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

INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Assam
On 5 February 2004, about 10,000
people from Kakapathar area under
Tinsukia district blocked the NH-52 to
protest against army atrocities during
cordon and search operations. 29 A month
later, on 5 March 2004, civil society and
community organizations of Batabari,
Dowamakha, Nalkhamra, Komoramakha
under Udalguri police station in Darrang
district staged a four-hour long sit-indemonstration
to protest against the army
atrocities in those villages since January
2004. Villagers were allegedly picked up
and tortured by the army jawans of Punjab
Artillery regiment stationed at Harisinga.
The villagers were accused of harbouring
the armed opposition groups like
supplying foodstuff and involvement in
the antisocial activities. 30
On 25 February 2004, Sanjay
Jaisowal, a businessman from Udalgiri
police station was mercilessly tortured by
the Army jawans on charges of his alleged
links with the armed opposition groups.
On 7 January 2004, another petty
businessman Dayaram Jaisowal from
Udalgiri police station was inhumanly
tortured by the army. 31
On 29 February 2004, Bhupen Rabha
of Amjuli village under Udalgiri police
station was allegedly picked up and
subjected to inhumane torture at the
Harisingia army camp. The villagers of
Amjuli also filed a case at Mangaldai
court. 32
On 4 April 2004, the army personnel
allegedly detained Kharpathu Chauhan,
President of All Assam Bhojpuri Yuba
24
Chatra Parisad, Karbi Anglong for more
than 40 hours at Mailoo in Karbi Anglong
district. On 6 April 2004, the army
personnel reportedly picked up Gautam
Muni Chauhan from his Bogrighat
residence in Karbi Anglong and inflicted
physical punishment. The army also beat
up twelve other persons, who were present
at Gautam Chauhan’s residence when he
was being taken away. 33
On 19 May 2004, President
Manoranjan Kalita, General Secretary
Iqbal Hussain and Assistant General
Secretary Romen Rajbongshi of
Dhamdhama unit of the All Assam
Students Union were arbitrarily arrested
and tortured by the Army jawans at the
Barama camp. They were reportedly
stripped and given electric shocks. 34 On 26
May 2004, the Assam State Human Rights
Commission directed the Nalbari district
authorities to inquire into the allegations. 35
III. Violence against women
Women in rural Assam have been
target of sexual violence by the central
security forces and the State police. They
were molested, physically assaulted and
raped.
Five Bodo women, including a 60year-old,
were allegedly gang raped by
jawans of the Kumaon Regiment at
Ultapani village under Bismuri police
outpost in Kokrajhar district during the
intervening night of 31 December 2003
and 1 January 2004. During a night raid in
the village, the jawans barged into the
houses in groups of two or three and raped