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 Assam<br />
On 5 February 2004, about 10,000<br />
people from Kakapathar area under<br />
Tinsukia district blocked the NH-52 to<br />
protest against army atrocities during<br />
cordon and search operations. 29 A month<br />
later, on 5 March 2004, civil society and<br />
community organizations of Batabari,<br />
Dowamakha, Nalkhamra, Komoramakha<br />
under Udalguri police station in Darrang<br />
district staged a four-hour long sit-indemonstration<br />
to protest against the army<br />
atrocities in those villages since January<br />
2004. Villagers were allegedly picked up<br />
and tortured by the army jawans of Punjab<br />
Artillery regiment stationed at Harisinga.<br />
The villagers were accused of harbouring<br />
the armed opposition groups like<br />
supplying foodstuff and involvement in<br />
the antisocial activities. 30<br />
On 25 February 2004, Sanjay<br />
Jaisowal, a businessman from Udalgiri<br />
police station was mercilessly tortured by<br />
the Army jawans on charges of his alleged<br />
links with the armed opposition groups.<br />
On 7 January 2004, another petty<br />
businessman Dayaram Jaisowal from<br />
Udalgiri police station was inhumanly<br />
tortured by the army. 31<br />
On 29 February 2004, Bhupen Rabha<br />
of Amjuli village under Udalgiri police<br />
station was allegedly picked up and<br />
subjected to inhumane torture at the<br />
Harisingia army camp. The villagers of<br />
Amjuli also filed a case at Mangaldai<br />
court. 32<br />
On 4 April 2004, the army personnel<br />
allegedly detained Kharpathu Chauhan,<br />
President of All Assam Bhojpuri Yuba<br />
24<br />
Chatra Parisad, Karbi Anglong <strong>for</strong> more<br />
than 40 hours at Mailoo in Karbi Anglong<br />
district. On 6 April 2004, the army<br />
personnel <strong>report</strong>edly picked up Gautam<br />
Muni Chauhan from his Bogrighat<br />
residence in Karbi Anglong and inflicted<br />
physical punishment. The army also beat<br />
up twelve other persons, who were present<br />
at Gautam Chauhan’s residence when he<br />
was being taken away. 33<br />
On 19 May 2004, President<br />
Manoranjan Kalita, General Secretary<br />
Iqbal Hussain and Assistant General<br />
Secretary Romen Rajbongshi of<br />
Dhamdhama unit of the All Assam<br />
Students Union were arbitrarily arrested<br />
and tortured by the Army jawans at the<br />
Barama camp. They were <strong>report</strong>edly<br />
stripped and given electric shocks. 34 On 26<br />
May 2004, the Assam State <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong><br />
Commission directed the Nalbari district<br />
authorities to inquire into the allegations. 35<br />
III. Violence against women<br />
Women in rural Assam have been<br />
target of sexual violence by the central<br />
security <strong>for</strong>ces and the State police. They<br />
were molested, physically assaulted and<br />
raped.<br />
Five Bodo women, including a 60year-old,<br />
were allegedly gang raped by<br />
jawans of the Kumaon Regiment at<br />
Ultapani village under Bismuri police<br />
outpost in Kokrajhar district during the<br />
intervening night of 31 December 2003<br />
and 1 January 2004. During a night raid in<br />
the village, the jawans barged into the<br />
houses in groups of two or three and raped