Harassment slur casts on AR men
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 28 2015 : A case of Assam Rifles personnel harassing civilian has resurfaced once again.

Jawans of 25 Assam Rifles under the command of an officer identified as Major Vinod have been accused of harassing a Customs officer on official duty at a place between Tujang Vaichong and Chawang Kining, near Kangpokpi along IT Road yesterday around 10 am.

The official vehicle of an IRS officer, Gaikhonlung Panmei, Assistant Commissioner of Customs, Dept of Revenue was reportedly stopped, frisked and he was allegedly interrogated for almost an hour.

"During the course of the search, the jawans used very offensive, abusive and derogatory remarks against the Customs Dept and on my official position despite showing my official identity card and my name plate on the vehicle," Gaikhonlung Panmei, who was reportedly on official (surveillance) duty, said in a complaint letter to the Commandant of 25 AR, Lairouching.

"The AR jawans forced me to get down from the vehicle and make entry of the vehicle at the check post manned by them (AR).

And when I refused, they cocked their weapons and threatened to shoot me," Panmei said.

Under the order of the Major, the Custom officer was also allegedly frisked and searched thoroughly twice in full public view, with a warning to shut his mouth or else face dire consequences.

Despite repeated pleas to allow him to proceed so that he could attend an important official meeting scheduled at 11am, the officer was detained forcing him to miss the meeting.

"Maj Vinod treated me like a hard-core militant or smuggler as he ordered his jawans to search and rummage my official vehicle not only once but twice," he said.

With the order of the Major, the AR jawans reportedly removed almost every visible parts of his vehicle and thoroughly checked which they hardly do in case of other normal vehicles.

"I consider Major Vinod's actions as highly unethical, amounting to the abuse of power and lacking officer-like-qualities," Panmei said.

As the AR men could not find any substantive evidences against him, Maj Vinod allegedly asked him to sign on a NOC which he refused.

The AR officer then compelled Panmei's driver to sign on the NOC and without his consent.

The Major also took a video of the officer.

Meanwhile, Panmei, in the complaint letter, sought explanation and justification from the higher authority of the AR as to why the 'unruly' AR jawans and Maj Vinod obstructed him while on duty and detained him for more than 50 minutes when there was no slightest provocation and threat perception to them at all.

He also sought explanation as to why he should be frisked twice, assaulted in full public view and threatened to be shot and arrested even after showing his official identity proof and other requisite vehicle documents.

Categorically asking if there is any law of the AR that authorises jawans or officers to harass, arrest and shoot under the garb of AFSPA, Panmei requested the AR authority to initiate stringent disciplinary actions against Major Vinod and jawans of 25 Assam Rifles.

The complaint letter was was also sent to the CM, Dy CM, Principal Secretary (Home), IG AR (S), Commissioner of Customs (Prev), NER, Shillong and President, IRS Association, Shillong Zone.

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