Imphal, Jul 28: While condemning in the strongest term all the incidents of human rights violations committed by Assam Rifles personnel under the immunity provided by the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 such as extreme physical and mental torture, involuntary disappearance of numerous individuals after being picked up by security forces, rape, murder etc, the Committee on Human Rights (COHR) has pledged all support in the subsequent people's movement against security forces and the State Government in the aftermath of the arrest of Samuel Kabui (20) by 38 AR and the murder of SN Premson (25) by 21 AR.

A statement issued by COHR took strong exception to the rough treatment meted out to villagers of Noney by 38 AR when the villagers were staging a protest in a democratic manner demanding the release of innocent Samuel Kabui who was taken into their custody on July 25.Many persons victimised by the Assam Rifles personnel for protesting the arrest are still undergoing treatment at hospitals, it disclosed.

It further asserted that SN Premson was killed by Assam Rifles personnel who fired indiscriminately while he was coming out from the latrine at his home in Leingangching under Waikhong police station on July 26.Sharing the grief and loss felt by the families, COHR called for a united struggle, irrespective of ethnicity and community to abolish the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 which is being used to commit atrocities against the people of the North East region and Manipur in particular, conveyed the statement.

Comment