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

INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Tripura
Tripura. The outcome of the probe is still
awaited. Earlier, the state government had
also instituted a CID probe into the
mysterious death of a tribal youth,
Rathojay Jamatia in Assam Rifles’ custody
at Kanchanpur in North Tripura in June
2003. The CID officers reportedly claimed
to have found enough evidence of murder
of Rathojay Tripura in the Assam Rifles
custody. Similar cold-blooded murders of
surrendered armed opposition group
members by the police and security forces
were also reported from Takarjala, Jirania
and other disturbed areas in West Tripura
district. 18 However, little action was taken
against the errant security personnel.
III. Abuses by the armed
opposition groups
The armed opposition groups have
also been responsible for gross violations
of international humanitarian laws
including violence to life and person, in
particular murder of all kinds, mutilation,
cruel treatment and torture and taking of
hostages. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar
informed the State Assembly on 13
December 2004 that altogether 69 people
were killed and 59 injured by the armed
groups in 2004. 19 While it was difficult to
verify as to which particular groups were
responsible for the killings, all the armed
opposition groups were involved in the
violation of international humanitarian
laws.
i. Murder and indiscriminate killings
While both the tribals and non-tribals
were victims of murder by the members of
the armed opposition groups, it appears
that political activists of the ruling
Communist Party of Tripura were specific
target.
Tribal victims
On the mid-night of 28 July 2004,
Kutainya Tripura, son of a CPM supporter,
Rasik Kumar Tripura of Baishnavpur
village under Manu police station in
Dhalai district was kidnapped by members
of the armed opposition groups at
gunpoint to show the way to Rishabari
across the hill. He accompanied them till
one kilometre and was then reportedly
shot from point blank range. On the
morning of 29 July 2004, police recovered
his bullet-riddled body from the jungles. 20
On 23 October 2004, alleged members
of the National Liberation Front of Tripura
(NLFT-BM) reportedly shot dead Tribal
leader Gaganjoy Roaja, son of former
CPM legislator Andamohan Roaja, at
Durgapur under Gandacherra police
station in Dhalai district. Gaganjoy Roaja,
chairman of a local village council, was
reportedly taking tea at a local tea stall at
about 9.50 am when four insurgents
appeared there and opened indiscriminate
firing, killing him on the spot. A BSF
constable who was taking tea with
Gaganjoy also sustained serious bullet
injuries. Another TSR personnel posted at
Ratannagar camp was also killed in the
ensuing gun battle with the armed
opposition groups. Gaganjoy’s father,
Ananda Mohan Roaja was also shot dead
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