AHRC :: A man's life is at risk and his fate is unknown after his illegal arrest by the army in Manipur

Hongkong, 6 August 2010

PR by AHRC (Asian Human Rights Commission)

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-116-2010
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2010/3518/

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received detailed information regarding the illegal arrest and abduction of a man by army personnel at a check point in Imphal. The man was seen being driven into an infantry camp, in the same complex as a police station, yet all personnel have denied his arrest. His relatives have been obstructed from speaking with senior army and police officers, and they fear that the man will become victim to a fake encounter killing. A high level investigation into his whereabouts must be launched immediately.

CASE NARRATIVE:

According to information we have received, on 3 August 2010 at around 5.30pm Mr. Leimakhujam Kokulo Singh and his wife Maniton Devi were returning home in an auto-rickshaw from Wahengbam Leikai in Imphal, with eleven other passengers in the vehicle. On reaching a place along the Imphal-Sangaithel Road called Patsoi Lai Umang, the vehicle was stopped at a checking point by an army team in combat uniform.

The army personnel instructed the male passengers to exit the bus and told the women to remain seated. After questioning and searching the male passengers, the soldiers were seen dragging Kokulo into a white vehicle, which was driven away. The army did not issue an arrest memo, which is mandatory according to the guidelines of the Supreme Court of India.

Ms. Maniton managed to flag an auto-rickshaw and follow the army vehicle, a Maruti Gypsy. She saw it enter the Maratha Light Infantry camp, which is part of the Indian Army and stationed in the same complex as Patsoi Police Station. Maniton returned home immediately and alerted her family. Shortly after this, at about 8pm Kokulo's brother received a call from an unknown man warning that Kokulo would be killed.

At around 9pm, after consultation with the village elders, Kokulo's family went to Patsoi Police Station with around 20 local women. They report that two security personnel were stationed at the entrance gate, one belonging to the police and the other from the army. The women asked to meet with the Officer-in-Charge of the police station, but the soldier intervened and turned them away.

The next day the family and other villagers went to the police station again and met with army personnel at the Maratha Light Infantry Camp, who denied any reports of such an arrest.

The family then submitted a written complaint to the Officer-in-Charge of the police station. At the time of writing, Kokulo's whereabouts remain untraced.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The militarization of the Indian State of Manipur, backed by laws such as the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, has lead to systematic and widespread abuses being perpetrated with relative impunity by security force personnel. Most of these go largely unaddressed despite the best efforts of victims and their families.

Since July 2003 the Asian Human Rights Commission has reported more than two dozen cases of illegal arrests and executions carried out by security personnel who claim the deceased were killed in self defence during armed 'encounters.' In none of the cases has credible proof been offered, or an impartial inquiry been conducted to determine the whereabouts of the disappeared. As far as we have been able to gather, none of the perpetrators have ever been held accountable for their actions.

To find more examples of such cases please see: A shopkeeper is illegally arrested and executed by Manipur security forces (UAC-056-2010) in which a shopkeeper was killed during what a claimed 'encounter'. Nevertheless when his body was delivered to his family it had fifteen bullet wounds, and had been dressed in combat clothing without holes or damage. Rather than order an investigation into the case, the Chief Minister of Manipur simply offered jobs and money to the family of the victim.

For a more detailed analysis of the pattern of extrajudicial executions in Manipur please see the additional information in: Manipur police kill another in extra-judicial circumstances (UAC-029-2010)

Since this case follows a common pattern of disappearances and extrajudicial killing in Manipur, the AHRC has strong concerns for the safety and security of Kokulo Singh, and immediate intervention is necessary. Those who seized him must be called upon to produce him and explain their actions. Should it be discovered that the operated outside of the law, they must face the relevant legal charges.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please join us in writing to the authorities listed below asking for their urgent intervention.

Please be informed that the AHRC is writing to the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances regarding this case.

To support this appeal please click here:

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SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear __________,

INDIA: A man's life is at risk and his fate is unknown after his illegal arrest by the army in Manipur

Name of victim: Mr. Leimakhujam Kokulo Singh, permanent resident of Haorang Keirel Makha Leikai, under PO and PS Patsoi, Imphal West District, Manipur, India
Names of alleged perpetrators: Maratha Light Infantry Camp of Indian Army stationed at Patsoi Police Station
Date of incident: 3 August 2010
Place of incident: Patsoi Lai Umang along the Imphal-Sangaithel Road

I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the arrest and subsequent disappearance of Mr. Leimakhujam Kokulo Singh. According to the information I have received from the Asian Human Rights Commission, on 3 August 2010 at around 5.30pm Mr. Singh and his wife Maniton Devi were returning home in an auto-rickshaw from Wahengbam Leikai in Imphal, with eleven other passengers in the vehicle. On reaching a place along the Imphal-Sangaithel Road called Patsoi Lai Umang, the vehicle was stopped at a check point by an army team in combat uniform.

The army personnel instructed the male passengers to exit the bus and told the women to remain seated. After questioning and searching the male passengers, the soldiers were seen dragging Mr. Singh into a white vehicle, which was driven away. The army did not issue an arrest memo, which is mandatory according to the guidelines of the Supreme Court of India.

I understand that Ms. Maniton managed to flag an auto-rickshaw and follow the army vehicle, a Maruti Gypsy. She saw it enter the Maratha Light Infantry camp, which is part of the Indian Army and stationed in the same complex as Patsoi Police Station. Ms. Maniton returned home immediately and alerted her family. Shortly after this, at about 8pm Mr. Singh's brother received a call from an unknown man warning that Mr. Singh would be killed because he had opposed them in some way.

At around 9pm, after consultation with the village elders, Mr. Singh's family went to Patsoi Police Station with around 20 local women. They report that two security personnel were stationed at the entrance gate, one belonging to the police and the other from the army. The women asked to meet with the Officer-in-Charge of the police station, but the soldier intervened and turned them away.

The next day the family and other villagers went to the police station again and met with army personnel at the Maratha Light Infantry Camp, who denied any reports of such an arrest. I am told that the family then submitted a written complaint to the Officer-in-Charge of the police station.

I know that at the time of writing, the whereabouts of Mr. Singh remain untraced.

I am aware that illegal arrests and enforced disappearances of civilians by army personnel are frequent in Manipur, and that in most cases it leads to the family being later informed that the disappeared was killed in an armed encounter. I further know that in very few cases is an impartial inquiry conducted to determine the veracity of the military claim, and that as a result impunity for abuses of security personnel prevails in Manipur.

In consideration of this widespread pattern, I am extremely concerned that the life of Mr. Singh is at imminent risk, despite clear information about those responsible for his abduction. His whereabouts must be disclosed urgently, his safety ensured, and those accountable for his illegal arrest investigated by the laws of the country.

Please ensure that such an investigation is immediately undertaken, and that the Indian Army cooperates fully. I also urge you to provide the victim's family with adequate protection.

Yours sincerely,
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Mr. A. K. Anthony
Defense Minister
Government of India, 104 South Block
New Delhi
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 23015403

2. Dr. P. Chidambaram
Home Minister
Griha Mantralaya
Room No. 104, North Block
Central Secretariat, New Delhi 110001
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 2301 5750, 2309 3750, 2309 2763
E-mail: [email protected]

3. Justice K. G. Balakrishnan
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission of India
Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg
New Delhi-110001
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 23340016
E-mail: [email protected]

4. Sri Y Joykumar Singh, DGP
PHQ Imphal Manipur
795001 Imphal, Manipur
INDIA
Fax + 91 385 2223829
E-mail: [email protected]

5. Mr. Okram Ibobi Singh
Chief Minister of Manipur
New Secretariat Building
Bapupara, Imphal, Manipur
INDIA
Fax + 91 385 2451398
E-mail: [email protected]

6. Chief Secretary, Manipur
Old Secretariat Building
Bapupara, Imphal, Manipur
INDIA
Fax + 91 385 2222629
E-mail: [email protected]

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission ([email protected])