Testimony of Sh. Leimakhujam Kokullo Singh
I, Sh. Leimakhujam Kokullo Singh aged about 47 years, S/O Sh. Leimakhujam Kulachandra Singh, R/O Haorang Keirel Leikai, P.O. Patsoi, P.S. Patsoi, District Imphal West, 795003, presently residing at temporary plastic makeshift tent at Sanakeithel Market, Lamphelpat, Imphal East District, selling seasonal fruits along with my wife. I have one daughter, Miss Purnima, 15 years old reading in class VIII at Lalambung Government School.
I was a normal person living a healthy and happy life with a beautiful wife and daughter. However, life took a drastic change with the two unforgettable moments of my life. These incidents took away my normal physical posture and turn me into a physically challenged person which I have to live with it for the rest of my life.
The first incident took place in the year 1993. I went to Tamenglong for some work and on returning, I was celebrating a small party with my friends at my house. After the party we went to our gate, I saw a parked vehicle and I prompted to my friends that the vehicle might get hit by the bullock cart parking in the darkness. I was little rude in my tone as I was inebriated. Few people, suspected to be militants, were sitting in the darkness and they replied back so, we had an altercation. I threatened them and tried to set the vehicle on fire. My friends and relatives came out on hearing the altercation and stopped me from setting the vehicle on fire. We were pacified and they went away. After a lapse of 15 days on 3rd July 1993, several armed persons, suspected to be militants belonging to the valley groups, came to our house at night and called me out at the gate. My father ran after me and begged them to spare my life. One of the people pushed my father and hit him with the rifle butt severely on his left lower back which made him paralyze for the rest of his life. I was dragged out at the gate then one of them took out a gun and shot me on my right thigh at very close range. They disappeared after finishing their job.
I went for treatment several times with three major operations and failed to undergo the fourth and final operation where they were suppose to remove the bullet lodged inside the bone. The fourth operation failed due to financial difficulties. The operation and injury severely affected my right leg and made me a cripple. I know I am ruined as I was not able to go out for earning. I had no option, so I started earning from vegetable gardening at home with my wife and daughter. Life went on with great difficulty and my daughter was at home helping us without going to school due to financial constraints.
The second incident took place in the year 2010. On 3rd August 2010, I was returning home with my wife and elder sister from Lilong around 3-4 p.m., (we went for medication of my sisters broken right hand), on a passenger auto rickshaw. We were stopped by the Army near Patsoi Police Station, all the male passengers were frisked and released except me, and I was told to board their vehicle gypsy without issuing arrest memo. I was blindfolded and taken to Patsoi Police station nearby. They asked several times to which group of insurgents I belong. The Manipuri speaking army dictated several names and asked me if I knew anyone of them. I disagreed I had no idea or connection with insurgents. My mobile was seized and later when I received a call from my brother, they prompted me to tell the caller I was in the market place in Imphal. I had no idea what their motive was behind.
They took me inside the adjoining room, made me lie on the floor, my hands and legs were tied and a huge log of wood was put under my neck. They started pouring buckets of water on my face and shouted how I helped the KCP (MC). I remained silent as I had no idea about their questions. The torture of pouring water went on for several hours (2-3 hours). I suffocated, swallowed plenty of water and suffered in silence. They made me sit in the dry area for few minutes and told me to reveal all the activities of KCP (MC).
I refused to give any information, so I was put in the room for the second time and they continued pouring water. One of them slapped me and plenty of water went inside and I started vomiting. I felt so terrible and dreadful, I felt I will never come out of this and live again with my family. Again, I was made to sit in the dry room and for the third time they started pouring water on my face for revealing information. However I refused to give information which I didn’t know. They continued asking where I deliver arms and ammunition for the insurgents.
Next, one of the army tied electric wire on my second toes of both the feet while I remain lying on the floor and electrocuted me. I lost my consciousness and whenever I regain my consciousness I was electrocuted again. The electrocution went on repeatedly three times and my condition became very dreadful. I felt so painful and horrible I completely lost my consciousness. They had no sympathy over my impaired limbs and tortured me so brusquely; I never knew I would come out from their confinement.
When I regained my consciousness, I was lying on the floor, hands and feet still tied and eyes blindfolded. I noticed that the cloth they had used for blindfolding me was my own white vest which was all stained with my blood from the torture. I could feel I was lying somewhere outside and my battered body was half covered with a sheet of cloth. I felt pain all over my body and with a slight move I could severely feel the extreme pain. Behind me the clock struck 4 am. I started imaging that they will finally release me as they had stopped the torture and interrogation and since they were not able to divulge any information from me. One of them brought some food and forced me to eat, I refused to eat as I was tied and suffering painfully. He forced me and said if I refused to eat, I would be killed. I was forced fed three to four mouthful of food. Out of fear and panic, I swallowed the unpleasant food with great difficulty.
On 4th of August 2010, S.I James of Nambol Police Station came in the morning around 6-7 am along with his subordinates and hit me where I was lying. They asked what I knew about the KCP (MC). They hit me on my neck 4-5 times, folded back my hands and feet roughly like breaking a twig and left hastily. I overheard them telling the army, they had tortured in a wrong manner and therefore I was not able to reveal any information.
They again interrogated and asked which group I worked for and which arms they should use in order to kill me. They left me in this position till 3 p.m. in the afternoon. Then, I was lifted from my shoulder by two army men (as I was too frail and pathetic from their torture) and put me inside the vehicle gypsy. They took me around for a while and I developed the fear that I would definitely be killed on false account of being an insurgent. I was blindfolded, however I could feel they were driving towards Khumbong and were driving without destination. The captain of the army got down from our vehicle and through the wireless operator asked what they should do with me in Hindi. Then as if heeding the instruction we drove towards Nambol. Two army men lifted me from the shoulder and dragged me towards the PHSC of Nambol. I nearly fell when they made me walk alone; one of them kicked from behind with his heavy boots and instructed me to walk straight and properly to look fit and fine. Two young ladies doctor were present at health centre and the army instructed them to medicate me quickly and not mention or write in the subscription about the injury on my body. The two doctors refused flatly and called the Nambol police station. Few policemen turned up and gave the same instruction to the doctors not to mention on the prescription about the injury and instead they should write that the person was in good normal health.
Thereafter, we returned to Patsoi Police station and the I.O Sh. Ibochou Singh on seeing my condition told the army I was not in good health and around 7-8 p.m. took me to Regional Institute of medical Sciences at Lamphelpat for medical examination. I was medicated with few medicines and was in the custody of the police for the night.
Next day I was interrogated again and made me narrate my life story from the day I was born to my parents (without forgetting any events) till the moment I was apprehended by the army. They never stopped asking for which insurgent group I belong. I was afraid they would kill me all the while I was in their custody. I was not tortured however the apprehension of what was going to happen remained on my mind. I had to be careful and clear in answering their questions remained on my mind all the time. They even clicked my photograph with a plate mentioned that I belong to KCP (MC) group of faction.
Next day, i.e. on 6th August 2010, I was taken to CID office and the same process of interrogation and narration of my life story continued and was conducted by the CID agents. They also repeated the same question- “for which insurgent group I belong”. I narrated the same story as was told to the police the previous day. My narration was same as was told to the police. Meanwhile the anxiety and anxious feeling of being tortured again and going through the moment of suffocation from pouring water and electrocution remains inside me throughout the time. I saw people being tortured and their screams and shouts rings inside my head all the time I was in their interrogation cell. I was relieved when they took me back to Patsoi police station. I thanked to God for saving me from their torture and harassment. The spirit that I may be released from their custody developed within me. My answers to their queries were same so I might be released again to reunite with my family, contained within me.
My injuries were still paining and my face was swollen. My wife and my elder sister visited me with home-cooked food. They were so remorse to see my battered and worn out situation, we were all speechless and helpless and we all cried together. I was not able to face them, I felt so ashamed and guilty. The army had tortured me with no concrete reason and my family members were all afraid and troubled for my dear life. I came to know from my wife, that, with the help of Human Rights organization, on the day I was captured, they had telecasted on ISTV about my arrest and disappearance and where I was taken away quietly.
I kept on recalling my family members at home during the ordeal; I could not do anything to the army and the police as well. Without any reason they have tortured to their hearts content and made me more helpless and impaired. In order to control my anger and hatred I felt like taking revenge, however, I am not young anymore, I have a wife and daughter to look after, so I need to control my anger and remain silent and somber.
On 7th August 2010, I was taken to Kangla for interrogation. I was blindfolded on the way. The same process of interrogation and narration of my life story continued and repeated the same question- “for which insurgent group I belong”. I narrated the same story as was narrated on previous two days. My narration was same as was told to the police and CID. Then I was taken back to Police custody.
On 8th and 9th August 2010 I was taken to Cheirap Court for appearance before the Magistrate. I was freed on 9th August 2010 and the Magistrate told me I don’t have to appear before the Court again as my case is not binding on any ground. I was very happy. After the release, I went home with my family members, offered prayers and went to RIMS for medical checkup at the casualty.
The post torture days were spent with great difficulty. I developed complications in breathing; my right impaired leg was paining excessively owing to electrocution and my body ached owing to repeated beating and torture. Before I was able to walk without the help of walking stick, however, after the torment, it has become my second friend. I remained bedridden for 2 months without any income. My father suffered grievously owing to my condition. He could not sleep at night and the rest of the family members were afraid throughout the night. Nights are supposed to be for taking rest, however in our case we were restless, petrified and alarmed what was going to happen. The intuitions that the army might appear again take me away and might undergo the same process of beating and torture, arise almost all the time. I don’t want to stay at home fearing the army. Seriously, I don’t want to go through the suffering and agony I had endured during the custody. I could go away for work but the anxiety of what will we answer if they happen to come and arrest me while I am away for work, made me extremely perturbed.
Even so, I gathered courage thinking for my daughter and decided to venture out for earning money. My daughter had stopped going to school due to financial constraints. I decided with my wife to sell vegetables and fruits. Now, we are selling seasonal fruits at Sanakeithel, Lamphelpat. Since it is far from our house, we are residing at the temporary make shift tent covered with plastic sheet at the market area. It is horrible when it rains but I cannot move freely owing to my heath constraints. I looked after the fruits at night and my wife goes home sometimes and she has to collect the fruits from the retailer for selling in our vendor. My daughter has started her education once more and studying in standard VIII at Lalambung Government High School.
Life has to continue with so many constraints and complications. My memory very often reflects back at the horrendous incidents. The consequences have simply put my life to so many limitations. I am not normal human being anymore. The anxiety, fear on seeing the army and police, the apprehension of being arrested again, uneasiness at night –all these fear psychosis prevail over me and family all the time. The phobia shall remain for the rest of my life.
Note: This case was filed before the National Commission on 3rd August 2011 as per the advice from Mr. Y. Laba through on line.
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