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

INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Tripura
Ambassa police station and enquired of
him. Not finding Debnath at home, the
armed groups reportedly kidnapped his
daughter Aloka Debnath (13) at gunpoint.
While retreating they fired on two nontribals
Bishwajit Rudra Paul and Rakhal
Adhikari - both residents of Kulai,
Gandacherra - who were returning from
Kulai market. They were reportedly
rushed to Kulai hospital, where Biswajit
succumbed to his injuries. 30
On 20 October 2004, alleged NLFT
cadres killed four persons in two incidents
at Dabbari and Kucchuchara villages in
Dhalai district. Kalicharan Namashudra, a
resident of Dabbari village and his 10year-old
son, Uttam were shot dead at
point blank range at Padmakumarpara area
under Kachucherra police station in Dhalai
district when they were returning home
from Durga Puja along with other villagers
on the night of 20 October 2004. Another
group of armed NLFT cadres broke into
the house of one Bimal and killed him and
his two-year-old son, Sagar, in the
Kachucherra police station area. 31
On 27 October 2004, suspected
members of the armed opposition groups
reportedly killed two persons on the spot
and injured seven, four of them seriously,
when they ambushed a passenger jeep on
Tulashikar-Goaltilla road under Khowai
police station. Those killed were
Shibcharan Debnath of Basantilla and
Priyotosh Pal Choudhury of Dibodhya
area of Khowai sub-division. The four
critically injured persons were rushed to
the GB Hospital while others were
admitted at Khowai hospital. 32
ii. Kidnapping and abduction
Kidapping has become the cottage
industry of Tripura. While indigenous
peoples and non-indigenous peoples have
equally become victims of kidnapping,
tribals living in remote areas remained
more vulnerable to kidnapping. Members
of the ruling Communist Party became
specific target. Different armed opposition
groups had reportedly kidnapped 83
civilians in 2004. Although 40 persons
returned home safely, about 43 abducted
persons were missing at the end of the
year. 33
Tribal victims
On 17 January 2004, Joy Kumar
Tripura, CPI (M) leader and chairman of
North Gokulnagar Village Council under
Teliamura police station in West Tripura
district was kidnapped from his house. 34
On 8 March 2004, alleged members of
the NLFT reportedly raided the
Chikoncherra village in Dhalai district and
searched for CPM leader, Dashendra
Tripura. Not finding Dashendra Tripura,
they abducted 50-year-old tribal jhum
cultivator, Jalashanti Tripura, at gunpoint.
They also allegedly threatened the
farmer’s family and other residents of the
village with dire consequences if they
informed police about the incident.
However, Dashendra Tripura’s wife
lodged a complaint at the Manu police
station. 35
Suspected NLFT (Biswamohan
235