Alleged Torture of Gaidon Kamei (UNC)

January 13, 2017

The Centre for Organisation Research and Education (CORE) of Manipur is deeply concerned to the severe torture and cruel and inhumane degrading treatment alleged by United Naga Council (UNC) president, Mr. Gaidon Kamei, 52 years old, a resident of Namdulong, Imphal, perpetrated during his detention under police custody.

Mr. Kamei has been detained by the Manipur police since his arrest on 25 November 2016 under orders of the court. His allegations that he has been subjected to “third degree” torture that included electric shock treatment, deprivation of proper meals and snacks inside the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) located within the sacred Kanga Fort, a most significant heritage site of Manipur is shocking as India is a signatory to the UN Convention against Torture since 1997.

Mr. Gaidon’s health, personal security and life is at great risk during his police custody according to the widely reported news of his torture by the Manipur police that has been discussed even on the state broadcasting service, All India Radio yesterday. CORE demands that the State Government and specifically, the Home Ministry of Manipur has legal obligations to ensure that all detainees and prisoners are treated with the dignity and respect accorded to all human beings equally under the law. The premises or justifications of the detention of Mr. Kamei are within the domain of law, and CORE has no competence to comment as long as the required due process of law is followed and guarantees to the fundamental rights of the Constitution are fulfilled.

CORE demands that Mr. Kamei be given immediate access to competent and impartial professional medical attention regarding his alleged deterioration of health conditions as a consequence of torture so that his physical and psychological well-being is investigated and any abnormalities found are treated appropriately. Further, Mr Gaidon Kamei’s repeated remands to police custody since last year is unjustified and imposes a serious hazard to his health and life. He should be moved to a judicial facility immediately till such times as the legal requirements are resolved.

Further, CORE demands that the Home Ministry of the government of Manipur immediately withdraw the so-called Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) located within the sacred Kangla Fort complex in the middle of Imphal City, the capital of Manipur. It is a matter of utmost shame and condemnation that such a police and security forces facility is being maintained within an archeological and cultural heritage site under the jurisdiction of the Department of Art and Culture.

The question whether the Art & Culture Department’s mandate includes the establishment and maintenance of a police interrogation facility where the practice of “third degree” torture is alleged within its premises remains answerable to the public and the state.

(Dr Debabrata Roy Laifungbam)
President
Elders’ Council, CORE