Dimapur, August 31 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Youth Congress (NPYC) has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Nagaland, drawing attention to the alleged custodial death of a Naga youth in Assam. It also urged upon the State Government to immediately set up an SIT or inquiry commission to pursue the matter.
Henveih Phom, a 35-year-old resident of Anaki-C village in Nagaland’s Mokokchung district, was arrested at Anaki village, along with a woman on August 16 by the Assam police while they were travelling to Gelekey in Sivasagar district.
While the woman was subsequently released, Phom died under suspicious circumstances five days after after his arrest.
According to the NPYC, following the report of his custodial death, there has been a hue and cry within the State and particularly in the Eastern Nagaland area where a mass public rally protesting his custodial death and demanding justice has been held.
However, the NPYC stated that it is “appalled by the silence and indifferent attitude of the Government of Nagaland” even on a ‘burning situation’ that has been going on for the last 10 days since the incident took place.
Stating that the incident claimed the life of an innocent and potential youth of Nagaland, the NPYC, “as a body concerned with the welfare of the youth, has no option left but to remind the State government of its paramount responsibility to protect the lives of its citizens and secure justice whenever necessitated,” the memo stated.
“It has come to knowledge that Late Henveih Phom was detained for not being able to pay the arbitrary amount of money demanded by Assam Police for his release. He was inhumanly beaten and brutally tortured while in the custody of Assam Police ultimately leaving him dead,” it further stated.
The NPYC asserted that the “high-handedness of the Assam Police is not only unwarranted but a heinous crime against humanity that is condemnable by all sections of society.” There can be no justification for custodial death, it said, while urging the State Government to immediately set up an SIT or inquiry commission to pursue the matter and to leave no stone unturned to bring the culprits to book and to secure justice for the victim and his family.
The NPYC will continue to stand steadfast in solidarity with the Phom community in general and the bereaved family of Henveih Phom, it said, while cautioning that it would not remain a mute spectator but will be compelled to take up further democratic steps till justice is delivered, if the government of the day fails to initiate appropriate measures.
