Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 23:
Amid the growing public outcry against the prolonged imposition of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, troopers of Assam Rifles allegedly administered third degree torture on an innocent man on October 18 night.
Condemning the excesses of the security personnel, a protest rally was also taken out on the streets'of Koutruk in Im-phal West District, today afternoon.
PRO IGAR (South) Major Devgan, however, refuted the charges of committing excesses as baseless and asserted that the alleged victim had been handed over to the police after conducting medical examination duly.
Recounting his nightmarish experience, the victim identified as Ningthoujam Sajou Singh (45) of Koutruk Mayai Leikai said that on October 18night, at around 11.30pm, he was woken up by noise of some Hindi speaking persons and heavy sounds of kicking at his door.
Later one of the men asked him to open the door.
Sajou, father of five children, recounted 'when I opened the door, some army personnel (who were later confirmed to be personnel of 4th Assam Rifles posted at Loitang Khunou Spinning Mill) asked my name, and as I was replying they abruptly began bashing me up and tied my hands from behind'.
'The AR personnel then snatched a Khudei (Loin cloth) and with it I was blind folded', he said, adding that, when his wife Yumshaagbi Devi tried to intervene she was pushed back violently by the intruders resulting in causing injuries on her head.
With only his underwear, Sajou informed, he was dragged out from his house and pushed inside the security vehicle waiting nearby.
The AR personnel then drove the vehicle for some minutes towards an open park and dumped him there where he was again subjected to severe thrashing with water being poured on his blind-folded face.
The security personnel also persistently threatened him to admit himself as a cadre of the banned United National Liberation Front (UNLF) despite his pleading that, he is not related whatsoever with any underground organisation.
After all these torture, Sajou recalled he was lodged inside a room the whole night and on the following day he was handed over to the police with false charge of being a member of UNLF, Subsequently, he was produced before a Magistrate at Imphal and later released on bail, Sajou said.
'Because of the brutality and torture committed by the AR personnel, I am having acute pain while defacting and urinating.
Blood also comes out when I cough', Sajou said.
Enraged residents of Koutruk hit the streets today to denounce the action of the AR personnel today afternoon.
Earlier during the day, a meeting was also held at the ground of Koutruk Youth Development Club.
Apart from a large number of people, many human rights activists and local MLA N Biren were among those who attended and spoke at the meeting.