IMPHAL, May 9: With the immediate suspension of six Police personnel involved in the alleged custodial death of Thokchom Ranjit and further assurances from the Chief Minister O Ibobi to fulfill its demands, the JAC along with the family members of the victim have claimed the lifeless body of Ranjit today.In the meantime, Centre for Organisation Research and Education (CORE) and the Committee on Human Rights (COHR) Manipur in separate statements have vehemently condemned the death of Ranjit.The CORE statement released by Dr. Laifungbam Debabrata Roy stated that the action of the Manipur police as reported can never be condoned or excused as a mere “mistake” as the police reportedly told the decease’s family members; and the severest punishment and disciplinary action must be awarded to the perpetrators and their senior officer.It said that according to reliable reports, Th Ranjit was severely tortured while he was detained and interrogated by the Manipur police, even though he was a physically challenged person and this is the second such event of this year in which the high-handed, unlawful practice of arbitrary detention without arrest memo and torture leading to death has occurred in Manipur.Such reported barbaric events have severely blackened the image of the Manipur Police Service whose reputation is ready at the lowest and whose conduct, while on duty, is in gross violation and contempt of national and international law, it added.The CORE extended its deepest condolence to the family of the decease and demanded that the Home Minister of the government of Manipur institute an immediate highest level judicial inquiry to find out the facts regarding to Th Ranjit’s custodial torture leading to his death in order to urgently correct the unacceptable conduct pattern of the Manipur Police, so that such events do not recur in future and the Police service regains its prestige and dignity while upholding the law of the land.The Centre Organisation Reseach and Education (CORE) also condemns in the strongest terms the reliably reports of the custodial torture leading to the death of Thokchom Rangjit 48, s/o Th. Chinglen resident of Itham Nungoi under Lamlai police station, Imphal east district. And added that the family of the decease must be awarded the highest financial compensation and social support must be extended to Th Ranjit widow and surviving two children.The COHR in their statement stated that in the warm presence of fake encounter drama in the minds of the people, the perpetration of another custodial death by law enforcers was unfortunate. It maintained that killing people after being held captive is a big crime against humanity moreover involvement of security forces in such cases is not a new thing in the state.It claimed that the reason behind committing of such crime unabated is due to the failure of the Government to take liable actions against the security forces who perpetrate such incidents under the shadow of black laws like the AFSPA.
