Navleen Kumar
Encyclopedia
Navleen Kumar was a human rights activist in Maharashtra
state, India
who was murdered on 19 June 2002 in her apartment building in the state capital Mumbai
.
When murdered, Navleen (aged 54) had been working for more than a decade to protect and restore the lands of Adivasis (indigenous peoples) in the Thane district
through legal interventions at different courts. Places in the district, including Nallasopara, Virar
and Vasai, at the time were witnessing rapid expansion being a suburb of India's financial capital Mumbai. It is alleged that land and property developers were using coercion and intimation to get land transferred from locals. During the course of her work, Navleen too received numerous threats, including one some months before the killing at the Nallasopara Railway Station.
On the fateful morning of 19 June, at around 7:30 AM Indian Time, while she was walking her two dogs (Pomeranian breed) on the terrace of her apartment building, she was attacked by a group of men with knives. She was inflicted with 19 stab wounds and subsequently died on the spot. One of her dogs also sustained knife injuries as it tried to save her. The dog however survived. It is reported that the assailants had been keeping an eye on her activities for some time before the incident.
After her death, many people say that it was Navleen Kumar's integrity and commitment that led to her murder. One human rights activists said of her: "She was not a person. She was a power".
, drawing his attention to the killing and demanding justice.
In January 2003, Navleen was posthumously awarded a sum of (Indian) Rupees One Lakh (One hundred thousand), about US$ 2100, by Public Concern for Governance Trust, that, inter alia, confers such awards annually to people fighting injustice and exploitation.
, a popular pop Indian singer's new album, Avengi Ja Nahin
, song Bilquis (Jinhein Naaz Hai) (translated: Bilquis (Those who took pride)).
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
state, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
who was murdered on 19 June 2002 in her apartment building in the state capital Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
.
When murdered, Navleen (aged 54) had been working for more than a decade to protect and restore the lands of Adivasis (indigenous peoples) in the Thane district
Thane District
Thane is a district in northern Maharashtra state in western India. As of 2011 it is the most populated district in the nation. The headquarters of the district is the city of Thane. Other major cities in the district are Navi Mumbai , Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayander, Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar,...
through legal interventions at different courts. Places in the district, including Nallasopara, Virar
Virar
Virar is a name of a suburb of Northern Mumbai. Virar is a city and a part of Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation in Thane district in the Indian state of Maharashtra....
and Vasai, at the time were witnessing rapid expansion being a suburb of India's financial capital Mumbai. It is alleged that land and property developers were using coercion and intimation to get land transferred from locals. During the course of her work, Navleen too received numerous threats, including one some months before the killing at the Nallasopara Railway Station.
On the fateful morning of 19 June, at around 7:30 AM Indian Time, while she was walking her two dogs (Pomeranian breed) on the terrace of her apartment building, she was attacked by a group of men with knives. She was inflicted with 19 stab wounds and subsequently died on the spot. One of her dogs also sustained knife injuries as it tried to save her. The dog however survived. It is reported that the assailants had been keeping an eye on her activities for some time before the incident.
After her death, many people say that it was Navleen Kumar's integrity and commitment that led to her murder. One human rights activists said of her: "She was not a person. She was a power".
Killing of her husband
Navleen's husband, Murali Kumar, a journalist, had also been murdered, reportedly by members of the same group that murdered Navleen some years ago. The killers of her husband were never apprehended.Aftermath of the killing
Following her killing, noted civil society members and human rights activists from different parts of India continuously campaigned for justice for Navleen Kumar. They wrote a public letter to then Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Vilasrao DeshmukhVilasrao Deshmukh
Vilasrao Dagadojirao Deshmukh , popularly known as Vilasrao is the current Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences....
, drawing his attention to the killing and demanding justice.
In January 2003, Navleen was posthumously awarded a sum of (Indian) Rupees One Lakh (One hundred thousand), about US$ 2100, by Public Concern for Governance Trust, that, inter alia, confers such awards annually to people fighting injustice and exploitation.
Mention in Rabbi Shergill's song - Bilquis
Navleen Kumar, the Nallasopara area and the acquisition of tribal land in the area has been mentioned in a stanza in Rabbi ShergillRabbi Shergill
Rabbi Shergill in Jatt Sikh family is an Indian musician well known for his debut album Rabbi and the chart-topper song of 2005, "Bulla Ki Jaana"...
, a popular pop Indian singer's new album, Avengi Ja Nahin
Avengi Ja Nahin
Avengi Ja Nahin is the second album by Rabbi Shergill. The album was produced in Italy by Mauro Pagani.Though regular Rabbi fans took quick liking to this new album with its varied themes and soulful songs, it did not get the kind of broad based patronage that the previous album got...
, song Bilquis (Jinhein Naaz Hai) (translated: Bilquis (Those who took pride)).