People's Watch

07.04.2026 marks the 11th anniversary of killing of 20 innocent Tamil labours in Sechasalam forest, Andhra Pradesh & the wait for justice continues! On the early hours of April 7, 2015, the Andhra Pradesh Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force gunned down 20 men in the Seshachalam forest near Tirupati. The police claimed these men were red sanders “smugglers” who had attacked the personnel with stones, axes, and sickles, forcing them to retaliate in self-defense. The encounter reportedly took place in two separate spots within the forest. The victims were all from impoverished areas of Tamil Nadu, mainly from districts like Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, and Salem. Most were daily wage labourers and belonged to Scheduled Castes and other marginalized communities. This case had 3 eye witness to the incident, which made it even stronger. @India_NHRC took suo motu cognizance of the incident on the same day, i.e 07.04.2015 and issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police of Andhra Pradesh @dgpapofficial to submit a detailed report. On the same day @peopleswatch and others filed complaints to the @India_NHRC , and their complaints were linked. An investigation team by the NHRC rushed to Andhra Pradesh. In its interim findings, the NHRC raised multiple red flags including the lack of injury to any police personnel, the uniformity of bullet wounds on the victims, and possible custodial killing. On 23.04.2015, Henri Tiphagne, Executive Director of People's Watch represented before the Commission in a camp sitting at Hyderabad and submitted the fact-finding report which the Commission had taken on record. On 28.05.2015, the @India_NHRC passed an order, directing the government of erstwhile combined Andhra Pradesh to pay a compensation of Rs. 5 lakhs. On 05.06.2015, the government of Andhra Pradesh secured a stay against the commission's order, which till date has not been vacated. Tamil Nadu government on 08.04.2015 announced a solatium of Rs three lakh each to the next of kin of those killed. As the NHRC just limited itself to passing orders and not ensuring the vacation of the stay and the effective implementation of the order, the families of the 20 deceased in the Chithoor killings continue to wait to see justice being served. Many of the family members still struggle to meet their daily needs with the small compensation and the low-paying job provided by the Tamil Nadu government in 2015. People's Watch & @jaacttn demands to vacate the Stay & call for swift justice to the victims of the family @CMOTamilnadu @tnpoliceoffl @tncpim @KanimozhiDMK @VelmuruganTVK @MDMKVaiko @tmmkhqofficial @jawahirullah_MH @sdpitnhq @May17Movement @thenewsminute @scroll_in @timesofindia @thinak_ @the_hindu @TheFederal_News @newslaundry @polimernews @DinakaranNews @NEWS9

Historic Judgement on the case of #Sathankulam Custodial Torture leading to death #Sathakulam @Tiphagne @ndtv @thewire_in @the_hindu @NewIndianXpress @scroll_in @LiveLawIndia @jaacttn @thenewsminute @Ahmedshabbir20 @thefederal_desh @NewsTamilTV24x7 @vikatan

A landmark verdict in Tamil Nadu: Madurai court sentences 9 policemen to death in the Sathankulam custodial deaths case. Human rights activist Henri Tiphagne @Tiphagne explains whether this will finally end custodial torture in India and calls for stronger anti-torture laws. Must watch: youtube.com/watch?v=8Qi_Cr…