BREAK-IN AND BURGLARY AT ‘PRASHANT’, HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE, AHMEDABAD
(A Statement by Fr. Cedric Prakash sj)
Prashant A
Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace
Hill Nagar, Near Saffron Hotel, Drive-in
Road, Ahmedabad – 380 052
Tel.: +91
(079) 66522333, 2745 5913 . Fax
: +91 (079) 2748 9018
BREAK-IN AND
BURGLARY AT ‘PRASHANT’, HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE, AHMEDABAD
(A Statement by Fr. Cedric Prakash sj)
On the night of October 7th
/ 8th, 2014, there was a break-in and burglary at ‘PRASHANT’,
our Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace in Ahmedabad.
On October 6th and 7th
2014, I was in Bombay to participate in some important meetings and programmes.
I returned to Ahmedabad by a very early Ahmedabad flight and as is customary, I
first went to the office building of ‘PRASHANT’ before going to my residence
which is just behind on the same campus.
I opened the Centre, went into my cabin and was about to start the
computer, when I realized that my desktop computer was missing! I was rather
alarmed when I simultaneously noticed that the back door of our Centre (which
is adjacent to my cabin) was broken open with a bed sheet just lying on the
steps below. I called my Jesuit companions and telephoned some of my office
colleagues immediately and also called the police emergency number 100 to
register a complaint.
In a matter of minutes, the
police arrived and they were there for most of the day till almost 4.30
pm. In between, they had called in the
dog squad, the forensic and the finger-print experts. Besides, the routine
inquiry was done with me and with my colleagues. An FIR dated 8th October 2014 No.
290/14 was filed at the Ghatlodia Police Station, Ahmedabad under sections 457
and 380 of IPC.
So what was stolen was my desktop
PC, the hard disk and my keyboard with all connections to them meticulously
cut; besides, another cable of the internet provider which was serving our
other computers was also cut and stolen.
The intruders seemed to have moved around in several places of the
office (some footprints evidence this) but were careful not to have disturbed /
upset anything; besides, nothing else seemed to have been taken away though
there was some cash (in a drawer which was opened) which could have easily
tempted an ordinary burglar.
What is obvious that what took
place in ‘PRASHANT’ on the night of 7th / 8th October was
no ordinary theft! It was meticulously planned and executed apparently by
professionals or with the help of some. The sole aim was obviously to get the
data which was on my PC. It is common knowledge that since we are a Centre for
Human Rights Justice and Peace, we have been taking an unequivocal stand on human
rights and justice very specially on critical issues affecting the minorities,
the poor and the marginalized of Gujarat.
It is anyone’s guess at this
stage of who is / are the brains behind this break-in! One thing is amply clear
that human rights defenders and those who stand up for truth and justice are in
for difficult times in the days to come.
We will however, continue to be
relentless in our struggle – whatever the obstacles, whatever the
intimidations, harassments and other difficulties. We are convinced that truth
and justice will ultimately triumph!
(Kindly note: We had no
intention to go to the media on this; but since last night some media have been
calling us – since they seem to have received news of this incident from some
“police source”; that is why this
statement.)
14th October, 2014
Fr. Cedric Prakash
sj
Director
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