Torture-in-custody cases
SHILLONG: Three recent cases of torture of arrested persons in custody have marred the image of Meghalaya police known for careful handling of the accused involved in various crimes.
Besides the current case of Balsan Marak (20) who died in police custody, there were two more recent cases of torture of victims in police custody.
Surrendered cadre of Achik National Liberation Central Army (ANLCA) identified as Charles D Shira (25) hailing from Dalbot-A, Shallang, West Khasi Hills had alleged some time ago that he had been tortured by the police in Nongstoin a few days after his surrender before the East Khasi Hills police on March 4.
“The police in Nongstion tied a black cloth around my mouth and they forced me to stay in the lock up. Periodically, they thrashed my feet”, Shira had alleged.
Though he surrendered in Shillong before a group of police officials and deposited arms and ammunition, he was taken to Nongstoin by the police on March 7 and allegedly tortured there instead of providing proper rehabilitation package to him.
The lawyer along with the victim had recently tried to meet State Home Minister Roshan Warjri to lodge a complaint about police torture, but in vain.
It had taken many days for the lawyer to secure bail for the victim after he was lodged at Shillong jail.
In the third recent case, SP (City) Vivek Syiem has come under the scrutiny of the National Human Rights Commission for the alleged torture of two drug users in police custody in December last year.
The victims, Robert Kharsati and Danny Dkhar, had alleged that they were tortured by the police after their arrest at Laitumkhrah police station.
The complaint was brought to the notice of the NHRC following which , a notice was issued to the Meghalaya police resulting in an inquiry by the CID.
After the NHRC issued notice on January 27 this year, H Marbaniang, Deputy Inspector General of Police CID, initiated an inquiry which is still on.
