annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights

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