annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights
annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights
annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Manipur<br />
PIB Defence Wing in a statement said that<br />
the two were killed in a shootout with the<br />
Assam Rifles personnel and that they<br />
recovered two 9 mm pistols and assorted<br />
ammunition. On the other hand, family<br />
members stated Thangkhopao was<br />
engaged in carpentry work while<br />
Lalengthang was a farmer. 23<br />
On 31 May 2004, the body of<br />
Pheiroijam Sanajit, a relative of Manipur’s<br />
Food and Civil Supplies Minister<br />
Pheiroijam Parijat Singh, 24 was recovered<br />
at Mahajon corner situated between<br />
Senjam Chirang and Phumlo under<br />
Sekmai police station. PIB (Defence<br />
Wing) in a statement said the deceased<br />
was killed in an encounter with the<br />
security <strong>for</strong>ces. However, the family<br />
members of the deceased alleged that<br />
security personnel had picked up Sanajit<br />
from his residence at about 1 am on 31<br />
May 2004. They kicked open the door of<br />
the house and dragged him out from his<br />
bed without issuing an arrest memo.<br />
Family members also alleged that though<br />
Sanajit was attired in a Khudei at the time<br />
of his arrest, they found him clad in<br />
camouflage at the morgue of Regional<br />
Institutes of Medical Sciences, Imphal.<br />
They observed that camouflage uni<strong>for</strong>m<br />
did not fit him. The victim suffered<br />
multiple bullet wounds on the chest and<br />
stomach. 25 Following public protests, the<br />
Army authorities <strong>report</strong>edly instituted an<br />
inquiry on 2 June 200426 but the family<br />
members refused to accept the dead body.<br />
On 3 June 2004, the police dumped the<br />
body on the courtyard of Sanajit’s house.<br />
156<br />
But the Joint Action Committee refused to<br />
accept the body. Later Sanajit’s family was<br />
allegedly pressured by the police to<br />
per<strong>for</strong>m the last rites at the local<br />
crematorium. 27<br />
On 6 June 2004, the 38th Assam<br />
Rifles personnel <strong>report</strong>edly gunned down<br />
two alleged Kuki National Front (Military<br />
Council) cadres identified as sergeant<br />
major Hekho Haokip of Molphei Tampak<br />
and Haopu of Churachandpur town. The<br />
Assam Rifles authorities, in an official<br />
release, claimed that they were killed in an<br />
encounter at Bungte Chiru village. The<br />
villagers however alleged that the troops<br />
entered the Bungte Chiru village in the<br />
wee hours of 6 June 2004 and cordoned<br />
the entire village. The troops then called<br />
out all male persons of the village to the<br />
village playground and conducted<br />
verification. After singling out the two<br />
alleged KNF (MC) cadres, the troops shot<br />
them dead later at around 9.15 near the<br />
village. After killing the two, the Assam<br />
Rifles troops also picked up four innocent<br />
villagers - Jamkhota Luphou, son of<br />
Satkhai of Maphou dam, Thangchou<br />
Vaiphei son of Touthang of Bethelpai<br />
village near Maphou Dam, Rengner Chiru<br />
son of Janru of Bungte Chiru village and<br />
Seiminthang son of late Satcaho of<br />
Tuibong village, Churachandpur. While<br />
Rengner Chiru was released on the same<br />
day, the other three were <strong>report</strong>edly<br />
handed over to the Bishenpur police<br />
station on 7 June 2004. 28<br />
45-year-old Ashang Tangkhul, who<br />
ran a roadside eatery at Litan, was found