Testimony of Smt. Ahanthem (O) Tampha Devi

I, Smt. Ahanthem (O) Tampha Devi aged about 37 years, W/O Sh. Ahanthem Basanta Singh R/O Sawombung Gate, P.O. Lamlong, P.S. Lamlai, Imphal East District, would like to highlight how my son Ahanthem Amujao was killed in an fake encounter by the Imphal East Police Commandos.

My son Amujao was only 16 years old when he was killed, he was a daily wage earner working as a labourer in one of construction work. He used to be away from home for many days in relation to his work, On 27^th January 2012, he went out from home at around 4.30 p.m. and failed to return home, we did not enquire much as he use to stay outside very regularly in relation to his work. On 29^th morning, one of his co-workers came to our house looking for him and reported his absence from work. We became worried and started searching for him, no one was aware about his where about, I even went to my maternal home looking for him. On the same day, around 4.30 p.m. we received a phone call from the police commandos informing us about the death of my son and to collect his body from the hospital morgue. They were able to traced my sons address from my heath card and identity card which was found from his body, I was shocked on receiving the news and I fainted. On 30^th morning after undergoing all the formalities we collected the body from the morgue. We learnt that my son was arrested from Khuman Lampak (his place of work) and later killed by the commandos. The Police accused my son of belonging to one of the insurgent group call UNLF and alleged that he was killed in the shootout with the commandos at Khuman Lampak Palli. They said he was involved in throwing bomb at the houses of candidates who were contesting in the 2012 general election. My son bore numerous tortured injuries on his body, his right hand was broken, the middle finger bone was protruding out, his right palm was sliced in the middle, five bullet holes on the chest and stomach which looked as if he was shot from a very close range, several injury marks were seen on his buttocks, it appears he was tortured and beaten very brutally before killing him. My son’s girlfriend told us that, on 28^th Jan, he had called her at around 9 p.m. and informed her that he was being pursued by the police were accusing him of involving in the bomb blast which happened near their house. She said it appears that he was running and making that phone call which lasted only for few seconds and got disconnected, later it was found to be switched off. The commandos later said that they shoot my son as he was wearing black shirt and they mistook him for the insurgent they were pursuing, owing to their mistake.

On account of his death, JAC was formed condemning the brutal killing of my son by the Manipur Police commandos, bandhs were organised and dharnas were staged, however there is no action from the side of the government. As we are financially backward, we could not persuade any further our grievances. we were also afraid that the police commandos may arrest my husband and kill him similarly in a fake encounter, I do not want any further harm cause to my family and relatives, the innocent life they had taken has brought enough sorrow into our lives. After a few days, the UNLF clarified in the newspaper that my son did not belong to their group. My son was an innocent daily wage earner, earning money for supporting his younger siblings. His death is a huge loss in our family, he was the most obedient and hardworking member in the family.

I suffered grievously after the death of my son, I was afraid what would happen to the rest of the family members if we agitate or if we go for further agitation. At night I and my husband could not sleep, we get utterly alarmed on hearing the sound of vehicle near our house. The children miss him and often asked why the commandos killed their brother. My second son has dropped from school and started earning money by doing odd jobs in order to support the family. My husband suffered from liver cirrhosis and cannot work hard to fully support the family. I also go to work as a labourer whenever there is a opportunity available in the locality to maintain the family. I have 6 children, eldest who was killed in the fake encounter, second is a school dropout, remaining three boys are in Government school and the youngest daughter is in primary school. Whenever I remember my son, I become frustrated and agitated. I relieved my pain and sorrow by getting involved in heavy work and keeping busy with my children.

I own a BPL and a Job card, it is useful once in a while and does not serve much purpose, as the PDS is a failure in our locality, we hardly get rice, kerosene, sugar etc. My three children are studying in Sawombung Government school, the facilities provided under RTE are minimum, there is no proper provision of mid day meal, the school authorities provided the meal after every two days (sometimes it is not served for days), school uniform is incomplete (only shirt and pant), books are incomplete and for this year second hand books (used books) was provided to all the students. There is no provision for stationary material and the toilet for boys and girls are not hygienic. If only our family could afford to educate my children in private school , I would be very happy.

As for my son Amujao who has left us for heavenly abode, my family wishes to seek justice, however we do not know where to voice for help and support. 

Testimony taken by Joyce Thangjam 

Imphal East District coordinator 

European Union Project entitle “Promoting organised initiative of victims and civil society institutions for ending violence against children”

UN HR Council to be sounded on AFSPA

UN HR Council to be sounded on AFSPA

IMPHAL, May 22 : A five-point recommendation which would be sent to the UN Human Rights Council ahead of its second cycle Universal Public Review of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 was released today at Manipur Press Club here.
The recommendations listed by the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights (CSCHR) in Manipur and the UN included considering the withdrawal of reservations to the international human rights treaties and other international human rights instruments, including Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, accede to Additional Protocols I and II, 1977 of the Geneva conventions, and give unconditional access to the International Committee of the Red Cross to Manipur.
To take up appropriate measures to repeal AFSPA from Manipur was the second recommendation.
The third recommendation was, resolving the armed conflict in Manipur politically rather than adopting military stance.
To take appropriate measures to protect human rights defenders in Manipur and implement the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, 1999 was another recommendation.
The fifth recommendation was to adopt and ratify the ILO Convention No 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal peoples in Independent Countries, which succeeded ILO Convention No 107 that has been ratified by India.
Speaking at the occasion, CSCHR convenor Laifungbam Debabrata informed that director of Human Rights Alert Babloo and CCDD secretary Y Jiten have already reached Geneva to lobby with the UN for the five recommendations.
The list of recommendations would be presented before the Universal Period Review
AFSPA was first enforced in the form of an ordinance on May 22, 1958. It became an Act on September 11, the same year.
For the past 54 years, people have been protesting against the draconian Act in different parts of the country, more particularly and vehemently in Manipur.
The CSCHR which is a conglomerate of 18 different civil organisations and human rights groups has geared up to further intensify the anti-AFSPA campaign, Debabrata said.
Generally, the universal review meeting is held every four years during which reports submitted by different civil organisations are studied. The review reports would be studied by the UN Human Rights Council before they can be passed as covenants by the UN General Assembly.
On the other hand, Sharmila who has been fasting against the infamous Act for the last 11 years re-asserted that she could not accept any form of human rights violation in a democratic country.
She also decried the restrictions imposed by the Government against people who wish to visit her.
She stated that even if she is seen as convict, she must have the right to meet her family, friends, relatives and well-wishers.
The function held at Manipur Press Club was also attended by Life Watch chief functionary A Araba and FREINDS secretary Joy Chingakham.

Wife drags husband to court for transmitting HIV deceitfully

Source:Hueiyen News Service http://www.hueiyenlanpao.com/headlines/item/1850-wife-drags-husband-to-court-for-transmitting-hiv-deceitfully


Imphal, May 22: In what could be termed as a pure case of deceit, a young man woos an innocent girl, marries her and finally transmits HIV to her, for which the wife has dragged him to court and slapped a suit under Sections 269, 270, 319, 323 and 34 IPC.

The young man who has been alleged of committing the heinous offence has been identified as Paonam Kishan Mangang (34), s/o P Achou of Sagolband Khamnam Leirak. The spouse who has defied all odds and came out boldly against her deceitful husband has been identified as Karam Thaja (20). She is presently staying at her maternal home at Yurembam Awang Leikai.

Addressing media persons at the office of MNP+ here today, Karam Thaja said that she had taken up the step and came this far so that her husband (Kishan) does not transmit HIV to other innocent women like her.

Narrating her story to media persons, Thaja recalled that before her marriage to Kishan in 2010, she was always followed by Kishan whenever she goes to school, since 2007. Kishan is a constable at Patsoi Police Station. She had never consented to having any relation with Kishan. However, on August 16th 2007, she went out after she was consistently called by him, to put an end to the issue once and for all. But she was drugged and forced to elope with him much against her wishes.

She further stated that they got married on January 25, 2010. Just on the day of Mangani Chakkouba, she started suffering from serious ailment and was taken to Imphal Hospital, RIMS road. Later on she was admitted to JN Hospital and then to RIMS and treated for about a month without disclosing anything about her illness by her in-laws. During the early months of her marriage, her husband treated her with love and care but started to treat her in the most pathetic manner soon after.

During her stay in her matrimonial home she often witnessed her husband taking some medicine everyday but he was never told her the reason.  There were also various instances where a number of women came in search of her husband where he refused to meet them. Little did she know that those women who had come on different occasions were all his acquaintances whom he had physical relationship.

It was only after she accidentally came across some old papers which were reports of the clinical laboratory for CD4 count as well as HIV testing report, that her husband was HIV positive. She then confronted with her husband on the issue but he denied all accusations and burnt the documents and then locked her up in the house for three days. There were several instances where she was physically and mentally tortured by her husband and in-laws even to the extent of pouring urine on her face and telling her to leave the place.

She further stated that she came out from the house after Kishan opened the door and asked her to buy some medicines for him. Taking advantage of the situation she ran to her maternal house. Later, she was tested HIV positive in February 12,2012.

Thaja alleged that she had been forcefully and knowingly transmitted HIV by her husband and as a result she filed a criminal case against her husband. He is currently out on bail.

Rakesh Meihoubam, who is the lawyer of K Thaja, informed that a case has been filed against the husband, Kishan under Sections 269, 270, 319, 323 and 34 IPC and if found guilty he could be imprisoned for not less than two years. Though he has been bailed out, the next hearing is on June 2 next.

He also informed that this type of cases where the wife drags her spouse to court has happened in Manipur for the first time, but is the second case in India. The first case happened in Delhi where a woman filed a criminal suit against her husband for transmitting HIV virus but the suit made no headway as the husband died due to HIV virus complications.

Meanwhile, Udita, General Secretary of MNP+ has strongly condemned the incident and said that involvement of security personnel who are supposed to safeguard our lives in such irresponsible acts, is indeed a matter of serious concern. We need to control this, she added.

Fake encounter rears its head again

Fake encounter rears its head again

House razed to ground of child soldier recruiter - Imphal Free Press

House razed to ground at Sairemkhul

IMPHAL, May 11: There is still no respite to the controversy surrounding the recruitment of children as locals of Sairem Khul Polangshoi under Lamsang Police dismantled the house of a person allegedly involved in the case.
The complaint of the locals was that the son of one Kesho threatened the locals with dire consequence on the phone while a public meeting decrying the alleged arrest of a local by a combined team of 23th and 30th Assam Rifles.
Kesho is the father of one Ingo, the main accused in the recruitment of three children from the locality by militants some time back.
The locals were protesting the alleged arrest of one Chanam Sonamani, 44 son of Mangi of Sairem khul Polangshoi under Lamsang PS on May 7 around 2 am by individuals suspected to be AR personnel and subsequently handing him over to the Lamsang police after physically assaulting him.
Speaking to media persons Sonamani said, they took him to a place between Lamsang and Tauthong village and after taking off his shirt accused him of being a PREPAK (VC) militant asked him about the whereabouts of the 19 lathode bombs and what his army number was, he said.
They further enquired about where he was trained, and when he replied in the negative to all the questions, they started hitting him on his left elbow with an iron rod, he alleged.
When he further denied his involvement with any militant group they further hit him on the head and asked if he know where Ajit was and where he keep his 9mm pistol, he further alleged.
Ajit is also stated to be from the same locality.
When he replied in the negative, they blinded him with his own shirt and started talking among themselves.
They started discussing whether to shoot him and dispose his dead body or not, he stated.
He was further accused of sheltering UGs and told him to acknowledge his faults or it would not be good for him, he added.
At around 4 am he was handed over to the Lamsang PS with allegations of harbouring UGs, he lamented.
Before handing over to the police, one of the personnel speaking Meiteilon with a tribal accent had told him that he was alive just because the commander of 30th AR knows him and that someone had wrongly implicated him of being a militant, he further informed the media persons.
He came out on bail on May 9, and held a public meeting the same day and invited Naocha’s father Kesho who failed to turn up, one of the locals attending today’s meeting said to media persons.
This late morning around 10:30am, another meeting was conveyed in the presence of Kesho during which Naocha who had surrendered to the 23 AR called Ajit’s younger brother identified as Sanjoy and threatened him with dire consequence if the locals try to harm Kesho (Naocha’s father), the locals said.
He also threatened that the whole of Chanam clan will be destroyed if any harm comes to Kesho, continued the agitator.
Kesho who had threatened the village of dire consequence sometimes back when his elder son Ingo was banished from the locality for his involvement in the recruitment of three children from the village by militants, remained silent during the entire episode.
Enraged over the threat and subsequent silence maintained by Kesho, the locals at around 3pm dismantled Kesho’s house.

Testimony of Chanam Ongbi Inaocha

I, Chanam Ongbi Inaocha w/o Ch. Sonamai, aged about 44 years, a resident of Sairemkhul Polangsoi, P.O. Patsoi, P.S. Lamshang, Imphal West District, Manipur, would like to share about my sick husband (Chanam Sonamani Singh) who was allegedly taken from our residence without giving any concrete reason by the Army personnel (Assam Rifles) assaulting me and my family members while we tried to stop them.

On the night of May 7, 2012 at around 2.30 am when I was just back into my room from the bathroom for a night micturation, I heard somebody bang at the main door. Since it was very late at night, I shouted back asking who they were at this wee hour. The reply was given in local dialect saying that it is the Army and they will not do anything harm the family. They said that they just wanted to ask something to my husband if he is at home.

Since I have no misgivings and have done nothing to be guilty, I decided to open the door. As soon as I opened it, some army personnel barged in and dragged my husband toward the courtyard, and I pleaded with the personnel to stop dragging my husband, I hold him tight, as he is sick. Doctors even advised him to take rest as he had recently conducted a surgical operation to remove his gall bladder. Without considering my request, the Army personnel just told me that they needed him to locate a house. Confronting their bleak proposal, I asked them to allow me to accompany them instead of my husband considering his health problem.

Even as I pleaded, they tried to snatch him away from me, even assaulted me to clear their way. Three personnel blocked me and took my husband to their vehicle. I rushed to their vehicle and hold him tight and keep on pleading to release him at the spot. That time only, I realised that I was protesting for the life of my husband without wearing Phanek (rap around) as it had fallen down when I was struggling with the Army personnel. I was ashamed of the thought that I suffered from the very personnel whom our Government have assigned to save and protect the life of its country men, but the pain of pulling my hair by one of the personnel and kicking me down from their vehicle as they drove away is unthinkable. In the meantime, my younger sister-in-law (wife of my husband’s younger brother) who also had been struggling all the while, was also pulled and pushed. All in a while, we also signaled the local womenfolk to help us. The womenfolk came out and rushed to us for help but all went in vain as the vehicle started driving  away. Even as the vehicle started moving, I did not lose any hopes, I along with our womenfolk ran after the vehicle to attempt our last chance. We all cried out against the moving vehicle denouncing their merciless act of arresting someone innocent without giving proper reason and arrest memo.   

I received several injuries on the knees, arms, and chest. My elder sister-in-law (wife of my husband’s elder brother) received injury on her feet; my younger sister-in-law, who is still week after giving birth to her baby two months back, was also hurt in trying to rescue my husband from the army personnel. I could not sleep the whole night.  

Early in the morning, we all went to our concerned Lamshang Police Station and found out that my husband was luckily been brought there. One of the policemen told us that he was handed over by a team of Assam Rifles of Yaingangpokpi, today morning, alleged with of running a UG camp and knowing the where about of bombs. The sight of my husband was utterly painful they had beaten him up badly as bruises were seen all over his body, he was moaning with pain and could barely walk. 

I have been traumatized by the incident and am ready to face anything even if I have to kill a person, in case any thing happens to my husband. I think that being quite & apprehensive would not stop such kind of human rights violations. My life and my two small children all depends on him physically, psychologically and financially. He is the sole bread earner of the family. He used to work hard to make a living, always sincere in his work.

Some times I ask to myself why we are in such an awkward situation, is it because my husband is a poor man and that he has made his living from making insane sticks, working in fields or is it because he brought up the issue of finding the culprits from our locality who were involved in the recent trafficking/abducting of three children for recruiting them as child soldiers in one of the insurgent group, was this incident a threat to someone and why did the Army who are suppose to be the protectors of civilians have to act like that, do they have the liberty to kick, pull, push or keep captive even when she is naked while trying to stop them take away her innocent husband without even issuing a arrest Memo. But, as of now, I only worry about my husband’s physical and mental status and want him back home alive. 

Wide Angle Social Development Organisation – EU Project Good practice document on “Media Advocacy initiative”

This good practice document is developed by Wide Angle Social Development Organisation based on an advocacy initiative conducted through print media. This document includes the following areas:

1.     Brief note on the project which the Media Advocacy is implementing

2.     A brief process of conducting advocacy by Wide Angle

3.     Case history on the Media Advocacy initiative and significant outcome.    

1.   Brief note on the project

Wide Angle Social Development Organisation is implementing a project entitle as “Promoting organised initiative of victims and civil society institutions for ending violence against children” under the sponsorship of European Union’s European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) and Country Based Support Scheme (CBSS) India.

The project was started in the year 2011 with an aim to create a vigilant and sustained civil society network for protection of child rights in Manipur. Other specific objectives of the project includes substantial reduction of child rights violation by the conflicting parties, establishment of State Commission for Child Rights to monitor and ensure right to education and proper implementation of State public welfare schemes, and engage the security establishment, Ministry of Home Affairs through initiation of legislative advocacy for adhering to the codes and standards in handling children in conflict area.

The operational areas of the said project are Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur and Thoubal districts and targeting children who are victims of severe human rights violation in remote villages by both State and Central security forces as well as by the underground groups as its primary beneficiaries.

Human rights defenders, community based organisations, civil society organisations, women survivors are also targeted by the project for sensitising and capacitating them on various rights violation issues mainly by the security forces and underground groups.

2.   A brief process of conducting advocacy

As a part of activities to achieve the objectives, the project is conducting various advocacy activities to sensitise range of target audiences so that they can contribute their best in promoting child rights among the children victimised by armed conflict in the four districts of the State. The advocacy activities are mainly targeting stakeholders such as Human Rights Defenders (women survivors, CBOs, CSOs and other likeminded institutions and groups), State legislature and Parliamentarians.

Before initiating any advocacy programme, the project organised meetings and discussions to identify specific issue and objective of each advocacy activity. Exercise such as “Power Mapping Analysis” is also conducted prior to any advocacy programme to assess the primary and secondary target audiences, support and opposition structure towards the advocacy issues. The project also used materials such as policy briefs, good practices and other relevant information of the specific advocacy issue. Such documents are developed by the project team with reference to the primary and secondary information collected as per needs and sometimes also refers to relevant documents developed by other agencies working in the field of human rights.

3.   Case history on the Media Advocacy initiative and significant outcome

Till the end of first year i.e., 31^st December 2011, the project has identified and enrolled 198 victims of which 89 Testimonies were taken and 45 victims had been given psychological inputs. The project also initiated networks of families of the victims of extra-judicial executions under a platform named as Women Survivors’ Network (WSN) in four districts viz. Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur district for advocating/lobbying on the issue of child rights and human rights violation. In order to strengthen the cohesiveness among its members as well as their capacity, the WSNs in collaboration with the project staffs organised monthly meetings for every months.

As a part of the mentioned WSN meetings, on 24^th of March 2012, the project team led by the Project Manager in collaboration with some family members affected by the armed conflict organised a meeting at Keibi Heikak Mapan situated around 20 Km north from Imphal. The meeting was conducted by the project manager and the concerned district coordinator, and attended by 23 survivors (10 male and 13 female). Most of the family members are the victims of the Pourabi bomb blast that occurred on 16^th of December 2007 that claimed eight lives and injured more than 30 people.

During the discussion, most of the victims shared about their hardships in getting justice and aids from the authority concerned of the State Government. Most of the family members still have their feelings of resentment and bitterness towards the State Government for its lackadaisical attitude in supporting the victims and also towards the UG group that responsible for the blast.

As an outcome of the discussion, the project staff and family members of the victims unanimously agreed to form a network at the earliest to advocate relevant departments and agencies to get welfare schemes, aids and also to extend support to social issues related to the armed conflict.

Another significant outcome that came out from the discussion is that the project, if the victims consented properly, can recall the issue of Pourabi blast again to the minds of different stakeholders through print media.  And luckily, two of the immediate family members of the blast victims accepted the proposals and decided to meet again with the victims.  

On 26^th of March, the Advocacy officer and concerned coordinator went down to Keibi and conducted an indebt discussion with a victim Bebem Devi a 15 years old school girl who severely injured in the blast and obtain written consent from her father to approach the initiative. The written consent was taken from her father as she is only 15. On the same day the project contacted a Sub-editor of The Sangai Express (English Edition), one of the largest circulated English dailies in the State) and shared the initiative taken up by the project. With the help of him, the project collected specific information on the blast related to the victim Bembem from the archives of various news agencies.

On 1^st April 2012, the sub editor along with advocacy officer of the project met Bebem along with her parents and brother at their residence of Keibi Heikak Mapan and collected necessary information for publishing as News feature at The Sangai Express edition of 2^nd April 2012. The interview was conducted successfully. After coming back from Keibi, the project manager and advocacy officer of the project along with the sub editor organised a small discussion at the office premises of The Sangai Express to analyse the information and developed a final draft of the news item.

On the next day, i.e., 2^nd of April 2012, in the anchor column of the daily the news came out as “Four years down the line, girl lives with blast mare” along with a photograph of Bebem the girl victim.

The news item so far received 16 positive comments from the readers and most of the comments reflected their concern over the issues of armed conflict in the State along with negative impacts among children. Social networking sites mainly the Facebook users also uploaded the story on their wall to spread the hardships faced by the girl child following the blast.

As an immediate outcome of the media advocacy, the PRO IGAR (S) of Assam Rifles contacted the project staff to extend their support in the girl’s immediate health care needs through their Military Civic Action Programme.

Prior to them, a team of Border Security Force attested to the Lamlai police station situated around 16 Km north-east from Imphal paid a visit to Bebem’s house on 5^th of April 2012 and accompanied her to Dr Nongthol, an orthopaedist and Dr Yaima, an eye specialist for primary check-up of her blast affected areas. The visiting BSF team also extended their support in form of medicines prescribed by the doctors and along with a new spectacle for Bebem. The Assam Rifles also on their process of helping the girl.

From such initiative taken up by the project help the victim, her family, other victims and the project itself in many ways:

1.     During an interaction with Bebem after the publication was made, she shared that she is now not reluctant to go out and socialise with others especially with her friends. She also expressed that she felt glorified and now thinking of helping other victims. Such honest opinions of Bebem obviously indicates that the initiative help the victim in enhancing her self confidence which is one of the most important thing to boost strength and moralities among youths besides getting material supports from others.

2.     The comments expressed to the news item and concerns of the Facebook users ultimately indicates that such initiative, if used properly, can sensitize range of stakeholder towards the issues of Armed conflict in the State.

3.     The initiative also carries a message to other victims of armed conflict that they can overcome their traumatized and discriminated lifestyle through interacting and sharing their problems to others.   

-        It is another big learning of the implementing NGO and project that the issues of child rights violation in Manipur can be reduced to some extend if used both methods of face to face evidence based advocacy and advocacy through media effectively in sensitizing the policy makers, law enforcement agencies, legal authorities and other civil society organisations.

-        This document can help other likeminded organisations/groups/projects during their advocacy initiatives to influence the policy makers/stakeholder on their issues of concern.       

   

Testimony of Sh. Longjam Shanti Singh

I, Longjam Shanti alias Boyai Singh, aged about 56 years, S/O (Late) Longjam Bidhu Singh of Keishamthong Longjam Leirak, P.S Imphal West, Imphal West District, would like to testify the happenings of the day my son (Late) Longjam Uttamkumar Singh was killed by the Manipur Police Commandos on 29th March 2008.

My son Uttamkumar completed Civil Engineering diploma course in the year 2000, from Industrial Institute of Technology, Takyelpat with outstanding first class position. He worked as sales executive in a computer mechanic shop at Thangal Bazar, Imphal. He left behind a daughter from his first marriage as his first wife died of blood cancer when the girl child was very small. He remarried again but before having any children the incident which led my son to dead happened and his second wife left for her maternal home. Now, my granddaughter Bidyarani is living with me and she is 14 years old, studying in Class VIII at John English School, Imphal. 

On the fateful day, I returned home around 3.30-4 pm and when I reached my residential gate I saw a two wheeler (Honda Activa) parked across our house and two persons were lingering around in civilian clothes. I came inside thinking that they must have come to buy chicken from the neighboring chicken shops. After few minutes I heard the sound of my son’s two wheeler scooter (Bajaj NV) arriving home from his work. According to family members, the person who was lingering near our gate followed him, brings out a pistol and fired a round to my son from behind, my son was shouting “what is my fault” several times. He ran across our courtyard screaming while the persons chasing and shooting him several times. He ran between the houses but the assaulters finally hunted him down in a narrow space lying between my brother’s house and ours with his right hand clutching his helmet. 

My brother did not know that it was my son as the head was covered with his jacket hood and his face was facing the ground. He told me that one of the persons in civil dress came close to the bullet riddled body and told him not to move and instantly fired several rounds, killed him at the spot. He further informed that another person came near the body and his cap fell on the blood of my son, while he was trying to keep a pistol on the right hand side of the dead body. 

When I first heard the gunshots, I thought it was bursting of cracker; however I was confused since it was not a festive season that we used crackers to celebrate. In a confused state of mind I came out and one of the assaulters escorted me out from our house towards the gate. He shot several rounds of blank fire in the air and I was so afraid that I couldn’t utter a single word. When I reached the gate, just right after the shooting, many police personnel of different ranks reached my house and a rank officer summoned me to identify the dead body, I learned that the persons in the civil dress were the Police Commandos. As I went to identify the person they killed, I was in real confusion thinking about the reason why the police only asked me to identify the body. When I noticed that it was my son, I was dumbfounded and stunned and then I fainted. While identifying the body, I was really shocked as my son was chased and hunted down like an animal inside our house. I didn’t even know that my son was engaged with the sounds of the gun shots which I considered as crackers. I also learnt that the persons whom I saw at the gate were the police commandos. 

Later it also came to light that the person who escorted me towards the gate was constable Naoba and the main culprit of the incident was Inspector James Thangal, both belongs to Imphal West district police commando. 

We did not retrieve the body for several days. On the account of my son’s murder by the Commandos there were lots of commotions in most of the Imphal West greater area. Various forms of agitations such as public rallies, sit-in-protest, strikes etc. were demonstrated in denunciation of the extra judicial killing of my son. Many civil society organizations and people came from across the State came to us and shared the grief and also participated in the agitation that demand justice against the heinous act of the police commandos. We did not retrieve the body and urged authority concerned to give the reason why my son was killed mercilessly. I even met the honorable Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and inquired the reason for murdering my son. He responded that there is a reason; however he was not able to come out with the genuine reason. My son was innocent and was living a simple life with a satisfied earning from his job. The police had murdered him, incriminating him to be an insurgent and alleging falsely that he was killed during an encounter. They prepared false FIR writing wrong information that my son was killed when he fired several gunshots while the police told him to stop. The post-mortem report said that eight bullets were found from his dead body. He was assassinated mercilessly. 

Our family suffered grievously over the death of my innocent son. My wife and I suffered the most. I was bedridden for 12 days since the day that he was shot. I refused to eat anything for several days and I was dependent on some sort of medicines. I am an artist by profession; many of my students came and forced me to eat. I even came out to join one of the protests held at Keishampat Junction withholding the drip bottle in my hand but I fell unconscious before I could reach the gate. One of my students picked me up and insisted that I should join the agitation for the justice, instead of keeping myself weak and tired. 

Even today, I cannot accept the truth that my son is dead and as result I suffered from short term memory loss, tension, anxiety and insomnia. Most of the time, I felt like crying when I look into the innocent face of my granddaughter. My wife and I are her real parents now. We make sure that she does not feel uncomfortable for having lost her parents. She calls me father and mother to my wife. Now all the responsibilities of my granddaughter depend on us. Every day she worships to her father’s photograph offering flowers and incense sticks.

Now, I cannot tolerate to see any Police commandos, I felt very angry remembering how one of them had murdered my innocent son and orphaned my granddaughter. I cannot even eat properly and felt so unsatisfied and discontent why they have to kill him at such a young age. 

I am waiting for the justice, the case is pending in the trial Court before the session Judge and it is in cross-examination stage. The NHRC had also directed the Court for Magisterial inquiry. Many people from Human Rights based organization came to meet us enquiring about the incident. I am happy that so many people are concerned about our issue and it is heard all over the world how the police are killing innocent people in Manipur in the name counter insurgency movement. I am sure that the Court will favor on my behalf and punish the personnel involved in the killing. I do not want any compensation; I just want justice.

Testimony of Smt. Thockchom (O) Tampakleima Devi

I, Smt. Thockchom (O) Tampakleima Devi aged about 40 years, W/O (Late) Thockchom Ranjit Singh of Itham Nungoi Leikai, P.O. Lamlong, P.S. Lamlai, Imphal East District. I would like to testify the happenings of the day my husband was taken away by the Police commandos and later found dead.

My husband was a driver by profession when he was alive, unfortunately, he met with an accident about seven years ago and this accident not only crippled but partially paralyzed the left portion of his body. He used to stand and walk with help of walking stick. He also had undergone two major operations and an iron clad was lodged inside the left thigh for supporting the bone. We were living a tough life, however happy, for being a complete family. We have two children; eldest is a boy of 11 years old studying in standard VI and an eight years old girl, studying in standard II, both at Leishemba Maheikol, a private run school located in our locality.

On the fateful day, a team of Imphal East police commandos led by Sub Inspector Brojen Singh came to our house on 7^th May 2010 at around 1.30-2 am. They loudly called us and also knock heavily on our door to open it. It was really too dark as there was no power supply in my locality that day. Using a lamp, I went to open the door but the police team, by thinking that I was not going to open it, slammed the door and hastily broke in to my room. The Sub Inspector monished me and asked not to disturbed them and also used all sort of foul dirty languages for delaying in opening the door. After that, they rushed to the room where my husband was sleeping and told him to get up and accompany them. He woke up and helplessly stared at me with an indication to help him in putting clothes. I rushed towards his bed and helped him to get dressed besides sub inspector’s discourteous comments that the clothes cannot save my husband’s life. In the meantime, I politely enquired them on the reason for apprehending him and also asked them to issue an arrest memo. Even as the police team failed to show the arrest memo, they forcibly took my husband to their vehicle and vanished hurriedly from the scene.  Some other police personnel had told us that they would be back soon and we don’t have to be anxious. Since it was the second incident, I was thinking that my husband would be released soon like the previous arrest that happened two-three months back. We contacted the sub inspector though a mobile number which was taken during the previous arrest and he told us to come at Imphal East police station located at Porompat at around 8 am.

We then seek support from our locality and hired few vehicles to reach the spot. Upon arrival to the said police station, one of my brothers went inside the police station to check his (my husband’s) presence. He returned sadly and told that us that we need to go to Minister Biren’s residence to discuss few other things. I asked him about my husband’s presence inside the police station. Instead of clarifying my doubts, he just told that everything was okay and he remained quite. I sensed something was terribly wrong and asked several times on our way to minister’s house about his whereabouts and condition. In a very confusion manner, he again replied that my husband was in the hospital for some sort of treatment. After that I started thinking that something bad has befallen upon my husband. I started crying, and felt senseless, and I fainted. When I regained my consciousness, we were on our way to home. I seriously suspected the conducts of other family members, and I cried and screamed inside the vehicle. Later I realized that the police had killed my husband without any reason. We retrieved the dead body of my husband from the mortuary of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences. The police allegedly reported that my husband was an insurgent and he was killed in an encounter. But the truth is that he was wrongly identified by the police and shot him in a fake encounter before reaching the police station.

Denouncing the merciless act of the State force, a Joint Action Committee was constituted and demanded justice on the extra judicial killing of my husband. The JAC also organized various form of agitations to punish the personnel who were involved in the heinous crime.

In the mean time, the State Government offered a sum of Rs 1 Lakh as ex gratia for the mistake committed by the State Police Commandos. Neither the Police nor the hospital provided any documents relating to his death. The Minister of our Assembly Constitution also promised to give employment to the nearest kin. But, till today, no action has been taken-up by the Minister. There was no judicial as well as magisterial inquiry for further investigation on the matter.

I suffered grievously after the death of my husband. His death created such a strong impact on me and my children’s life, both mentally and economically. I started earning through weaving loom and seasonal works mainly in the paddy fields. But the earnings could not able to fill up the needs and demands of my children besides deteriorating my health. I suffered critically from insomnia, lightheadedness, headache, congestion, loss of appetite and severe pain in the chest. I haven’t consulted with doctors for said health problems as I don’t have enough money for paying doctor consultation fee and to buy medicine as well. Whenever I remembered my husband, I was haunted and also become confused and agitated. Most of the night, I cried a lot in seeing my two hapless children sleeping silently without knowing anything.  Sometime, I walked around inside the house and ponder why such misfortune fall upon my family. The only way to forget the pain and sorrow is to mix around with friends, conversing with my family members and going to the field for work.

Now, I am leading a life with unclear destination but I have to live and try my best to support my children. They are the only hope remains for me. Every morning and night I used to pray to God of Almighty for his blessings upon my children for their good health and protection.