ZHRF condemns alleged torture
Source: The Sangai Express
Lamka, April 28 2012:
The Zomi Human Rights Foundation has condemned in the strongest term what it alleged was a torture meted out to three indigenous residents of the district on April 20 while they were engaged in the age old traditional practice of hunting in the jungle.
Identifying the victims as Tualkhenmang, 36; Thangkhogin, 38; and Thangzakai, 36 � all residents of B Kalzang village, the foundation said the incident occurred at about 3.30 pm at a distance of about 65 kms from the local police station.
"The three victims were all indigenous people, who earned their livelihood through the aged old traditional practice of hunting and roaming around in the jungle looking for whatever resources the land provides for one's sustenance," it maintained and added that they were encircled, nabbed and inhumanly tortured on the false pretext that they were spying for the Indian Security forces or the indigenous tribal insurgency group.
The manner in which the torture was meted out by the non State actors could be counted as terrorist act in spite of insurgency.
The foundation called upon the Manipur valley based non State actors to abstain and cease torture to indigenous people in every hill district of Manipur and in the cross border areas of Indo-Burma.