Freed man disappears
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 15 2012: In another apparent case of enforced disappearance, a former cadre of KCP-MC, who has been freed from Sajiwa Central Jail by the Court, has disappeared mysteriously.

Meanwhile, family members have been complaining that it was not a case of disappearance but abduction by security forces.

Ngangom Sovet Meitei (35) alias Chingkheinganba s/o late Tomba of Napet Palli, Imphal East district under Lamlai police station should have been freed from jail as per an order issued by the CJM Senapati on June 13 .

Another order issued by Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench on June 8 revoked the earlier order pertaining to detention of Sovet under NSA.

Family members of Sovet took the order issued by CJM Senapati to the jail authority on June 13 itself.

The family members waited for release of Sovet at the gate of Sajiwa Central Jail till 9 pm.

At last, they were told by Jail SP in-charge Phanitphang to come the next day at 11 am.

Accordingly, the family members went to Sajiwa Central Jail in the morning of June 14.But Ngangom Modhu, mother of Sovet was told that her son had been handed over to a team who came in Gypsy embossed with the word 'Imphal East District Police, Commando-I' .

This was disclosed by Modhu herself during a press meet at Manipur Press Club today.

She questioned as to how the jail authority handed over a man who has been freed by Court to police commandos without any verification or identification with family members.

Sovet was arrested by a combined team of Assam Rifles and Tripura Police from Agartala on August 7 last year on the charge of being a leader of KCP faction.

He was brought to Imphal the same day and 13 FIR cases were registered against him by Manipur Police.

The case deposed before CJM Senapati was the last one.

Thinking that it might be a case of re-arrest, Modhu remained silent.

But when some other family members enquired about Sovet at Imphal East District Police Headquarters at Porompat, it was told commandos have handed over Sovet to a team of 30 Assam Rifles.

Quoting eye-witnesses, Modhu said that the AR team took her son to Mantripukhri and then along NH 2 northward.

Saying that the whereabouts of Sovet still remained unknown, the worried mother questioned as to why a man freed by Court is being forced to disappear involuntarily.

The conduct of both the jail authority and the police cannot term re-arrest.

It is nothing short of abduction, Modhu asserted.

Even if, Sovet was being taken away to prepare for signing a suspension of operation pact either with the Government or security forces or both, his location should be disclosed, and he should be allowed to communicate with family members, Modhu said.

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