SHILLONG: Secretary General of the South Asia Forum for Human Rights (SAFHR), Tapan Bose, has alleged that the arrest of Laikitbok Lyngdoh, brother of Wallambok Lyngdoh, a well-known mountaineer, on October 18 at 11.30 pm from Lumparing area was done without an arrest warrant and that he is currently being held at the Sadar Police station in Shillong.
Bose says that Laikitbok’s family have been allowed limited access to him and on October 21, three days after his illegal arrest, Laikitbok’s youngest brother was allowed to take food for him.
“I am told that the young man was questioned by a police officer at the Sadar Police Station and his photograph was also taken.
“The police entered their home without a search warrant ignoring the protest of Lyngdoh’s sister. Initially, the police and the Meghalaya commandoes who had surrounded their home had claimed that they were looking for Wallambok, the eldest brother, who is away in Uttarakhand at a training camp,” Bose said, adding that legally speaking, forcibly taking away Laikitbok from his home at around midnight amounts to kidnapping.
Bose further stated that Laikitbok should have been presented before a Magistrate immediately after his so-called ‘arrest’, which was not done and which is another serious violation of his fundamental rights.
He said the police also claimed that they arrested Laikitbok as some villagers had filed a FIR against him. However, details of the FIR were not given to Laikitbok or his family, Bose said.
Meanwhile Superintendent of Police (City) Vivek Syiem said that Laikitbok Lyngdoh was arrested and detained for questioning as police had credible information that he had bought over two litres of petrol ostensibly for the generator at Mawpdai. The mineral water bottles in which petrol was bought is similar to the ones found at the place of occurrence, Syiem said, adding that the police are investigating further to ascertain more facts to establish the truth.
Syiem said police were not looking for Wallambok but for his brother. He wondered how Wallambok could vouch for the whereabouts of his brother from Uttarakhand.