Zeliangrong bodies allege human rights violation
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 22 2017:
Alleging that military personnel have been committing rampant human rights violation at Khoupum Tampak and adjoining areas of Noney district, Zeliangrong civil society organisations have threatened to launch intense modes of agitation if the Government fails to intervene immediately .
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, Rongmei Lu Phuam (Rongmei Women Organisation) president Panti Golmei said that retired Assam Rifles personnel Aku Pamei (53) was detained for a whole day by Sikh Light Regiment of Namkaolong Part-I post on August 17 .
After retirement, Aku has been working as a cultivator.
He was picked up from his Namkaolong home at around 5.30 am and he was detained the whole day without serving any food .
Moreover, Aku was forced to hold an AK rifle so that he looked like a militant and he was photographed, Panti said .
Aku was detained by the same team of Sikh Light Regiment in July too.
Even though Aku showed his identity card of having served in the Assam Rifles earlier, the military never acknowledged the identity card.
Rather, they insisted that documents related to a militant group were recovered from his farm hut .
Some militant might have left their documents at the hut but Aku had no knowledge of it .
Moreover, troops of Sikh Right Regiment posted at Namkaolong Part-I have been threatening women and children of the village every now and then, Panti alleged .
Such excesses are being committed under the impunity guaranteed by AFSPA.
The issue needs immediate intervention of the Government .
The photograph of Aku holding an AK rifle should be erased for good and the troops of Sikh Light Infantry should be shifted from Khoupum, she demanded .
If the same demands are not addressed at the earliest, intense modes of agitation would be launched, she added .
Representatives of Khoupum Area Village Authority Council, Zeliangrong Students' Union, Khoupum Area and some other organisations were also present at the press meet.