Survivor testifies at UN event
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 25 2014 :
A consultation programme on UN Declaration of Rights of the Indigenous People and Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 was held yesterday at the Moreh Trade Centre.
Giving testimony of a nightmarish experience he suffered in the hands of Indian military forces, one Gamlet Haokip who somehow survived after being hit by three bullets said that four persons were killed when Madras Regiment opened fire indiscriminately inside Chawangphai village near Moreh in the evening of June 5, 1995 .
Frightened by the indiscriminate firing, many of the villagers fled in different directions while some others went into hiding.
Gamlet and his son Tunglet Haokip were also hiding among wooden beams but they were fired upon indiscriminately by some personnel of Madras Regiment.
One bullet hit Gamlet near his right arm-pit through the right index finger.
Another bullet hit him on the right calf and the third bullet his face near the lips.
Later half of his right index finger was amputated.
Following the terrible incident, Gamlet lost much of his physical vigour.
With half of his index finger amputated, Gamlet's right hand has very little strength.
Apart from the physical pain, Gamlet said he is still suffering from trauma and stress.
He can no longer go for hunting or paddy cultivation.
Talking to The Sangai Express after giving his testimony, Gamlet Haokip said, "The incident was terrible.
We thought Madras Regiment would control and pacify the confrontation between Kukis and Tamils but they (Madras Regiment) picked out all the Tamils after which they opened indiscriminate fire
upon Chawangphai villagers" .
Terrified by the indiscriminate firing, Gamlet's wife, two daughters and two sons fled away from the village.
Other womenfolk who could not run away were herded inside their houses.
"I could hear women crying and wailing inside the house.
I didn't know what Madras Regiment personnel do to them," Gamlet said.
Gamlet was treated at RIMS for five months and he remained unconscious for a long period.
Decrying the inhuman act of opening indiscriminate fire upon civilians by Government forces, Gamlet prayed that the terrifying incident of June 5, 1995 does not ever happen again.
By opening indiscriminate fire upon civilians, Madras Regiment was openly violating international humanitarian laws.
Gamlet said that neither the dead victims nor the injured ones were given adequate assistance by the Government.
What is more bewildering is that no legal action has been initiated so far against the Madras Regiment personnel involved in killing civilians by fire indiscriminately, Gamlet added.