The terms “peaceful state” have turned into a misnomer for Arunachal Pradesh. The state is often in the news for wrong reasons.
The state of human rights remained bad in 2011. In fact, the situation deteriorated compared to the previous year. The presence of armed opposition groups (AOGs) from the neighboring states and clashes between themselves severely affected the life and security of the people. This has prompted the Ministry of Home Affairs to declare the two districts namely Changlang and Tirap and some areas bordering Assam under the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958.
What is more alarming is that the protectors of the people are increasingly becoming the worst violators of human rights in the state. The infamous Daporijo police station MMS case where two minors were detained, forced to have sex and filmed by the police exposed the scant respect for human rights by the state’s police. It was not surprising when the state was ranked third among the north eastern states in custodial death cases by a leading human rights organization. The paramilitary forces and the army deputed in the state were also equally responsible for serious human rights violations during the year.
The following cases will make the picture clearer.
Case 1: Beating of Buddhist monks by CRPF
In a blatant disregard to religious sentiment, two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel severely beat up five persons including four Buddhist monks at the Khampti Buddhist temple at Innao village under Diyun police station in Changlang district on 15 April 2011. The CRPF personnel identified as Mrijen Kolita and Dilip Kakoti of F Company 186th BN of the CRPF in an inebriated condition entered the Bhuddhist temple at about 5.30 pm and beat up the victims with their service belts. The four Buddhist monks were identified as Bhikku Agasarah, his assistants (Chowsang) Dhama Shiha Wanitah, Pingya Jotah and Chow Chali Longchat. The other victim was identified as C K Namchoom, a Village Chief.
The accused also used abusive language against the monks and urinated inside the temple premises, which is a sacred place of the Buddhists.
Case 2: Village Chief tortured by Assam Rifles
On 25 June 2011, Tumwang Lowangdong, Chief of Khela village in Tirap district, was allegedly tortured at the 19 Assam Riffles Camp at Khonsa in the district. He was later allegedly implicated as a sympathizer of an armed group. The Assam Rifles while denying the torture charge stated that the Chief was only summoned at the camp for questioning. However, on 4 July 2011 Tumwang Lowangdong stated that he was tortured.
Case 3: Beating and stripping of two women by police
On 1 July 2011, two women identified as Mrs Tami Yagam (30 years) and Mrs Tami Yaro (32 years) were subjected to beating and stripped naked by two policemen identified as Tadar Take and Tadar Kochang outside the office of the Additional District Magistrate-cum Estate Officer, Itanagar Capital Complex in Naharlagun in Papumpare district.
The two victims had gone to the Additional District Magistrate-cum Estate Officer, Itanagar Capital Complex in Naharlagun to attend the hearing in a land dispute case. After the hearing, the two victims came out of the court when they were suddenly attacked on the court premises. The two accused not only beat the two victims without any reason, but also stripped them naked in front of the security guards and court officials. Thereafter, the two accused snatched a cash amount of Rs 10,000 /- from the victims’ bag. The two accused also tried to kidnap the two victims by forcing them into their vehicle.
Case 4: Serious injuries to 3 women in disproportionate use of firearms by police
On 25 July 2011, three women identified as Yakiam Mibang, Sania Lego and Y. Talom sustained serious injuries due to indiscriminate tear gas shell firing by the police at Pasighat town in East Siang district.
The victims were injured during an eviction drive by the East Siang district administration, police and forests officials. The affected people alleged that the police resorted to indiscriminate tear gas shell firing resulting in the injuries. The victims sustained severe injuries including internal bleeding and chest swelling and were admitted at the General Hospital Pasighat. Later, one of the victim, Yakiam Mibang had to be referred to Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh for special treatment. She sustained severe ear drum split causing continuous bleeding.
The eviction drive had also resulted in 1500 people including women and children being rendered homeless.
Case 5: Beating of 1 person by police without any reason
On 2 August 2011, one Hugnya Basar was allegedly beaten up by two police personnel at D-Sector near Itanagar in Papumpare district. The victim was on his way home riding his two-wheeler when he was stopped and subjected to beating without any reason.
Case 6: Girl killed by IRBn personnel
On 14 September 2011, a 21-year-old girl identified as Rita Dorjee died and her mother sustained bullet injuries after an IRBn personnel Toko Doni reportedly fired at them at Paglek village in Pasighat. The accused got enraged following an altercation with the girl and opened fire killing the girl Rita Dorjee on the spot and injuring her mother Rupa Dorjee (41 years).
Rupa Dorjee who sustained serious injuries on her face was rushed to Assam for further treatment.
Case 7: Serious injuries to students in disproportionate use of firearms police and CRPF
On the night of 5 October 2011, 10 persons including nine students were seriously injured in disproportionate use of firearms by the law enforcement personnel during Dugra Puja celebration in Roing in Lower Dibang Valley district. All the victims were engaged as volunteers in the puja celebration. A team of law enforcement personnel comprising of India Reserve Battalion (IRBn), Special Task Force (STF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had gone to close down the Durga puja stalls erected outside the Durga Puja premises at Roing town. As the volunteers protested, the police team started beating the volunteers. Later, the team opened fire on the unarmed students which included girls. As a result, 10 persons were hit by bullets and sustained serious injuries on their bodies including in the head, hand, leg, thigh, etc.
The injured victims were admitted at the hospital, Roing. But, not satisfied the law enforcement personnel had gone to the hospital and opened fire in the air while trying to enter the hospital premises, to arrest and interrogate the admitted injured victims. Later, some of the injured victims were rushed to hospitals in Dibrugarh, Assam. Out of the 10 victims, nine were students. While seven victims were minors including a girl. The victims were identified as Tenzing Linggi (16 years); Asati Linggi (14 years); Jambo Pulu (11 years); Emimo Mekola (15 years); Rahul Meme (17 years); Alo Meme (16 years); Rajen Umpe (13 years); Nanong Langkam (20 years); Giti Mili (20 years); and Tanya Mihu
Case 8: Killing of 3 youth by Army in an alleged fake encounter
On the night of 25 December 2011, three innocent youth identified as Siba Moran (26 years), Dhiraj Barua (22 years) and Janak Moran (22 years) were shot dead by the personnel of 26 Maratha Light Infantry in an alleged encounter at the Noa-Dihing river bank at Namsai under Namsai police station in Lohit district. All the three victims were residents of Makum in Tinsukia district of Assam. The victims were reportedly returning home in motorcycle after attending a feast at Pahargaon neare Namsai Town. They were stopped by the personnel when they reached the bridge of the Noa-Dihing river on 52 National Highway and shot dead from point blank range.
The Army claimed that the three victims were members of United Liberation Front of Asom and killed in an encounter. But, the relatives of the three and the residents alleged that they were innocent and killed in cold-blood by the Army in a fake encounter.
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