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

INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Assam
embraced his father, the army personnel
allegedly kicked him in the face. Nobody
was allowed to go to the site of the killing
even 5 hours after the incident. The army
personnel also allegedly forced the
villagers to sign or give thumb
impressions on a piece of paper. On 1
December 2004, the State Government of
Assam ordered an inquiry into the
incident. 20
Death in police custody
Assam Police personnel were also
responsible for arbitrary deprivation of life
in their custody as well as through the use
of disproportionate force.
On 17 February 2004, Sushil Chetia of
Gowalchapori was allegedly shot dead by
a personal security guard of the session
judge of Dhemaji district while returning
to his village because of personal enmity. 21
On 12 March 2004, Assam Police
personnel opened fire on the
demonstrators in Badarpur area and killed
one Tajuddin. The demonstrators were
protesting against deteriorating law and
order situation. 22 The Assam Government
constituted a one-man inquiry committee
headed by T Phukan, district and session
judge, Karimganj to probe the incident. 23
On 4 April 2004, 14-year-old detainee
Bhupen Singh Terang died at Guwahati
Medical College Hospital while under the
police custody of Diphu, Karbi Anglong.
Terang, a class IX student and an orphan
was arrested on 21 March 2004 on charges
of having links with the anti-talk faction of
the UPDS. 24
On 6 August 2004, Satish Raheja and
Ruby Raheja were killed by police
personnel of Bogoribari police station on
the NH-31 under Dhubri district. The two
allegedly ignored police signals to stop
their vehicle at Chagolia police outpost. 25
On 20 August 2004, Rajeswar Hokai
was found dead at the Ulukunchi Police
outpost under Baithalangsu police station
in Karbi Anglong district after being
arrested for his suspected ULFA links. 26
On 20 August 2004, two Tiwas were
killed after police opened fire on
demonstrators who were protesting against
the custodial death of a suspected thief in
Baithalanshu police station in Karbi
Anglong district. 27
Mohammed Irdis, an inmate of the
Nagaon district jail arrested in connection
with a murder case in Puthimari under
Juria police station limits of Nagaon
district reportedly died in judicial custody
in April 2004. 28
ii. Arbitrary arrest, detention and torture
The arbitrary arrest, detention, torture
and other abuses during cordon and search
operations are routine in Assam. The
victims are taken into custody without any
arrest memo or warrant. They are held in
illegal detentions without being produced
before the courts. They are tortured for
alleged links with the armed groups, to
extract information about the movement of
the armed groups and sometimes simply
for protesting the highhandedness of the
security personnel or inability to pay
bribes.
23