Sit-ins demand justice for victims of alleged extra Judicial killings
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 01 2018:
Condemning the alleged extra Judicial killings of Gurumayum Jiteswar Sharma alias Gypsy, Thangj am Satish, Thounapjam Prem, RK Raneland Phijam Naobi by the 3 CISU of Indian Army, JAC Against the Custodial Killings along with Leirenkabi Apunba Nupi Lup, Pheiyeng Meira Paibi, Committee on Human Rights (COHR) and AMUCO staged sit-ins at two places -Lairenkabiand Pheiyeng today.
Speaking at the sit-ins, chairman of COHR Phulindro Konsam and vice president AMUCO Nameirakpam Modhuchandra and other activists informed the public about the various "inhuman" and alleged human rights violation carried out by the army against innocent civilians and the said victims "taking advantage" of the "draconian" Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958.The JAC said that on August 18, 2011, Gurumayum Jiteswar alias Changjou alias Gypsy of Khwai Naga Mapal Singjubung Leirak was picked up from a rent house at Dimapur by people suspected to be Assam Rifles and NSCN (TM) and has been untraceable till date.
In September the same year (2011), Gypsy's family members filed a writ petition to the Guwahati High Court, Imphal Branch, apart from filing an FIR at Dimapur PS to trace his whereabouts.
Claiming that the security forces had denied having picked up Jiteswar, the JAC added that the issue was even brought up in the State Assembly and discussed to ascertain who took him and his whereabouts.
The JAC continued that Thangjam Satish of Sagolband Thangjam Leirak, a TDC student of St Dominic College, Shillong, was picked up by suspected security personnel from a rent house near the college on February 5, 2010.On February 23 the same year, Satish's father filed a police complaint to the then DGP of Manipur police to find his missing son.
RK Ranel alias Roshan of Tera Sayang, Thounaojam Prem of Langol Laimanai and Phijam Naobi of Thangmeiband Khomdram Selungba Leikai were picked up by armed and masked individuals suspected to be security personnel in the presence of family members from a rent house at Dimapur on March 10, 2010.Then on March 17 the same year, their dead bodies were found in a jungle under Bokajan PS, Karbi Anglong, the JAC stated.
However, the revelations about the capture and killing of the individuals came as per an affidavit filed by Lt Colonel Dharamvir, CO, 1st Para Commando (Special Force) of 3 Corps CISU M Sector, at High Court of Manipur on July 20 this year.
It was learned that Jiteswar was "picked up by 3-Corps Intelligence and Surveillance Unit (CISU) of the Indian Army" from a rent house at Dukan Basti, Dimapur and "tortured before he was killed and buried" at the backyard of the unit mess of Ranga Pahar Cantonment, the JAC claimed.
Despite the revelation, Jiteswar's body has not been found till date, said the JAC.
The JAC also alleged that the 3 Corps CISU had a hand in the capture of Phijam Naobi, RK Ranel and Thounaojam Prem from a rent house at Dimapur on March 10 (2010).They were "tortured inside the Indian Army mess, killed and their bodies dumped in the forest on March 17" .
Even though India is a signatory of the Anti-Torture Convention, it has been attempting to "weed out" the indigenous people of the North-East region by using force under the safe umbrella of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958, which is apparent from the merciless killings of the innocent people, alleged the JAC.
The JAC demanded the mortal remains of Jiteswar and Satish be handed over to the family members and appealed for an investigation of the alleged extra Judicial killings of Jiteswar, Satish, Th Prem, RK Ranel and Ph Naobi by an independent investigation agency.
The JAC demanded mat befitting punishment should be given to those army officers and personnel involved in the cases and demanded immediate withdrawal of AFSPA 1958 from Manipur citing it as the root of all the alleged extra Judicial Killings and violence in the region.
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