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

INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Meghalaya
custodial death. 6
On 23 February 2004, 1st Naga
Regiment jawans allegedly killed Gujan K
Marak, his wife Baljone R Marak, and
their seven- month-old daughter Nomela R
Marak on the spot when they fired
indiscriminately at their house during an
operation against the armed opposition
groups in Jengrikgre village in West Garo
Hills district. Their 14-year-old son Sabir
Kumar R Marak had a narrow escape with
bullet injuries on his left hand and leg and
burn injuries on his face due to the grenade
explosion. According to Sabir, three
suspected ULFA militants barged into their
house shortly after 10 pm and sought
accommodation for the night. Hardly ten
minutes later, the army arrived there. One
of the ULFA militants immediately lobbed
a grenade at the army killing the Major on
the spot. The militants then escaped into
the darkness. But the army personnel
retaliated and began indiscriminate firing
at the house. As the thatched house caught
fire, the mother and daughter were charred
beyond recognition. 7 Initially the army
claimed the victims to be ULFA militants
killed in encounter. But later they claimed
it to be “an IED blast” that killed them.
However the villagers and the local
Member of Legislative Assembly, Edmund
Sangma and the district administration
have reportedly confirmed that the
deceased were civilians. 8
ii. Arbitrary arrest, detention and torture
The police and central security forces
were also responsible for arbitrary arrest,
detention and harassment.
On 31 December 2003, the army
personnel allegedly evicted 23 families
from the Mathura Compound within the
Cantonment area in Shillong by burning
down the houses. Their belongings were
thrown out without serving any notice
prior to eviction. Around a hundred
evicted people had been forced to live in
the open after their eviction. The army had
allegedly illegally occupied vast areas of
land in Shillong. 9
On 1 July 2004, one Rishall
Kharbyngar was allegedly arrested
illegally and subjected to third degree
torture by Sub-Inspector J Koch in the
custody of Sadar Police Station. On 8 July
2004, the Guwahati High Court on a
petition filed by the Citizens’ Rights
Protection Group directed the police to
produce the victim before the Additional
District Magistrate. 10
On 9 July 2004, plain clothed army
personnel who were camping at Jagiroad,
close to Mawhati in Ri- Bhoi district
allegedly entered many villages, harassed
the villagers and forcibly took away
ginger, potatoes and other agricultural
produce. 11
III. Atrocities by Armed
Opposition Groups
The armed opposition groups in
Meghalaya are Achik National Volunteer
Council (ANVC), Hynniewtrep National
Liberation Council (HNLC) and United
A’chik National Front (UANF) from the
State. In addition, armed opposition
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