Urgent Rejoinder Seeking Immediate Protection and Rehabilitation – NHRC Case No. 26139/24/4/2023-AFE



---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Lenin Raghuvanshi <lenin@pvchr.asia>
Date: Thu, Jan 22, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Subject: Urgent Rejoinder Seeking Immediate Protection and Rehabilitation – NHRC Case No. 26139/24/4/2023-AFE
To: NHRC - Chairperson <chairnhrc@nic.in>
Cc: upendra <pvchr.adv@gmail.com>, NHRC - Sec General <sgnhrc@nic.in>, NHRC <ionhrc@nic.in>, cr.nhrc <cr.nhrc@nic.in>, NHRC-Registrar (Law)-Sh. A.K. Garg <registrar-nhrc@nic.in>, NHRC-Director General (Investigation) - Smt. Kanwaljit Deol, IPS <dg-nhrc@nic.in>, NHRC-Joint Registrar-Sh. A.K. Parashar <hrd-nhrc@nic.in>


To
Hon'ble Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
Manav Adhikar Bhawan
New Delhi

Respected Sir,

I write this urgent rejoinder in continuation of the ongoing proceedings in NHRC Case No. 26139/24/4/2023-AFE (Diary No. 16185/IN/2023) concerning the alleged custodial death/fake encounter of Shri Vijay Soni, and the grave human rights violations suffered by his family.

This rejoinder is submitted in light of:
(a) the Commission's repeated directions seeking crucial forensic and procedural reports, which remain uncomplied with till date; and
(b) the continuing trauma, fear, and vulnerability of the victim's family.

1. Non-Compliance with NHRC Directions

Despite multiple directions issued by the Hon'ble Commission (01.11.2023, 08.07.2024, 15.10.2024, 21.08.2025, and 17.11.2025), essential reports—including the Ballistic Expert Report, Dead Body Identification Memo, Dead Body Hand-Over Memo, and Wireless Logs—have still not been furnished by the concerned police authorities. This persistent non-compliance undermines the truth-seeking mandate of the Commission and raises serious concerns regarding accountability.

2. Psychosocial Condition of the Victim's Family

On 22 January 2026, the undersigned organization provided psychosocial support to Smt. Anju Devi, mother of the deceased, at the office of the People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR). During the reading of her testimony, she broke down repeatedly, exhibiting clear symptoms of severe trauma, fear psychosis, and emotional collapse. The family continues to live under an atmosphere of intimidation and insecurity.

It is submitted that the death of Vijay Soni was followed by the subsequent death of his sister Khushboo, which the family attributes to extreme psychological shock and grief. This reflects a cascading violation of the right to life with dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution.

3. Immediate Need for Protection and Rehabilitation

In view of the above, it is most respectfully prayed that the Hon'ble Commission may be pleased to:

  1. Direct immediate protection to the victim's family to safeguard them from fear, intimidation, and further trauma;

  2. Order interim relief and rehabilitation measures, including psychosocial counseling, livelihood support, and social security assistance, recognizing the family's right to live with dignity;

  3. Call for strict compliance with the Commission's earlier directions and fix accountability for non-submission of mandatory forensic and procedural reports;

  4. Consider recommending an independent, impartial, and high-level investigation into the custodial death/fake encounter allegations, given the serious lacunae in the police's conduct and reporting.

The testimonies of Smt. Anju Devi and supporting statements are annexed herewith for the kind perusal of the Hon'ble Commission.

We place our faith in the Commission's constitutional role as the guardian of human rights and seek its urgent intervention to ensure justice, protection, and dignity for the bereaved family.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Lenin Raghuvanshi
Human Rights Defender
People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

(Enclosures: Victim's Testimony, Statement, Photographs of Psychosocial Support Session dated 22.01.2026)

Lenin Raghuvanshi
Visiting Senior Fellow, IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute IMPRI Profile 
Founder-Convenor, People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) 
Former CEO, JanMitra Nyas, Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC of the United Nations
SA 4/2 A Daulatpur, Varanasi - 221002, India 
Mobile: +91-9335688938
Wikipedia: Lenin Raghuvanshi, PVCHR 
Follow us on Facebook: Lenin Raghuvanshi Facebook Page

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Defending Truth Under Fire: The Case of Yambem Laba, NHRC’s Intervention, and the Ongoing Battle for Human Rights in Manipur

Image
🕊️ Defending Truth Under Fire: The Case of Yambem Laba, NHRC’s Intervention, and the Ongoing Battle for Human Rights in Manipur By  Lenin Raghuvanshi Founder, People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) Visiting Senior Fellow, IMPRI Introduction: When Speaking Truth Becomes a Crime In India’s troubled northeast, voices of truth often echo against the barrels of guns. The recent abduction of senior journalist and human rights defender Yambem Laba from his home in Imphal on 12 February 2025 , marks yet another dark chapter in the long struggle for press freedom and human rights in Manipur. Laba, a respected journalist with The Statesman and former Acting Chairperson of the Manipur Human Rights Commission, was abducted at gunpoint by 15–20 unidentified armed men , detained for over seven hours, and coerced into apologizing for his public criticism of militant groups. This was not an isolated incident, but part of a pattern of intimidation that has silenced journalists...
Read more

“The Station House Officer said: ‘We will not let your son become an MBBS doctor.’”

Image
  “The Station House Officer said: ‘We will not let your son become an MBBS doctor.’” My name is Chakradhari Yadav. I am 51 years old and a resident of Village Madhi, Police Station—Newadia, District—Jaunpur. My father’s name was the late Nandlal Yadav. My wife’s name is Sitamuni. I belong to the Ahir (Yadav) caste. I support my family by working in the fields. I have two sons and two daughters. The eldest daughter is Neetu (28 years old), my second child is Pradyumn (26), the third is my daughter Rishu (23), and the youngest is my son Pravendra. One Diwali, I decided to bring my son home from college—a decision that turned out to cost me dearly. I had no idea that this simple, affectionate act would become the cause of such immense trouble. Had I known, I would never have called him home. That night changed everything. As I was sleeping on a cot in our home, my younger son Pravendra came running and told me, “Papa, a man has fallen off a motorcycle.” Hearing this, I rushed to t...
Read more

Towards a Torture-Free Society: A Call for Justice, Humanity, and Reform

Image
  Towards a Torture-Free Society: A Call for Justice, Humanity, and Reform By PVCHR (People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights) Date: 26 June 2025 – UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture On 26 June 2025, PVCHR marked the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture with a powerful appeal for justice, dignity, and reform. Founder Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi and National Coordinator Mr. Onkar Vishwakarma issued a heartfelt video message, amplifying the voices of survivors and calling for systemic change. The video was curated by PVCHR intern, Mr. Ankit Singh , as part of the organization’s commitment to stand with survivors and advocate for a torture-free world . The Deep Roots of Non-Violence in Indian Tradition India’s ancient Sanatan and Shraman traditions uphold Ahimsa (non-violence) and the intrinsic dignity of every human being. These principles resonate with the global ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam —the belief that the whole world is one family. N...
Read more