Nagaland: Organisations condemn custodial death of Naga youth

Dimapur, Aug. 24 (EMN): Various organisations including Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO), Anaki Citizen Forum Dimapur (ACFD), Nagaland Law Students’ Federation (NLSF) and others have strongly condemned the custodial death of one E Henvieh Phom from Anaki ‘C’ village in Sivasagar, Assam.

Henveih Phom was reportedly arrested by Assam Police on August 16 within Anaki jurisdiction while he was on his way to Gelekey in Assam. He died on August 21 under suspicious manner.

ENPO: ENPO claimed that the victim died due to extreme torture by the police in the jail itself as he was found lying death outside the hospital after a reputed Galekey-based doctor had given fitness certificate to be jailed. It stated that the Galekey police not only intruded beyond its jurisdiction without permission or informing its counterpart, or the concerned village authority, but arrested the victim along with one lady without any lady police, who was later released after paying a sum of INR 50 thousand to the Galekey OC in-charge.

Stating that the act of sadistic conducts and brutal murder of any prisoner by the responsible police was totally unacceptable, ENPO has demanded investigation in a transparent and time-bound manner and award exemplary punishment to the killers.

ENPO further urged both the state governments of Assam and Nagaland and National Human Rights Commission of India to immediately intervene to set up special inquiry team as requested jointly by the three village councils namely Anaki Old, Anaki Yimsen, and Anaki-C.

ENPO has conveyed condolences to the bereaved family members.

ACFD: Anaki Citizens’ Forum Dimapur (ACFD) has condemned the brutal killing, which has violated Universal Declaration of Human Rights article 3 and 5.

It stated that the inhuman and irresponsible act by Assam Police might trigger tension and disharmony between Nagaland and Assam. It further requested the governments of Assam and Nagalnd to deliver justice to the deceased family.

NLSF: Nagaland Law Students’ Federation (NLSF) has termed the custodial death of Henvieh Phom under Assam Police as violation of ‘Fundamental Rights’ and ‘Human Rights.’

It demanded that the police personnel involved in the custodial death must be booked and proper judicial enquiry must follow as no one is above the law. Murder within or outside the police station is a crime.

NLSF further appealed to the state government to take up the matter in utmost seriousness for judicial proceeding and deliver justice to the bereaved family.

KUD: The Konyak Union Dimapur (KUD), while condemning the custodial death of  Henveih Phom, urged the state government, the state human rights commission and the law enforcing agencies to conduct an investigation at the earliest and deliver justice at the earliest.

The union further conveyed condolence to the bereaved family members.

PSC: Phom Students’ Conference (PSC), while condemning the custodial death of Henvieh Phom, appealed to the Assam Police to surrender and admit their failure before it trigger disharmony between the two states. It added that the accused persons should be dealt with an iron hand and award befitting punishment.

PSC also appealed to the state government and state human rights commission to take up necessary steps to prosecute the accused person in accordance with the law of the land and deliver justice to the bereaved family without any delay.

It further conveyed condolence to the bereaved family members.

KSM: Kangtsung Senso Mongdang, while strongly condemning the unnatural death of Henveih Phom in the custody of government agencies, demanded a judicial probe and award befitting punishment to the erring officials and personnel of the concerned police station.

It also sought punishment to other related agencies for omission and negligence on their part for causing death under their custody and deliver justice to the bereaved family.