Alleged custodial death of Arambam Nanao : MHRC urged to monitor probe
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 06 2022: At least three human rights organisations have written to the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) to monitor the investigation of the 'custodial' torture and death of Arambam Nanao on May 2 .

In a letter addressed to the Chairperson of MHRC, Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and the United Nations (CSCHR), Human Rights Alert (HRA) and Extrajudicial Execution Victim Families Association, Manipur (EEVFAM) said that Nanao was whisked away by some people in plain clothes on the morning of May 2 and it was later learnt that they were police team lead by Sub Inspector Jitendro Singh.

Informing that the family members of Nanao went to Imphal Police station at around 10 am of the said day and waited for the Sub Inspector, it alleged that the police officer came out at around 1.30 pm and told the family members to arrange Rs five lakh to secure the release of Nanao.

Further claiming that Nanao was brought out from the police lock up limping for a brief period and he requested his family to arrange the money, the letter alleged that Nanao was taken back without giving any further time to talk to his family.

As per the three organisations, the family members requested SI Jitendro to give time till 5 pm to arrange the money but the former insisted that the money must be delivered by 3 pm.

Claiming that the arrest memo signed by the Sub Inspector didn't mention the reason nor date and time of the arrest, it further claimed that there wasn't any signature of a witness in the arrest memo either.

A police team headed by SI Jitendro brought Nanao back to his house at around 3 pm and they (the police) put him (Nanao) and his family members under tremendous stress, it claimed and alleged that Nanao collapsed inside the house and he was declared brought dead by the doctors at RIMS Hospital.

Tale-tell signs of torture such as bruise marks were found on the body, it claimed.

Saying that SI Jitendro was suspended on May 2 and on the next day an FIR was registered against him, the three human rights groups urged the MHRC to look into the matter so as to ensure prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigation.

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