INDIA: A police officer brutally assaulted in Manipur

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission has received information about a police officer, Mr Amitabh Singh Arambam.  He was brutally beaten by the security contingent of the Manipur Assembly Speaker, while he was on his way home with his wife and children.  Mr Amitabh Singh Arambam is known for his honesty and integrity at work. In 2012, he stopped a huge consignment of drugs at Imphal Airport. This seizure surfaced a series of other drug rackets that involved the Army PRO as well as Senior Cabinet Ministers of the Manipur Government. Since then, because of his action, many influential people in the local government seek opportunities to prevent him from doing his duty. 

This climate of impunity has always prevailed in Manipur where VIPs take advantage of their position and curtail people who stand in their way. Such people know very well how to manipulate things to their advantage. The speaker, Shri Th Lokeshwar and his security contingent had already filed a counter FIR against Mr Amitabh Singh Arambam. They accused him of agitating a fight with 25 security personnel, travelling in four gypsies, while escorting the speaker back home. Such an accusation does not make sense.  Mr Amitabh Singh Arambam or any other person would first think about the safety of his wife and children who were travelling with him before starting a fight with 25 trained, armed men. Was this done to deter people and the police from learning about the real incident? 

CASE NARRATIVE:

Mr. Amitabh Singh Arambam is a Sub-Inspector in the Special Investigation Team and Special Intelligence Unit of Manipur. He is one of the officers who stopped a drug consignment at Imphal Airport. This led to the exposure of a series of other drug rackets involving the Army PRO as well as senior Cabinet Ministers of the Manipur Government in 2012. For this action he was decorated with DG’s Commendation on 19 October 2013 and CM’s Gallantry Award on 15 August 2014 in Manipur. 

A number of people in power felt that Mr. Arambam was getting in their way of doing business as usual. Furthermore, they knew that he could not be bribed or corrupted. On 10 May 2015, the speaker, Shri Th Lokeshwar, and his security personnel were traveling in 4 gypsies. At 10:30 p.m. they saw Mr.  Arambam, his wife and children, near the traffic island/ roundabout of Johnstone School in Imphal. Taking advantage of the deserted place, the escort surrounded Mr. Arambam and brutally assaulted him in front of his family, leaving him with serious head injuries. The security personnel also outraged the modesty and dignity of Mr Amitabh Singh Arambam’s wife by physically pushing her around while she was trying to defend her husband during the attack. They snatched the victim’s mobile phone and gold chain. While the assault was taking place, Shri Th Lokeshwar sat inside his car and did nothing. Arambam was then rushed to Shija Hospital. His wife filed an FIR against the security personnel before the Officer-in-charge of the City Police Station.  It was registered as FIR No. 65(5)2015 City P.S. u/s325/386/427/34 IPC & 27 Arms Act. 

In order to absolve themselves of the crime, the security personnel also lodged an FIR before the Officer-in charge of the City Police Station. It was based on false, trumped-up charges and allegations against Mr. Arambam. They claimed he unreasonably agitated the escorts. One of the Havildar (police constable), with the security personnel that night, has been placed under suspension. He acted as the Commander of the team during the fight. This false report has been made with both motives and objectives. It is the suppression and blindsiding of the facts and circumstances through a blatant and vindictive misuse of power and influence. The suspended Havildar/Escort Commander is merely a scapegoat provided as an appeasement. No action has been taken against the actual perpetrators of the crime.

At present, the Speaker Th. Lokeshwar is exerting a great deal of pressure on the Officer-in-charge of the investigation. As a result, Mr. Arambam’s mother is filing a written petition in the High Court, to institute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in order to conduct a fair investigation in the case beyond the influence of the Speaker Shri.Th Lokeshwar. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Corruption leaves no place for development to take place. A few, corrupt, powerful people decide on the well-being of the common people, despite the fact that they are outnumbered by them. One cannot say that the entire governance system is corrupt because there are honest members in it, too. Mr.  Arambam is one of the officers with a conscience who never surrendered to bribes or corruption. It is a fact that people like him never stand a chance against influential, corrupt politicians. Survival is made difficult for the honest man. In Manipur, the VIP Culture is overwhelming. Any individual standing in their way is put down by those taking advantage of their status. We have a democratic set-up but the people have succumbed to remaining voiceless.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write to the authorities listed below, asking them to see that the justice deserved by Mr Amitabh Singh Arambam is put into action by booking the perpetrators.  

1. The police report made by the wife of S.I. Amitabh Arambam in connection with the incident before the Officer-in-charge of the City Police Station being registered as FIR No. 65(5)2015 City P.S. u/s325/386/427/34 IPC & 27 Arms Act should be investigated without further delay.

2. The culprits who perpetrated the crime should be arrested immediately and their identities made known to the public.

3. The case charge sheet should be framed and submitted to the court as soon as possible to enable a speedy trial.

4. The offence of outraging the modesty and dignity of the wife of S.I. Amitabh Arambam should be added in the police case FIR No. 65(5)2015 City P.S. u/s 325/386/427/34 IPC & 27 Arms Act and an investigation done.

5.  The perpetrators should pay adequate compensation for the psychological shock and trauma suffered by the wife and children of S.I. Amitabh Arambam.

6. The services of the security personnel should be terminated, to teach a lesson and set an example among the rank and file of the uniformed services such as the Civil Police, Manipur Rifles, IRB, and Civil Commando personnel.

7. Th. Lokeshwar, Speaker, Manipur Legislative Assembly, should be stripped of his position at once. He remained as a mute spectator to the illegal and heinous act perpetrated by his armed escorts despite being a representative of the people.

8. The gold chain and mobile phone confiscated by the security contingent should be returned. 

9. The vehicle of S.I. Amitabh Arambam, damaged in the incident, owing to the deliberate acts of the escorts should be adequately compensated.

10. The authorities should take no retributive action against the career of S.I. Amitabh Arambam  as a fall-out of the incident or in retaliation for public protests.

11. The police should not initiate an investigation into the false case filed by the perpetrators where the Havildar/Escort Commander has been placed under suspension. 

The AHRC writes a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment calling for his attention to this case.

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