INDIA: Extreme abuse of power by the Central Reserved Police Force in Manipur 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Centre for Organisation Research and Education (CORE), a human rights organisation in Manipur, India, about the indiscriminate killings, arbitrary detention and torture of innocent civilians by the Central Reserved Police Force (CRPF) on 18 January 2005 in Wangoo Nungai Sabal Noyaikhong Mapal, Thoubal District, Manipur, India.

The CRPF, which is a part of the Indian Paramilitary Force, was deployed under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, by the Government of India to control the active armed opposition groups in Manipur, India. On January 18, 132 CRPF personnel, who were patrolling Wangoo Nungai Sabal Noyaikhong Mapal under the Sugunu Police Station, were attacked by unidentified gun men. In retaliation the police force fired indiscriminately resulting in the death of at least four innocent civilians. It is alleged that one of these four was falsely labelled as a rebel and was executed by the CRPF personnel on the spot. The CRPF also detained three other civilians and tortured two women while looking for the accused attackers.

AHRC urges you to intervene in this matter immediately. Please urge the Manipur state government to ensure that all police personnel involved in this incident are punished and the victims’ families are duly compensated for their losses. Please also request the Government of India to instruct all its military, paramilitary and security forces to use their firearms and weapons in accordance with domestic and international laws and standards.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of victims:
a. Victims of Extra Judicial Killing:
1. Thokchom Puspa Devi, Age 11yrs. Female, daughter of late Thokchom Bimjaou,
2. Lourembam Maipak, Age 55yrs. Male, son of Lourembam Moirangningthou Singh
(The two are residents of Wangoo Nungai Sabal Nongyaikhong Mapal Leikai, Thoubal District, Manipur, India)
3. Two other unidentified civilians
b. Arbitrary Detention:
1. Rajkumar Dhinesana, Age 30yrs, Male
2. Naorem Shanti, Age 40 yrs, Male
3. Ksh. Manglem, Male
(All the three are residents of Wangoo Nungai Sabal Nongyaikhong Mapal Leikai, Thoubal District, Manipur, India)
c. Torture: Two unidentified women

Place of incident: Wangoo Nungai Sabal Noyaikhong Mapal under the Sugunu Police Station, Thoubal District, Manipur, India
Alleged perpetrators: 132 Central Reserved Police Force stationed at Wangoo Lamkhai Wangjing Khunou
Date of incident: 18 January 2005

Case details:

On 18 January 2005, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), who were patrolling the Wangoo Nungai Sabal Noyaikhong Mapal area under Thoubal District, Manipur, were fired at by unidentified gunmen. In the indiscriminate retaliatory firing that followed, at least four innocent civilians were killed. Of the four, two were youths who were just passing by yet were killed in  the backyard of Rajkumar Dhinesana.

Of the other two innocent victims, one of them, Thokchom Puspa Devi, was feeding pigs in her courtyard at the time the firing took place. On hearing the gun shots she tried to run inside her house but unfortunately was hit by a bullet and died on the spot.

The other victim, Lourembam Maipak, a local priest was having tea at nearby stall. On hearing gunfire, he tried to run for cover. It is alleged that he was stopped from doing so and was forced to hold a wireless set supposedly communicating with the armed rebel groups by the CRPF personnel. He was then photographed (to be later circulated by the security force, thus branding him a rebel) and killed to demonstrate to the armed rebels what they would face if they resisted.

Apart from this grave offence, it is also alleged that the CRPF personnel tortured two innocent women and arbitrarily detained and interrogated three others namely, Rajkumar Dhinesana, Naorem Shanti and Ksh. Manglem for interrogation.

BACKGROUND:

Manipur, a small border province in the remote north eastern region of India, with a population of 2.3 million, has been the centre of an armed conflict for many years. In order to control the active armed opposition groups, the CRPF, a part of the Indian Paramilitary Force, was deployed under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, by the Government of India.

However in the past, many cases of human rights violations such as indiscriminate firing at innocent civilians, arbitrary detention, torture and other forms of cruelty by the security forces and the police have emerged. The police and the other forces often randomly fire into crowded areas. Since these forces enjoy impunity, these acts of abuse and violence most go unpunished.

It is extremely unfortunate that the very people employed by the government to defend and provide a secure and peaceful environment such that people can live without fear, have now become the offenders themselves. This incident once again exposes the total failure of domestic mechanisms that are designed to defend human rights and safeguard citizen’s rights in India.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter to Mr. Okram Ibobi Singh, the Chief Minister of Manipur requesting him to order an immediate and thorough investigation in this serious case and punish the responsible CRPF personnel by law. Please also send a copy of the letter to other relevant local authorities.

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER