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
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INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Meghalaya<br />
The security <strong>for</strong>ces and the armed<br />
opposition groups were responsible <strong>for</strong><br />
violations of human rights and<br />
fundamental freedoms. On the morning of<br />
18 February 2004, Rajesh Chetri, a<br />
resident of Mawlai Nongpathaw, was<br />
found death at the Pynursla police station<br />
in East Khasi Hills district. 3<br />
The failure to resolve the longstanding<br />
boundary dispute with Assam led<br />
to the arrival of 200 Khasi families in<br />
November 2004. Over 4000 Khasi-Pnars<br />
from Block I and Block II areas in Karbi<br />
Anglong of Assam had returned in late<br />
2003 after being displaced due to<br />
continued threats and atrocities<br />
perpetrated by Karbi armed opposition<br />
groups.<br />
The violence against women in the<br />
State famous <strong>for</strong> matrilineal societies<br />
continued. Rescue of a 25-year-old woman<br />
by an NGO from being trafficked from<br />
Shillong highlights systematic and wellknitted<br />
network of the traffickers. The<br />
State Women’s Commission was allegedly<br />
constituted without consultations with<br />
NGOs.<br />
The ruling coalition shot down a<br />
private member Right to In<strong>for</strong>mation Bill<br />
presented be<strong>for</strong>e the State assembly.<br />
Indigenous peoples led by the Khasi<br />
Students’ Union, Hynniewtrep<br />
Environment Status Preservation<br />
Organisation and Meghalaya People’s<br />
<strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> Council continued their<br />
protest against the proposed mining by the<br />
Uranium Corporation of India Limited at<br />
Domiasiat in the West Khasi Hills District.<br />
170<br />
II. Atrocities by security <strong>for</strong>ces<br />
i. Arbitrary, summary and extrajudicial<br />
executions<br />
The state police and the Central<br />
security <strong>for</strong>ces have been responsible <strong>for</strong><br />
widespread violations of human rights<br />
such as harassment, arbitrary arrest and<br />
detention, torture, <strong>for</strong>cible eviction of<br />
families from their houses and<br />
extrajudicial killings. The NHRC recorded<br />
two deaths in judicial custody in 1999-<br />
2000, one death in police custody in 2000-<br />
2001, 3 deaths in police custody and two<br />
deaths in judicial custody in 2001-2002<br />
and 6 deaths in judicial and police custody<br />
2002-2003. 4<br />
On 18 February 2004, the West Garo<br />
Hills Deputy Commissioner ordered a<br />
magisterial enquiry headed by Dadenggre<br />
Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), R P Marak<br />
into the killing of four civilians under<br />
mysterious circumstances by the police.<br />
The police claimed that they were ANVC<br />
members and killed in an encounter. The<br />
magisterial inquiry was ordered following<br />
a representation by the Mothers’ Union of<br />
Tura claiming that they were innocent<br />
civilians. 5<br />
On the morning of 18 February 2004,<br />
Rajesh Chetri, a resident of Mawlai<br />
Nongpathaw, was found death at the<br />
Pynursla police station in East Khasi Hills<br />
district. He was arrested along with two<br />
others Clinton Khongriat from Wahingdoh<br />
and Rapbor Marwein from Jaiaw in<br />
connection with a robbery case near<br />
Wahkdait on 16 February 2004. A<br />
magisterial inquiry was ordered into his