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Manipur Update
- Published by Irengbam Arun
- on behalf of the Human Rights Alert
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- Editor :
- Babloo Loitongbam
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Hard
Copy printed at concessionary rates by M/S
Lamyanba Printers, Konung Lampak, Imphal 795001
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- Manipur Update
- Volume I Issue III February
2000
- A Fact Sheet on
Disappearance cases of Manipur
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- Case : 1
- Thokchom Lokendro Singh
- Identity of the
Victim
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Name : |
Mr. Thokchom
Lokendro Singh |
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Age : |
21 yrs
(at the time of disappearance) |
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Son of : |
Ms.
Thokchom Ibemcha Devi |
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Address : |
Singjamei
Makha Pebia Pandit Leikai, Imphal West |
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Occupation: |
Tailor |
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Last seen : |
23
September 1980 |
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- Perpetrator
- Personnel of 15 Jammu and Kashmir
(J&K) Rifles of the Indian Army stationed at Manipur
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- Circumstances of Disappearance
- On 23 September 1980 at about 3.00 p.m.,
Lokendro Singh was taking bath in the village pond, when a team of
army personnel of J&K Rifles came in two jeeps and arrested him
from the said spot. Two other persons, namely Mr. Kangujam Loken and
Mr. Kangujam Iboyaima were also picked up by the same army team, that
day. Out of the three, only Kangujam Iboyaima Singh was released from
army custody on 26 September. But the other two were never released.
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- Search Efforts
- On 24 September 1980, a complaint was
filed at the Singjamei Police Station by Lokendro's father, but no
action was taken up on the complaint. Memoranda were submitted to the
IGP of Manipur Police, the local MLA, the GOC M-Sector of the Indian
Army, the Governor of Manipur and even the Prime Minister of India for
safe release of the two youths. Nothing happened.
- The mother, Ms. Ibemcha Devi filed a
Habeas Corpus (Civil Rule No. 128) at the Gauhati High Court, Imphal
Bench. The petition was rejected by a single bench of the High Court
on 8 September 1989, on the basis of the Army claim that the two
youths have already been released. Another petition (Writ Appeal No.
20 of 1981) challenging the earlier verdict was also dismissed by a
division bench of the same court.
- Then, Ms. Ibemcha Devi moved the Supreme
Court of India along with the mother of Kangujam Loken in 1989
(Criminal Appeal No. 580-581 of 1989). The Apex Court directed the
District Judge, Manipur to conduct an enquiry to ascertain the facts.
The Inquiry Report, submitted on 6 October 1990 to the Apex Court,
established that Loken and Lokendro were arrested by J&K Rifles
and "were not released yet".
- Thereafter, the Supreme Court passed an
interim order on 2 August 1991 directing the Union Government to pay
Rs. 150,000/- each to the two families. The Court further held that
the State Government is expected to take further necessary action to
ascertain and fix the responsibility for the death or continued
wrongful detention of Lokendro and Loken; and take all appropriate
actions against each of the individuals including their prosecution
for the offence committed by them.
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- Present Status
- Till date, the state government have not
taken up any step either for reparation of the bereaved family or for
indictment and prosecution of the perpetrators. In 1999, the family
filed a miscellaneous case before the Court of Civil Judge, Senior
Division No. 1 Manipur seeking decrees for payment of compensation of
Rs. 15 lakhs for wrongful detention of Lokendro from 23 September 1980
and also for torturing him till death by the Army personnel. The same
court in December last year sought replies (opposite statements) from
the respondents making it returnable by one month.
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to Next Case
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