SHILLONG: The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has expressed concern over the growing cases of custodial deaths in Meghalaya and urged the State Government to put an end to the trend.
The statement comes after Agnes Kharshiing, president of Civil Society Women’s Organisation (CSWO), apprised AHRC about the two cases of custodial deaths – one in Tura (Balsan Marak) and another in Chokpot (Witson Sangma)
The CSWO in a letter addressed to AHRC said that it will appeal before the High Court of Meghalaya requesting suo moto cognizance of human rights violations by men in uniform and to call for a time bound CBI inquiry, so that the police force is made accountable.
Meanwhile, concerned over the two custodial deaths in Garo Hills, the Meghalaya Peoples Human Rights Council (MPHRC) has slammed the State Police Department for its rising abysmal records of custodial deaths.
In a statement issued here on Thursday, MPHRC Chairman Dino DG Dympep said that the ongoing instances of custodial deaths is the outcome of police failure to adhere to the needs for stricter enforcement of human rights jurisprudence and for which they should be held accountable for such unfortunate incidents in the State.
Stating that 20 people have died both in Police and Judicial Custody since the year 2001-2013 In Meghalaya, Dympep said that there is much credible evidence from various verdicts of the Judiciary and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) that a large majority of these deaths are a direct implication of torture by the police officials in custody which is a clear flagrant violation of human rights.
Voicing its serious concerns on the failure of successive Government to take action against those erring police officials involved in the illegal method of investigations through the use of ‘third degree methods of torture’ while detaining any suspected person/persons under the custody, the MPHRC said that the government must effectively demonstrate its strong ‘political will’ to ensure the citizens of the State that there is an effective prosecution of those cops involved whether directly or indirectly in such custodial deaths.
“We wish to remind the government that the United Nations Special Rapporteurs on torture and on extra judicial, summary and arbitrary executions, have both expressed concern at the number of victims of torture and deaths in custody reported from India and the lack of an effective system to prevent such violations and bring those responsible to justice,” concluded the MPHRC chief.
The Modi Fan Club, Meghalaya, has also condemned the recent spate of custodial deaths and highhandedness by men in uniform. The Modi Fan Club urged Chief Minister Mukul Sangma to book the culprits and rein in such policemen to stop similar human rights violation.
The Modi Fan Club has also decided to apprise the Union Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju of these events.