I would like to present the case of the arbitrary hearings, torture and detention of human rights defenders in Manipur during the protests that happened in 2009. On the 23rd of July 2009 there was a fake “encounter killing” right in the middle of the town where the Manipur Police Commandos (MPC) were involved and Tehelka newspaper, based in Delhi, was able to publish a series of photographs that were able to confirm that this particular incident was a fake “encounter killing”. This incident also went towards proving that the kind of arguments given by the State in all the nearly 1000 extra-judicial killings happening during the period of 2006 to 2009 were blatant lies. With these photographs emerging and also the fake encounter confirmed, the people of Manipur launched a series of protests and we, as human rights defenders and a human rights group, were coordinating the peoples’ protests.
On the 14th of September I was on my way to Delhi to talk to some of the human rights groups based in Delhi and also to media groups there to further the protests and also to further the campaign. The Manipur Police Commandos were waiting for me at the airport. They arrested me
on that day and that was when I realised that our phones were all tapped and that we had already been under surveillance for a long time. I was taken immediately on the day of arrest to the Manipur Police Commando complex in a place called Minuthong and I was subjected to 3rd degree torture. I received electric shocks to the lower part of my body, to my lower abdomen and it continued for a long time. They kicked me, they beat me and some of the police commandos put their revolvers to my head and they threatened to shoot me. They confiscated my laptop and when they came across human rights documents, especially the submissions to the UN and also the cases of human rights violations, they charged me as a direct member of one of the underground groups called the Revolutionary People’s Front which is fighting for an independent Manipur. I was produced in front of the court the next day and I was charged under a number of laws; they said I was conspiring to commit a terrorist act, supporting a terrorist organisation and spying.
I was detained for four months, under the several acts that were used against me. I was however able to send out information from the detention facility where I was tortured and this lead to a lot of condemnation from all over, including Front Line Defenders who condemned the incident and also from the UN agencies as well. During the days of detention I saw that many of our fellow prisoners
had all been tortured after being detained. I have many stories to tell about the detention centre but unfortunately I do not have the time now. Finally, let me conclude by saying that the people of Manipur need the support of all human rights defenders, and also the human rights organisations from all over the world. Likewise, we are pleased to assure you that the people of Manipur are also in solidarity in support of all your struggles and efforts for freedom and for greater democracy in your part of the world and in your community.
I received electric shocks to the lower part of my body, to my lower abdomen and it continued for a long time. They kicked me, they beat me and some of the police commandos put their revolvers to my head and they threatened to shoot me.
