Newmai News Network Imphal | January 13 The Centre for Organisation Research and Education (CORE), a representative indigenous people’s organisation based in Manipur and the United Naga Council (UNC), in separate statements, have expressed serious concern over the reported severe physical torture and cruel and inhuman degrading treatment meted out to United Naga Council president Gaidon Kamei by Manipur police. Kamei, 52, has been detained under police custody since his arrest on November 25 last year in connection with the ongoing indefinite economic blockade on National Highways connecting Manipur, which was launched by the United Naga Council (UNC) in connection with the district creation issue since November 1. The UNC alleged that its President was subjected to third degree torture, including electric shock inside the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC). Based on the allegation made by the UNC, CORE in its press release said Kamei’s health, personal security and life are now have been put at great risk in the police custody as per a news report. It demanded the state government ensure that all detainees and prisoners are treated with dignity and respect accorded to all humans equally under the law. The UNC leader should be given immediate access to competent and impartial professional medical attention, CORE further demanded. It also demanded that the Home Department immediately withdraw the "so-called" JIC at Kangla Fort. CORE then questioned the rationale behind turning the archaeological and cultural heritage site, Kangla as a “torture centre.” In its press statement, the UNC said that it took the "revelation of Gaidon Kamei, President of UNC, seriously that he was being treated cruelly in the most inhuman and extreme manners including electric shock and other third degree methods of tortures when he was taken out at the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) on November 28, 2016". The UNC warned that the Government of Manipur would bear all responsibilities for any consequences if anything were to happen to Kamei and Stephen while in police custody.
