Tamenglong body decries Army excess; demands shifting of army post

Imphal, Aug 22: Few days after the central government had thrown the ball to the state government on whether the controversial AFSPA should be lifted or not, Tamenglong based civil rights activist today alleged gross violation of Human Rights by personnel of Sikh Light regiment Posted at Namkaolong Part -1 , in Khoupum Vally under Noney District.
“The personnel of the Sikh Light Regiment posted at Namkaolong tortured and harassed an ex – rifleman of 14 Assam Rifles on the pretext of having link with Under Ground group”, Panti Golmei, who is the president of RLF Manipur, Assam and Nagaland said during a press meet held today at Manipur Press Club.
He further said that Aku, former rifleman of 14 Assam Rifles A Coy – 2 Platoon C/O 99 based in Arunachal Pradesh, who was discharged on 01/02/ 2009 by DG-AR, Shillong was detained whole day at Khoupum – Daithaolong without food and even forced to hold AK-47 and took snap to make look like UG cadre after picking up from his residence at Taolingpung (Namkaolong Part 2) under Khoupum Police Station without following proper guideline of AFSPA.
Aku was picked up earlier in July 2017 too by the same personnel of the Sikh Light Regiment from his father’s farm while he was working in the wet paddy field. He was accused by the personnel as UG cadre by refusing to entertain the identity card he possessed. The Civil Rights Activists of Tamenglong said that such an act of the Indian army created a sense of alienation and frustration.
The civil rights activist while demanding immediate withdrawal of the Sikh Light Regiment from the Khoupum area threaten to launch severe form agitation if the demand is not fulfil at the earliest possible time.
“The RLP and the victim shall form a JAC Against the Henious crime and Human Rights Abuse to launch different form of Agitation , if not contained by the Higher Authority”, Panti Golmei said.