HRA urges govt. to constitute sit for investigation of serial custodial murders

IMPHAL: Human Rights Alert calls upon the Government of Manipur to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT)  to investigate the serial custodial murders of Manipur citizens by 3 Corps, CISU when unflinching evidence have surfaced in the public domain.

It may be noted that Hijam Naobi, RK Ronel and Thounoajam Prem were killed after being abducted from a rented house in Dimapur on March 10, 2010 allegedly by 3 Counter Intelligence Surveillance Unit of 3 Core Rangapahar. This matter was put up in the form of affidavit to the High Court of Manipur by Lt Col Dharamvir Singh. This fact was already revealed by first whistle-blower Major T Ravi Kiran of the CISU who had reported this assassination to the superior army officers.

Later, on the direction of the Guwahati High Court the Nagaland Police constituted a Special Investigation Team and the investigation is still underway.  The army authority has been consistently denying their involvement in this case. However Capitain Rubina Kaur Keer who is involved in this killing has been recommended for Sena Medal for her involvement by the commander of the CISU. This relevant document was already produced in public domain by Yambem Laba, former Acting Chairperson of Manipur Human Rights Commission.

It may also be noted that the army authority constantly denied their hand in the murder incidents despite Lt Col. Dharamvir’s affidavit before the High Court of Manipur. Dharamvir’s affidavit also revealed that Thangjam Satish and another person was picked up from a rented room at Shillong and later killed in the jungle of Masimpur, Silchar by the same CISU. He also categorically stated that G Jiteshwar Sharma and another unidentified person was killed and buried their bodies behind the army mess at Rangapahar by the same unit. The matter is still pending before different courts. 

In a sensitive document that has surfaced in the public domain, which was shared by the families of the deceased before the media today clearly indicated the involvement of said CISU.  The documents revealed the proceedings of honour and awards board comprising of high level officers of Indian army who scrutinized the recommendations for gallantry awards. The text includes the award being sought by CISU officer namely, Lt Rubina Kaur Keer and Havildar Varinder Pal Singh and Havildar Shamsher Singh. The dates and time of the killing, on the basis of which they soughed the award coincide with the incident of the killing of Naobi, Ranel and Prem.

The same citation also included Major Nector, Havildar L Ibonungshi Singh and Sepoy Phulen Basumatry for killing two terrorist including a KCP leader. This coincided with the dates of the killing of Thangjam Satish and unknown person after they were picked up from a rented house. It may be pointed out that Lt Col Dharamvir in his affidavit to the High Court of Manipur had named the said persons of the CISU for killing the five persons. 

During the press conference today, Jiteshowr’s brother had also revealed that his family had received a ransom demand of rupees one crore from suspected army personnel and that a sum of Rs 20 lakh was handed over to some persons at Dimapur. 

HRA urge the Government of Manipur to set up a SIT to investigate these murders of Manipur citizens. Further, we also urge the Union Home Ministry to protect the whistle blower Lt Col Dharamvir Singh who had testified these incidents whereby revelling the identities of the army officers involved in the killing. In the similar vein HRA also urge the Union Home Ministry to protect the life and security of Naib Subedar Ramesh Chand Sharma, who has been put in custody since May 15 at Agartala for revealing the staged arrests and procuring of clandestine arms by army authorities.

Source: Imphal Times