Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 19:
Highlighting the excesses committed by personnel of 24 Assam Rifles at Moreh during the last many days, the Women Joint Action Committee, Moreh has submitted a memorandum to Governor Dr SS Sidhu through the Chandel DC, urging for the removal of 24 AR from Moreh and from the Pallel-Moreh route.
Detailing the series of excesses committed by the AR men, the memorandum said that on January 1, one man was picked up by the AR personnel while he was watching a Shumang Lila at the Moreh police campus.
When the women folk went to the AR camp the next day to demand an arrest memo, they denied making the arrest.
The same story was repeated on January 3 again said the memorandum and alleged that the women folk who had gone to demand the arrest memo were beaten up.
Despite the earlier denial, the arrested man, Jayenta alias Vicky was handed over to Imphal police on January 4.On January 1, just after arresting Jayenta, the AR troops raided the residence of one Md Pishak and demanded that his son be produced.
When told that the son was out of station, the AR men severely beat up a mentally challenged son of Pishak.
The AR men also took away Rs 2500.In the night of January 11, AR men in civvies shot dead a social worker Mangcha Haokip, at Chawang Phai, said the JAC.
Listing the other excesses of AR men, the memorandum said that on January 15, arrested a waiter of Geetanjali hotel at Moreh bazar (ward number 6) and demanded that he supply them women.
The next day the waiter was again called out and threatened with dire consequences if he fails them to provide women, charged the JAC.
A large number of women folk were also severely assaulted when they demanded an arrest memo when the AR men tried to arrest one N Chaoba from Hotel Broad-way at Moreh on January 16 at about 3.30 pm, charged the JAC further.
On January 17, the arrested man was handed over to Moreh police station wherein he complained that he was sodomised in the custody of Assam Rifles, further said the memorandum.
All these excesses and human rights violations are intolerable, said the memorandum and urged the Governor to remove 24 Assam Rifles from Moreh as well as from the Moreh-Pallel route too.
In place of the 24 Assam Rifles disciplined forces like Madras Regiment and Kumaon Regiment be deploy- ed at Moreh, it added.
Meanwhile help and assistance has been provided to the women folk who were injured in the assault by 24 AR men when they demanded an arrest memo while the troops were trying to arrest Chaoba on January 16 at Moreh' Broadway hotel.
Addressing reporters at the office of AMESCO today, general secretary of Nupi Khunai Chaokhat Lamjing Lup, Y Jotila said that they can no longer bear the excesses of the Assam Rifles men at Moreh and added that either the people will be killed by the AR men or they have to commit suicide.
The Committee on Human Rights has also strongly condemned the excesses of the AR men.