The Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and United Nations (CSCHR) on Friday urged the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) to monitor the investigation into the case of alleged custodial death of Arambam Nanao.
The MHRC was urged to ensure prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigation as per the United Nation Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death, 2016 and also in accordance with all the guidelines issued by the National Human Rights Commission pertaining to custodial death.
In the application submitted to MHRC, the rights group stated that a team of CSCHR conducted fact findings by making a visit to the aggrieved family on Wednesday.
It was found that Nanao was picked up after being overpowered by a police team in civvies, CSCHR stated. It stated that to secure the release of Nanao, sub-inspector Jitendro demanded Rs 5 lakh to the family members at the police station.
“When Nanao was brought out from the lock-up, he was limping and also requested the family members to arrange the money as soon as possible. The family member requested Jitendro to give time till 5 pm but he insisted that the money should be delivered by 3 pm,” it stated.
An arrest memo handed over to the family did neither mention the reason of arrest nor the date, it stated. The time of arrest and signature of any witness was also left out, CSCHR stated in the application.
It also stated that a police team headed by the SI brought back Nanao to his house at around 3 pm and demanded to bring out the gold. Nanao was reportedly physically weak and mentally stressed out. He collapsed inside the house before the police personnel, it mentioned. He was immediately rushed by the police personnel to the RIMS hospital where he was declared to be brought dead, it added.
Jitendro has been kept under suspension with an order by SP Imphal West on May 2. On the next day, an FIR was registered under section 304/34 IPC against Jitendro.
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