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PERPETRATORS
Personnel of 317 Field
Regiment of Indian Army stationed at Jiribam, Imphal East District.
CIRCUMSTANCES OF
DISAPPEARANCE
On the intervening night of
24 and 25 September 1998, Mr. K. Yaima was picked up by a team of army
personnel belonging to the 317 Field Regiment of the Indian Army stationed
at Jiribam area along with one Mr. Moirangthem Churchill Singh, aged 18
years of Kadamtala, Jiribam. The two were heading towards Dibong Lambang.
No arrest memo was issued at the time of arrest nor were they handed over
to the civil police within the shortest possible time as required by the
law. After some torture and interrogation, Churchill was released the
following day. But Yaima was never released. Subsequently, the army denied
having arrested him.
SEARCH EFFORTS
On 27 September 1998, the
Apunba Jiribam Meira Paibi (a local woman's voluntary group)
submitted a representation to the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of
Jiribam and the Commanding Officer (CO) of 317 Field Regiment of Indian
Army stationed at Jiribam to release Mr. Kh Yaima. But it was of little
help.
On 12 October 1998, Ms.
Khundrakpam Ongbi Ibetombi Devi, mother of Mr. Yaima moved a writ of Habeas
Corpus in the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench [Civil Rule(HC) no. 32
of 1998]. The High Court directed the army authorities to produce Yaima
before the Court. Again, the Army Counsel denied the arrest.
Thereafter, the High Court
ordered the District Judge, Manipur East to conduct an inquiry into the
matter.
PRESENT STATUS
At the time of filing this
report, the inquiry to be conducted by the District Judge has not yet
started. The whereabouts of Mr. Kh. Yaima is still not known. Advocate
Huidrom Sushilkumar and Advocate S. Lakhikanta are representing the
petitioner. |
