Imphal, October 29: Based on a joint complaint by Human Rights Alert (HRA) and Threatened Indigenous People's Society (TIPS) a two member team of Manipur Human Rights Commission would visit Jiribam sub-division areas to ascertain reports of security force atrocities upon civilian populations.

The MHRC team comprising of Members Lt Col (Retd) Rajendra Singh Rajkumar and Ng Nongyai will begin investigation tomorrow onwards.

The complainants, in a joint representation submitted to the MHRC alleged of personnel belonging to the 26 Assam Rifles and 9 Field Para Regiment stationed at Jiribam of descending upon eight villages located in Barak circle since October 24 midnight and sealing off the said places.

The villages said to be under virtual siege by the security forces following clashes between the Indian Army and UNLF's armed wing - the MPA some days back - are named as Boro Bekra, Soto Bekra, Loukoipung, Lamtaikhunou, Shivapurikhal, Vehun Veng, Gwakhal and Harinagar.

In addition to snapping transportation and communication links and reports of acute shortage of essential commodities the few individuals who managed to escape the cordoned area informed of the civilian population enduring torture and inhumane treatment of all sorts, said the two rights bodies.

Complaining that one Phanjoubam Sarat (30 yrs) - a primary school teacher at Lamdaikhunou - had suffered severe backbone injury due to Army torture, HRA and TIPS contended that two persons, whose identity are yet to be established - have been beaten to death.

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