posted on reasonable higher positions

Local people of District Tharparker should be appointed in the coal mining company on reasonable higher positions and company should also nominate local person as a focal person who will listen and handle different problems on local employees of the company to resolve any dispute.

The mission’s regretted the refusal by CEO SECMC on the directions of a minister of Sindh government not to meet a delegation nominated by federal government shows non-serious and non-professional attitude of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) and provincial Government of Sindh towards parliamentarians and their unwillingness and partial behaviour for providing justice in the murder case of Dodo Bheel.

It termed this act of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) and provincial Government of Sindh is highly inappropriate.

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