Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, Sep 06:
Continuing its campaign for the release of the two arrested Threatened Indigenous People's Society (TIPS) activists from police custody, Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has urged the Bar Council of India to take up necessary actions in this regard including conduct of an impartial inquiry into the incidents and publish its findings in within a reasonable time.
In an open letter submitted to the Chairperson of Bar Council of India, the Hong-Kong based human rights protection body contended that the arrest of TIPS general secretary Leitangthem Umakanta, who is also a lawyer and its publicity secretary Yengkokpam Langamba alias Thabi were carried out in breach of all procedures and mandates of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 and the directives issued by the Supreme Court of India regarding arrest, detention and questioning of persons by law enforcement agencies.
The open letter signed by executive director of AHRC Basil Fernando maintained that prior to the arrest, the houses of Umakanta and Langamba were surrounded by the officers from Assam Rifles and the arrest were made by the police officers of Imphal West Police Station.
It is alleged that the Assam Rifles wanted to place some incriminating evidence to justify the arrests and for this the Assam Rifles pressured the State police to place on record some compact disks as recovered from their custody, connecting the two secessionist forces operating in Manipur, although both Umakanta and Langamba have said that no such articles were recovered from their houses, the open letter pointed out, adding that this is further reiterated by the fact that proper arrest or seizure memo were not prepared at the time of the arrest.
Both Umakanta and Langamba have also alleged that they were tortured while in the custody of the security forces, the open letter further added.
While observing that arrest and illegal detention of the two human rights activists are not isolated cases in Manipur, the open letter noted that it appears that this is the general attitude of anyone who is in a position to raise their voice against the atrocities committed by the armed forces and other law enforcing agencies in India and particularly in Manipur where draconian laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 is used to silence the voice of protest.