Ruling MLA charges man's death as custodial death
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 28 2011:
A man died after being assaulted by Thoubal police commandos posted at the recently opened Dhabalo Khong of Laphupat Tera today.
Furious by the excessive act of the police, MLA N Mangi supported villagers demanding termination of the police commandos involved in the case.
Fifty-two year old Athokpam Angousana of Napat Mayai Leikai under Kumbi PS in Bishnupur district died at RIMS hospital after where he was brought by family members this morning.
Angousana was picked by a team of police commandos led by Havildar Sathiba from his home yesterday around 5 pm on the charge of being involved in smuggling of country made arms for UG outfits.
He was brought back to his house today morning around 9 am.
His family charged that he was in an unconscious state when the police brought him home.
Police commandos at Laphupat Tera threatened the family not to lodge any complaint and to sign on a plain paper.
Earlier, villagers had gone to the outpost and asked for the reason behind the picking up of Angousana, but they received no satisfactory reply.
Local MLA, N Mangi of CPI, the ruling partner of SPF government, was extremely agitated when he detected severe assault marks in the neck, chest, back, hips, legs and hands of the victim at RIMS morgue.
He called it a custodial death.
He said, stern action should be taken up against the erring police commando personnel.
Police personnel indulging in such "anti-social" has blackened the image of the state police.
They should be rooted out so that such "terror" acts can be checked, he said.
He further said that the matter would be brought up in the House of the Assembly during the budget session commencing from March 8 .
The MLA and some village leaders met CM O Ibobi and brought up the matter to his notice and demanded termination of the police commandos at once.
They also demanded a compensation of ' 5 lakh and a government job for a family member of the deceased.
So far the family has refused to take back the dead body.