REF: UA 30- 26/08/2010 IMP-HRI

Although the extrajudicial execution cases in Manipur had been declined  after people’s strong protest following the 23/7 Police Shootout in 2009, in the recent months the alleged encounter deaths were coming up again. There were about 7/8 cases though family have not claimed publicly yet. A public meeting at Terapisak community hall on 15 August and a press release by the Hiyanglam, Wabgai, and Terapisak Meira Paibis (Women Human Rights Defenders) on 16 August showed concerns about the frequent shoot outs by the Security Forces (SF) and unknown persons after they have brought the people at the desolate area of Natekthong, Thongjin and Thongyai Heibong Makhong in Thoubal District. Amidst such re-alarming environment of Manipur with the impunity of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958; the SF continue to commit human rights violations. The following is one recent case of such violations.

Custodial Killing and Torture of Naorem Bikarm and Naorem Bungochandra

A combined force of 12th Madras Regiment stationed at Sangaikot and Bishnupur District Police Commandos entered  Khoijuman Tabi Village in three/four vehicles at around 11 pm of 11 August 2010. Then they came to the house  of Mr. Naorem Bungochandra aged about 23 and called Naorem Khamba, the father of Bungochandra saying the caller wanted to buy something [as the father runs a small shop around his house compound]. The father   opened the door and then suddenly some uniform security personnel stormed into the house. Seeing the intimidating action of the armed personnel he woke up the family members. One or two personnel asked the elder brother of Bungochandra about his identity, he identified himself as Naorem Ratan. As some of the personnel saw Bungochandra then suddenly they were taking him out of the house, pushed in their vehicle and folded eyes. His wife and family members were standing stunned at such confusing situation.

After this at around the 11:30 pm, the same uniformed personnel came to the house of Bungochandra’s cousin named Mr. Naorem Bikram alias Modhu aged about 25. The house is about 150 meters away from Bungochandra’s. Bikram and his parents were sleeping in the house that time. One of the security forces asked the family to open the door. Bikram’s mother, Naorem (ongbi) Bilasini answered negatively assuming that was one Mr. Chingtham Ningthem from the same locality [but presen

tly staying at his wife place in Napat] whom the villagers fear of his clandestine activities with SF.   Suddenly they broke the door and got into the house. Some of them were dragging him away while some of them were ransacking the house. The mother tried to got her son back from the SF’s hands but she failed to do.

After some hours later the Meira Paibis (women human rights defenders) of the village, members of the two families along with Pradhan of Borayangbi Gram Panchayat (local government representative) hired a bus and rushed to Kumbi Police Station. They complained and inquired about the arrest of the cousins. The police informed them that the duo were brought in the station and stayed for some time but soon the same combined force took them away to Sangaikot army station.  Also the police informed families and Meira Paibis to come again at 8 o’clock in the morning.

The SF turned up at the Kumbi Police Station to hand over the duo cousins in the morning of 12 August around 10: 30. However the Kumbi Police refused to receive them because the condition of Bikram looked worst and almost dead. Afterward the SF took them to Moirang Police Station and handed over there.

As the family and Meira Paibis of the locality came to know that Bikram was dead in the SF’s custody they were enraged and stormed the Moirsang Police Station. They protested the incident by demanding to punish the perpetrators and Mr. Ningthem who gave wrong information to the SF and caused the incident.

A Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the incident was formed. In the afternoon of 12 August Mr. N. Mangi Member of Legislative Assembly of Kumbi arranged a meeting with JAC’s representatives and the Chief Minister of Manipur. After a strong assertion from the JAC, the Chief Minister agreed to conduct a judicial inquiry. The family received the dead body after post mortem in Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in the morning of the 13 August and performed cremation in the afternoon.

The locals claimed the duo were innocent who lived by engaging agricultural works. Bikram even wanted to join SF; he attended Indian Reserved Battalion recruitment test. The SF did not issue any arrest memo when they were arrested and also according to police there were no weapons and any incriminating materials recovered from them.  The survival victim, Bungochandra was found with severe tortured marked; he was beaten and administered electric shock several times asking whereabouts the weapons. He found himself semi-conscious at the Moirang Police Station. Later  Bungochandra was released on bail in afternoon of the 12 August. He is in a much traumatized condition - hardly speaks out to journalists and human rights defenders. Besides, the two family members are also seen under trauma.

On 19 August there was a public meeting including Apunba Lup (Manipur Civil Society Apex Body) Meira Paibis and other human rights defenders at community hall of Chairen Mangjing protesting this human rights violation incident. The meeting demanded a written assurance of judicial inquiry by the 24 August. However ignoring the demand and concern of people, on 23 August the government of Manipur issued a district magisterial inquiry that should be conducted by the administrative deputy commissioner not by the judicial authority.

Action requested
Please write to the authorities in India/ Manipur urging them to:
i. Conduct a judicial inquiry into cases of the both victims with a prior sanction from Central Government, Delhi [otherwise such inquiry is not valid under the section 6 of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.]
ii. Ensure that an effective remedy as well as the right to full redress, including compensation and rehabilitation, is granted to the victim family and victim concerned;
iii. Guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the
country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
Addresses
i. Mr. Shri Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, Prime Minister’s Office, Room
number 152, South Block, New Delhi; Fax: + 91 11 2301 9545, + 91 11 2301 6857.
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ;
ii. Mr. P. Chidambaram, Union Minister of Home Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, 104-107 North Block, New Delhi 110 001 India; Fax: +91 11 2309 2979;
iii. Mr. Gurbachan Jagat, Governor of Manipur, Raj Bhavan, Imphal, India;
Phone: +91 385222 0009, Fax: +91 385 222 0278;
iv. Mr. Okram Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur, Chief Minister’s Secretariat,
Babupara, Imphal, Manipur, India; Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
v. Mr. Y Joykumar, Director General of Police, Bapupara, Imphal, Manipur, India;
Fax: + 91385 2223825 / 2221166, Phone: +91 385 2451166 / 2220289,
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
v. Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations (Geneva), Rue du Valais 9, 1202
Geneva; Tel: +41 22 906 86 86, Fax: +41 22 906 86 96, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it