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 Tripura<br />
Tripura. The outcome of the probe is still<br />
awaited. Earlier, the state government had<br />
also instituted a CID probe into the<br />
mysterious death of a tribal youth,<br />
Rathojay Jamatia in Assam Rifles’ custody<br />
at Kanchanpur in North Tripura in June<br />
2003. The CID officers <strong>report</strong>edly claimed<br />
to have found enough evidence of murder<br />
of Rathojay Tripura in the Assam Rifles<br />
custody. Similar cold-blooded murders of<br />
surrendered armed opposition group<br />
members by the police and security <strong>for</strong>ces<br />
were also <strong>report</strong>ed from Takarjala, Jirania<br />
and other disturbed areas in West Tripura<br />
district. 18 However, little action was taken<br />
against the errant security personnel.<br />
III. Abuses by the armed<br />
opposition groups<br />
The armed opposition groups have<br />
also been responsible <strong>for</strong> gross violations<br />
of international humanitarian laws<br />
including violence to life and person, in<br />
particular murder of all kinds, mutilation,<br />
cruel treatment and torture and taking of<br />
hostages. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar<br />
in<strong>for</strong>med the State Assembly on 13<br />
December 2004 that altogether 69 people<br />
were killed and 59 injured by the armed<br />
groups in 2004. 19 While it was difficult to<br />
verify as to which particular groups were<br />
responsible <strong>for</strong> the killings, all the armed<br />
opposition groups were involved in the<br />
violation of international humanitarian<br />
laws.<br />
i. Murder and indiscriminate killings<br />
While both the tribals and non-tribals<br />
were victims of murder by the members of<br />
the armed opposition groups, it appears<br />
that political activists of the ruling<br />
Communist Party of Tripura were specific<br />
target.<br />
Tribal victims<br />
On the mid-night of 28 July 2004,<br />
Kutainya Tripura, son of a CPM supporter,<br />
Rasik Kumar Tripura of Baishnavpur<br />
village under Manu police station in<br />
Dhalai district was kidnapped by members<br />
of the armed opposition groups at<br />
gunpoint to show the way to Rishabari<br />
across the hill. He accompanied them till<br />
one kilometre and was then <strong>report</strong>edly<br />
shot from point blank range. On the<br />
morning of 29 July 2004, police recovered<br />
his bullet-riddled body from the jungles. 20<br />
On 23 October 2004, alleged members<br />
of the National Liberation Front of Tripura<br />
(NLFT-BM) <strong>report</strong>edly shot dead Tribal<br />
leader Gaganjoy Roaja, son of <strong>for</strong>mer<br />
CPM legislator Andamohan Roaja, at<br />
Durgapur under Gandacherra police<br />
station in Dhalai district. Gaganjoy Roaja,<br />
chairman of a local village council, was<br />
<strong>report</strong>edly taking tea at a local tea stall at<br />
about 9.50 am when four insurgents<br />
appeared there and opened indiscriminate<br />
firing, killing him on the spot. A BSF<br />
constable who was taking tea with<br />
Gaganjoy also sustained serious bullet<br />
injuries. Another TSR personnel posted at<br />
Ratannagar camp was also killed in the<br />
ensuing gun battle with the armed<br />
opposition groups. Gaganjoy’s father,<br />
Ananda Mohan Roaja was also shot dead<br />
233