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

INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Mizoram
of the State. These organisations are given
the responsibility of maintaining law and
order in their locality and often act as law
unto themselves.
There were reports that those caught
in conflict with the law are put into
wooden cages by these organizations as a
part of traditional justice. The accused are
not handed over to the police. The
complaints which are sometimes criminal
in nature are decided by the so-called Joint
Action Committees or Village Defence
Party. They also impose monetary penalty.
The hairs of the accused are shaved
off. The community leader and other
individuals can order dismantling or
ransacking of the houses and force them
out of their house for allegedly not
conforming to certain norms set by the
traditional bodies. 31
Mrs. Sangkhumi, an indigenous
women and virtual homeless was found to
be in possession of 1 litre country liquor in
the late evening of 22 August 2004. She
was taken into custody by the Village
Council President of Vaivakawn,
Rotluanga. She was brutally beaten. They
also extorted her money amounting to Rs
2,600.00 (Rupees two thousand and six
hundred only). In addition, the Village
Council President and his accomplice
shaved off her hair. If she were to be found
guilty under the Mizoram Total
Prohibition Act, 1995, she could be fined
but no corporal punishment could be
awarded. 32 ■
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