INDIA: Assam Rifle officers assault and shoot upon villagers; one woman killed

Dear Friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) regrets to inform you of yet another killing of a woman in Manipur by the 20^th Battalion of Assam Rifles posted in Pallel. The woman received a bullet injury as officers fired indiscriminately without warning towards a group of villagers, who were approaching to identify a masked man protected by the officers. She was later declared dead. This incident is in connection with the continuous harassment of Aimol Village residents by the Assam Rifles.

CASE NARRATIVE: (Based on documentation by Human Rights Alert, Manipur)

On Wednesday, 27 May 2015, at around 11 p.m., a team of 20^th Battalion of Assam Rifles led by Major Aditya Kapoor dragged out a villager identified as one Mr. Y. Nobin Singh (33 years) from his house. Mr. Nobin Singh belongs to the Meitei community, and hails from Thoubal District of Manipur. He is married to an Aimol woman from Aimol Chingnunghut Village. His wife cried out for help to prevent her husband from getting arrested. Nobin managed to escape when the officers tried to push him into their vehicle. The villagers were alarmed by Nobin’s wife’s cries and womenfolk began gathering around. Army personnel fled the scene, leaving behind Mr. Nobin. This was reported to the media by the Village Authority, and related stories were carried in local dailies.

The villagers also filed a complaint to the Tengnoupal Police Station and to the Deputy Commissioner, Chandel District, in connection with the incident. A representation was also submitted to the President of the Aimol tribe.

On 28 May 2015, at around 8:30 a.m., after having read and watched the news related to the incident in the local newspaper and electronic media, Major Aditya Kapoor visited the Village. He told the villagers that, according to their information, Mr. Nobin is one of the militants who obtained military training in Myanmar in 2006. The villagers contended that Mr. Nobin is a married man, settled in the village for the last 16 years, as well as a Church Deacon at Aimol Khullen Baptist Church. The Village Authority also gave a written declaration about Nobin, noting that he has been an innocent villager for the last 16 years. The Major subsequently confessed to a misunderstanding.

On Sunday, 31 May 2015, at around 9:30 p.m., while the villagers were busy preparing for the Autonomous District Council election, to be held on 1 June 2015, a team of the Assam Rifles led by Major Aditya surrounded the house belonging to Mr. H.L. Thanjalal. They searched every nook and corner of the house, claiming that firearms were hidden inside, according to information from reliable sources. The villagers, on alert since May 27, had demanded that any search be conducted in the presence of villagers. No incriminating article was found in the house.

Thereafter, some villagers noticed a masked man among the team led by Major Aditya. He was asked to remove his mask but he refused to do so. In their eagerness to identify the person, the villagers attempted to forcibly remove the mask, but the man ran away towards the convoy. The vehicle drove away speedily as soon as he jumped inside, while Major Aditya and his team were surrounded by the villagers and not allowed to leave. One villager immediately called Ms. M. Ruisoting Aimol of Setu Aimol Village about the escaped vehicle and the masked man.

Unfortunately, the vehicle carrying the masked man got into an accident at Aimol Setu Village. Taking advantage of the accident, the villagers approached the vehicle to identify the masked man but Assam Rifles personnel started firing indiscriminately without warning. At the forefront was Ruisoting Aimol, who received a bullet injury from the indiscriminate firingt. Three other women, S.T. Larti (48 years), S. Sangkaisin (49 years), and S. Rangnu (46 years), were severely assaulted by the Assam Rifles, who used their rifle butts and sticks. They were subsequently hospitalized.

Ruisoting Aimol was immediately taken to Jiban Hospital at Kakching. As her health deteriorated, she was taken to Shija Hospital at Langol for further treatment. However, she did not survive, and was declared dead there.

On Monday, 1 June 2015, Mr. S. Munthuireng Aimol, Secretary, Aimol Setu Village Authority lodged a written report with the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Tengnoupal Police Station in connection with the incident. Unfortunately, the OC was prevented from conducting any investigation by the Assam Rifles personnel during his visit to the Village. Thereafter, the Commanding Officer (CO) of the 20^th Battalion of Assam Rifles apologized for the incident and scolded Major Aditya in the presence of villagers. As requested by the CO, the villagers finally allowed Major Aditya and his team to leave the village.

Although the OC of Tengnoupal Police Station registered an FIR No. 11(6)2015 under Sections 302/34 of the Indian Penal Code and 27 in Arms Act, no investigation report has been made available.

Ruisoting Aimol’s body was later taken to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Science (JNIMS) for a post mortem. Although the post mortem was conducted in the presence of an Executive Magistrate with full video coverage, the bullet, seen in the X-ray that was taken during Ruisoting Aimol’s hospitalization, was missing.

A Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the killing of Ruisoting Aimol was also formed.

In protest against the killing, the JAC called a general strike along National Highway 2 on June 2, demanding appropriate punishment for Major Aditya and his team. The JAC further noted that Ruisoting Aimol’s body would not be claimed till demands are met.

On June 3, JAC representatives met Chief Minister Okram Ibobi in the presence of MLA D.K. Korungthang of Tengnoupal Assembly Constituency and an officer of the Assam Rifles. The government of Manipur has agreed to pay compensation to the victim’s family, provide a suitable government job to one family member, and take action against the guilty Assam Rifles Officer. To date however, none of this has materialized.

Ruisoting’s last rituals were conducted in her village on June 4.

ABOUT THE VICTIM:

1. Ruisoting Aimol, alias Mary (55 years), was the wife of Babudhon of Aimol Satu Village, P.O. Pallel, P.S. Tengnoupal, Chandel District, Manipur. She has left behind six children. She used to work as President of Numei Waar (women’s torch bearer). She was also the chairperson of the Women’s Secular Body based in Chandel District. She spent her life working for the promotion of women’s rights in the village. She was actively campaigning on conflict resolution, development, and various entitlements of women. She was also one of the promoters of WinG (Women in Governance), Manipur. WinG Manipur is a network of women across communities and ethnic lines working on human rights issues, HIV/ AIDS, conflict resolution, and child trafficking.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

Since the enforcement of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, (AFSPA) 1958, in Manipur, there has been a total lack of punishment for military officers violating civil rights, even in cases where sufficient evidence has been produced in court. Prior to the killing of Ruisoting and the harassment of Aimol villages, on 23 May 2015, three persons were killed in an alleged “fake encounter” at B Gamon Village in Ukhrul District. The three persons were a Church leader, a Tangkhul construction labourer, and a Meitei construction labourer.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write to the authorities listed below, asking them to investigate the sources of the violence taking place in Manipur, and to help in restoring peace. The perpetrators involved in Ruisoting’s death and in harassing the villagers must be punished accordingly, and the victims must be compensated.

The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteurs on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions requesting them to intervene in this matter. 

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