INDIA: Murder of two persons by unknown perpetrators in Manipur

Dear friends

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from a Manipur based civil society organization regarding the murder of two persons Mr. Okram Gyanendro (35 years), son of Okram Achou, and Mr. Ayekpam Nobinchandra (55 years), son of Mr. A. Mohon Singh by unknown perpetrators. On 18 and 28 August 2013, the dead bodies of both drivers were found in two different places in Imphal, Manipur. Civil society members suspect foul play and urge proper investigation and prosecution.

CASE NARRATIVE of Mr. Okram Gyanendro:

On 18 August at around 2 p.m. a 35-year-old van driver, Mr. Okram Gyanendro, son of Mr. Okram Achou, was found shot dead on the back seat of his vehicle at Narankonjil Palli under Wangoi Police Station, Manipur. The deceased had been operating a van service on the Imphal-Moreh route. He sustained two bullet injuries to his forehead. There were also three bullet marks on his van.

The deceased is survived by his wife and two children, a son and a daughter. According to his family members, Mr. Gyanendro returned home from Moreh on 17 August 2013 evening. The following morning, i.e. of 18 August 2013, he left his home at around 6:30 a.m. for delivering some goods, which he had brought from Moreh. At around 9 a.m., he informed his wife on mobile phone that he had finished the delivery and would arrive home after purchasing some vegetables from Pishum Bazar. However, after this, he could not be contacted anymore as his mobile phone remained switched off. Later, his sister, who resides at Narankonjil, informed family members about his death. According to the police, some vegetables and two toy cars were found in the vehicle. One of the toy cars was fitted with something akin to a circuit board. Mr. Gyanendro may have been killed after he was abducted or after his van was hijacked by some persons.

Meanwhile, irate locals of Singjamei Okram Leikai blocked Imphal-Moreh Road and called a 24 hours total statewide bandh [strike] and sat in protest against Mr. Gyanendro’s murder, demanding authorities to bring out the culprit. The concerned responsible authorities have not yet identified and arrested the perpetrator(s).

CASE NARRATIVE of Mr. Ayekpam Nobinchandra:

On 28 August 2013 at around 6 a.m., the dead body of the 55-year-old Mr. Ayekapm Nobinchandra was found by locals who were in Konjil Irakwa area of Manipur for agricultural activities. The vehicle of the deceased, bearing registration. no. MN01 / R0 2021, was discovered about 100 feet away from the dead body. It is registered in the name of Mrs. (O) Tombi Devi, wife of Mr. Salam Marjit Singh of Toubul Mayai Leikai, Bishnupur District.

The marks of torture found on the body of the deceased, particularly on his face, chest, and neck, have raised the suspicion of him being attacked with sharp objects / weapons. A sickle was also found near the spot. His throat was found slit about three inches deep and there was a deep cut on his chest and belly.

The deceased is survived by his wife, Mrs. Ayekpam (O) Leibakleima Devi, two sons, and two daughters. His wife said she used to run a grocery shop before Mr. Nobinchandra started his job transporting rice for the Food Corporation of India (FCI). He left this job last year and started to ply a diesel auto from RIMS Gate to Khwairamband Bazar, Imphal.

According to his wife, Mr. Ayekapm Nobinchandra left their home on the 27 August 2013 at around 5 p.m. in the vehicle to buy some vegetables for dinner. He returned at around 6 p.m. and handed over the purchased food to her. He left again and never returned. At around 8 p.m., she noticed a missed call from his mobile number (9862421811). Thus, she called back. During the conversation, he asked her whether dinner was ready ¬¬for which she replied that it is ready and he should come back, but the line got interrupted and she couldn’t even complete her sentence. She repeatedly tried to call him back, but he did not answer even though the mobile phone was ringing. Mrs. Leibakleima Devi was informed that someone has been found at Waithou, with a mobile phone, cash of Rs. 600, and some papers on his body. She was requested to come up and pick up the body if it turned out to be her husband. However, being suspicious of foul play, the family members continuously called his number. Finally, with an exhausted tone, he picked up at around 3 a.m. on 28 August 2013. He told his family that he was in a very painful condition. When one of his daughters asked about his whereabouts, the line got interrupted again.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The state of Manipur is undergoing active armed conflict for several decades and incidents of killings in fake encounters and secret killings are rampant as reported by media and civil society organizations in Manipur. Last year, a three-member panel headed by retired Supreme Court judge Santosh Hagde was appointed in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a Manipuri based victims’ group and the human rights organization seeking investigation into 1,528 alleged extrajudicial killings in Manipur between 1997 and 2012. The panel was also directed to analyze the functioning of the state police and security forces in Manipur. It submitted its report on April 4, 2013, to the Supreme Court. The panel has found grave evidence of impunity and abuse of special powers by security forces, resulting in widespread human rights violations. All seven deaths, in the six cases investigated by the penal members, were extrajudicial killings, and not deaths resulting from encounters where security forces claimed they fired in self defense against armed insurgents. The panel also said that the continuation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in Manipur has made ‘a mockery of the law’, and that the security forces have been ‘transgressing the legal bound for their counter insurgency operations in the state’.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
1. Urge the Government of Manipur to carry out proper investigation and identify the perpetrators and initiate a trial at the appropriate court;
2. Urge the Government of Manipur to provide immediate relief to the family members as they have lost their primary source of income;
3. Urge the Union Government and the Government of Manipur to check the functioning of the security mechanisms and to evaluate their efficiency;
4. Urge the authorities to take steps to prevent further secret killings in the state and to protect life and property;
5. Urge Manipur authorities to ensure freedom of press and security of media persons who report on murder, extrajudicial killings, and disappearances.

The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial Execution and UN Special Rapporteur against Torture calling for their intervention into this matter.

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