Guilty AR personnel should facetrial in a court of law: KSO GHQ
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Kangpokpi, December 13 2015: Kuki Students' Organization, General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ) has urged the State Government and the Assam Rifles to stick to the deadline and fulfill their assurance within the stipulated time in connection with the alleged brutal assault of KSO Chandel President and two other village chiefs at Khudengthabi Check post on December 5 .

The student body had suspended its agitation after serving 5-day ultimatum for the arrest of the guilty AR personnel as per the resolution arrived in the joint meeting held on December 8 at KSO Sadar Hills office with the State government and Assam Rifles.

KSO-GHQ General Secretary Seiboi Haokip stated that in the joint meeting, the State Government had assured the arrest of Maj Manish Sharma, his JCO and other jawans involved within five days from December 8.Assam Rifles representatives had also assured cooperation in the process of the investigation and accept any legal action taken as per law.

"KSO would accept nothing less than the arrest of the Major and his JCO to stand trial in a court of law", said KSO-GHQ while adding that the Government must make sure that the guilty AR personnel do not go scot free and they should be prosecuted by all means necessary as per the law of the land.

Seiboi Haokip alleged that the insensitivity and brutality of the Assam Rifles towards the people of the State have become intolerable and many people have been subjected to wanton harassment, human rights violation and fake encounters in the name of counter insurgency operations.

The student leader claimed that during the past many years the Assam Rifles have escaped prosecution and punishment by taking refuge in Arm Forces Special Power ACT (AFSPA), 1958 and as a result many victims have been denied justice.

He said this time it would be a futile exercise for the AR to hide behind the protection AFSPA.

"All these years the KSO has regarded that AFSPA is for the safety and protection of the people.

But the Assam Rifles have been employing it as an instrument of fear, torture, and human rights abuse.

If the Assam Rifles continue to take advantage of AFSPA unjustly, then the KSO will be compelled to rethink its position on AFSPA", Seiboi added.

The student body also alleged the Assam Rifles of promoting "corruption and racketeering" at Khudengthabi Check post and warned that it would expose the same after the investigation is over.

Seiboi Haokip alleged that many people are aware of the "dealings taking place behind the Khudengthabi Check Post while smugglers, black marketeers and dubious businessmen are allegedly hand in glove with the AR officers posted at this check post" .

He further alleged that "contrabands and illegal goods are trafficked right under the nose of the Assam Rifles everyday at this check post while the officers at the check post exacted illegal taxes from the smugglers and businessmen depending on the goods" .

"The modus operandi is such that the Assam Rifles officers issue token to the smugglers beforehand and the vehicles carrying these tokens are allowed to pass through the check post without inspection", Seiboi alleged.

He added that in this way the Khudengthabi Assam Rifles Check Post is promoting corruption and racketeering.

The student body also warns to resume its agitation for the alleged assault on President of KSO Chandel and two village chiefs, if no concrete action which would lead to the arrest and prosecution of assailants is taken within the stipulated deadline.

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