Custodial torture leads to death of an “innocent”

IMPHAL, FEBRUARY 28 (NNN) : In a blatant violation of human rights endemic to the State of Manipur, a civilian has succumbed today to his “custodial torture” injury inflicted by the police.
 Condemning the inhuman act of the police, the local MLA N Mangi said that anti social minded police who have tarnished the image of the men in uniform must be rooted out of the society in order that people may live in peace and security. The convulsive incident happened in Kumbi Napat Mayai Leikai under Bishnupur district of Manipur on the fateful February 27 evening.  According to sources, at about 5 pm yesterday a team of Manipur police commandos had come from Laphupat Tera Daballo Khong outpost to inquire about Athokpam Angousana, 52, s/o (L) A Yaima of Kumbi Napat Mayai Leikai. After having identified, Angousana was picked up from his residence in Kumbi by the police without having to produce arrest memo and on verbal charges of running guns for outlawed rebels.
At about 9:30 today, the badly bruised body of Angousana was handed over to his family members. The body bored multiple injury marks revealing evidence of brutal torture in custody. His thigh and back were particularly revealing with the black and blue marks of vicious infliction.
The family immediately rushed the unconscious body of Angousana to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal where he succumbed to his injury at 11:30 am. The note by the doctor said that he succumbed to the injury caused by “high degree custody torture of the police”. The family members alleged that they were made to sign on doted lines by the police without explaining what it was for.  
The family members have claimed that the victim is “innocent” and has never been involved in any case of arm smuggling.
This revolting atrocity and human rights violation have come despite several awe-inspiring revelations of the men in uniform in the recent past. For instance, in 2003, Thangjam Manorama Devi was raped and brutally murdered by personnel of 17 Assam Rifles following which there was a severe social unrest lasting for several months in the state capital. In November 2000, Assam Rifles personnel sprayed bullets indiscriminately on the waiting civilians in a suburbia locality of Malom in Imphal. The incident fired Irom Sharmila Chanu to challenge and demand from the mighty Indian state and its military agency to repeal its strapping law AFSPA from the soil of Manipur.        
 The local MLA, N Mangi said of today’s episode which is perpetrated by the law enforcer themselves as threatening the peace and security of general public in the State. He has sent a memorandum to the chief minister asking for prompt action in penalizing the culprits of such heinous act by summarily dismissing the guilty police personnel.
The unfortunate issue will not be simply shelved away, he iterated, adding that the matter will be raised in the 10th Manipur legislative assembly session set to commence from March 8 next.
The law enforcer themselves have don the garb of law breakers in Manipur today, he said, therefore the State assembly must deliberate on the ways to uproot such atrocious conduct by some section of the police which has brought bad image to the entire department.