Tangkhul bodies demand probe on thrashing
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 27 2011: Tangkhul social organisations have demanded that the Government institute an impartial inquiry into the alleged arbitrary arrest, detention and torture of Leishiwon and two other persons by Imphal West Police Commandos.

Addressing a press conference at Jupiter Yambem Centre, Paona International Market here this afternoon, president of Tangkhul Shanao Long Mrs Silla observed that to ensure such incident of arbitrary arrest, detention and torture of innocent people is not repeated in the future and find out and punish the guilty police commandos, the Government should conduct an impartial inquiry.

She asserted that a resident of New Canaan village, Leishiwon had gone along with two other persons to collect Pig feeds.

Leishiwon is a lactating mother who gave birth to a child just around five months back.

So, the arbitrary arrest without issuing any arrest memo and then subjecting them to brutal torture should be condemned by all.

Leishiwon has become so incapacitated today that she could not even hold her child forget about feeding the baby.

She could not stretch out her left leg and loses consciousness very frequently, Silla informed, while expressing regret over the failure of State Women Commission to even come and inquire about the condition of a woman victim of police atrocities.

Leishiwon was arrested along her cousin brother and veteran footballer Surrender Hungyo (45) and one Chihangsing (22) of Nungsong village from Khuman Lampak area by Imphal West Police District Police Commandos in the afternoon of August 19 .

The president of Tangkhul Aze Katamnao Long Shimthar Jajo alleged that of the three arrested arbitrarily, Leishiwon was granted bail the following day as her health condition deteriorated from the excesses committed by the police commandos.

Veteran footballer Surrender too was released yesterday.

But he is not able to stand up or sit down on his own.

Of the three, the police commandos first arrested Chihangsing.

Afterward, the two cousins were taken into custody.

The victim herself has disclosed that she was beaten up by the male police commandos and such act of beating up woman by a man is considered very serious in accordance to the customary laws of Tangkhul, Shimthar pointed out.

On the night of their arrest, all three of them were lodged together in a room where the police commandos placed three bullets on a table.

The police commandos then harassed and threatened them constantly with questions like to whom does the bullets belong, how the bullets came into their possession and that they are cadres of NSCN (IM) coming to plant bomb, Shimthar said.

All three of them are innocent people and should be released without any condition, he demanded.

On the other hand, the police have earlier claimed that all three were detained for further interrogation after they could not give a convincing answer to why they have come all the way from Yaingangpokpi to Khuman Lampak to collect Pig feeds.

During further interrogation, it was established they all three of them are cadres of NSCN (IM).

Police have also claimed that women police were present at the time of the arrest.

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