TURA, Aug 29: Fifteen persons, against whom cases were filed in the Rimpu Bagan case, petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) alleging they were arrested arbitrarily and ill-treated by the West Garo Hills police.
The petitioners demanded action against investigating officer (IO) Mamata Hajong as well as Superintendent of Police Vivekanand Singh.
On July 22, a police team, led by the SP, had raided the farmhouse (Rimpu Bagan) of Tura MDC Bernard Marak and arrested 73 persons from its premises. Barring five who are still in judicial custody, the others managed to get bail.
The complainants said when the police had begun the raid, they were asked to stay wherever they were. Some were loitering on the premises and some were sitting outside with friends. Some went there to eat momos – a specialty of one of the shops within the premises.
According to the fiancé of a disabled person, they had put up at the homestay as their sister came to stay at their rented accommodation.
“There were not enough rooms in our home, so we went there to stay for the night. I have been with my fiancée for the last decade and our families are aware of our relationship. When I explained this to the police, they refused to listen and arrested us,” he said.
The police had asked them to come out of their room and cooperate after assuring them that they would be released. At around 7 pm, they were asked to move to the terrace and were kept there. They stood there for close to six hours without food and water.
“At around 1:30 am, I was taken to the Tura Civil Hospital for a medical examination and later, brought back to the police station. My fiancée was taken to the maternity ward in the morning for a medical check-up after which she was taken to the police station. We were arrested the same day although none from our families was called to verify that we were engaged,” he stated.
He said he managed to get bail on August 7 but his fiancée is still languishing in jail.
During questioning, he alleged his fiancée was asked how much she was paid to spend the night with him. They were booked under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.
In the case of another 23-year-old woman, who just completed her M.Com, the entire episode was a nightmare. She had gone to the place along with her friend and ordered momos. Even as they were waiting for the food, the police raid began.
“They kept us standing without food and water and my guardians were not informed. When food and water finally arrived the next day, the police stopped the persons from handing it over. The food was thrown into a dustbin,” the woman, who is now out on bail, alleged.
“I was asked to sign on a document but was not allowed to read its content. It was informed later that I was arrested,” she said.
According to her bail conditions, she will have to report to the police station every Monday.
In her complaint lodged with the NHRC, she alleged the IO would make her wait the entire day and let her off at around 8 pm after recording her statement.
Many of these complainants alleged the police had also arrested some people who were outside the Rimpu Bagan premises.
Another arrested person said he had visited the place along with a friend at about 12:30 am, unaware of the raid that was underway.
“When I reached there, the policemen directed me to park my car inside the premises. Later, we were informed that we were arrested the same morning,” he said.
“When I was questioned by the IO, I too was asked how much I was paying for sex with my friend. The police appeared interested in making more arrests than asking us to stay away from the place,” he added.
Another woman stated in her complaint that she and six others were slapped not only by the jail warden but also by the IO.
The complainants alleged the police had made multiple attempts to force statements out of them. They said this amounts to harassment and this has continued even after they got bail.
