Honoring the victim of torture

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.