Custodial death slur on police Commandos
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 28 2011:
A farmer, who had been arrested by police commandos on charge of being allegedly involved in the sale of a country-made pistol, died after being subjected to alleged custodial torture.
According to family members, the victim identified as 52-year old Athokpam Angousana (52) of Napat Mayai Leikai under Bishnupur district was arrested by a team of Thoubal district police commandos from his house at around 5 pm yesterday.
Efforts to contact the SSP of Thoubal police drew blank.
The police commandos told the family members that Angousana was being arrested for his involvement in selling a countrymade pistol.
Angousana was a farmer and the police commandos who came to arrest him are attached to the police outpost at Laphupat Tera Dhaballokhong under Thoubal district.
When the family members went to get Angousana out from the police outpost at around 9 am today, there were scars/bruises all over his body and he was not in a condition to stand up on his own or speak.
At around 11 am today, Angousana was admitted to RIMS but he passed away not long after.
In connection with the incident, a senior police officer of Thoubal district informed that Angousana was arrested in connection with concealing weapons.
However, he was released on a PR bond after knowing that he had some physical illness.
On the other hand, MLA of Kumbi A/C Ningthoujam Mangi, while asserting that Angousana died from excessive torture in police custody, has demanded dismissal of the personnel involved.
As the news of the death of Angousana has come even before it is reported to the police station concerned, it amounts to custodial death, he said, adding that such conduct have not only tarnished the image of Manipur Police but also brought down the morale of all the personnel.
To ensure that such incidents are not repeated and to teach the rogue cops a lesson, the guilty cops should be dismissed, the MLA asserted.
The body of Angousana is yet to be claimed by the family members and it is still lying at the mortuary of RIMS.
Angousana left behind his wife, 3 sons and 2 daughters.