Arbitrary arrest and forced disappearance of an indinegous man

The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in India.

Brief description of the situation

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Centre for Organisation Research & Education (CORE), a member of OMCT SOS-Torture network, of the forced disappearance of Mr. Abi Chiru, 18-year-old, resident of Uran Chiru Village, Senapati District, in Manipur since 27 January 2008.

According to the information received, on 27 January 2008 at around 3:00 p.m., Mr. Abi Chiru was arrested along with his uncle, Mr. Nungshipa, by personnel of the 24th BN, Assam Rifles stationed at Moreh, when they were trying to enter Moreh Gate No.2, at the Indo-Myanmar border. Both had reportedly gone to Moreh for shopping. The reasons of their arrest remain as of now unclear.

While Mr. Nungshipa was subsequently released after a brief interrogation, Mr. Abi Chiru was allegedly detained. Mr. Nungshipa reportedly got home and informed Mr. Abi Chiru’s family of his arrest. His family along with an organisation started searching for him and inquired before the Moreh Police and some army officials but without success. Mr. Abi Chiru’s whereabouts remain since then unknown.

The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Abi Chiru, as his whereabouts remain unknown, giving rise to fears that he may be subjected to ill-treatment, torture or potentially extra-judicial execution. OMCT calls on the authorities to immediately locate his whereabouts and guarantee his personal integrity at all times.

Action requested

Please write to the authorities in India urging them to:

1. Immediately locate the whereabouts of Mr. Abi Chiru and guarantee, in all circumstances, his physical and psychological integrity;
2. Order his immediate release in the absence of valid legal charges, and if such charges exist, ensure that he is given a prompt and fair trial, in which his procedural rights are guaranteed at all times;
3. Order a thorough and impartial investigation into these events in order to identify all those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;
4. Ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standard.

Addresses

• Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, President of India, Rastrapati Bhavan, New Delhi 110004, India, Fax: Fax: 91-11-23382365, 91-11-23711772
• Shri Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, Prime Minister’s Office, Room number 152, South Block, New Delhi, India, Fax: + 91 11 2301 6857
• Shri Shivraj Patil, Union Minister of Home Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, 104-107 North Block, New Delhi 110 001 India, Fax: +91 11 2309 2979.
• Justice K. G. Balkrishnan, Chief Justice of India, Supreme Court, Tilak Marg, New Delhi -1, Fax: +91 11 233 83792, Email: supremecourt@nic.in
• Justice Rajendra Babu, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission of India, Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi 110 001, Tel: +91 11 230 74448, Fax: +91 11 2334 0016, Email: chairnhrc@nic.in
• Mr. Okram Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur, Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Babupara, Imphal, Manipur, India, Fax: 91 385 222 1817, Email: cmmani@hub.nic.in
• Permanent Mission to the United Nations (Geneva), Rue du Valais 9, 1202 Geneva, Tel: +41 22 906 86 86, Fax: +41 22 906 86 96, Email: mission.india@ties.itu.int
• Embassy of India in Brussels, 217 Chaussée de Vleurgat, 1050 Brussels, Belgium, Fax: +32 (0)2 6489638 or +32 (0)2 6451869

Please also write to the embassies of India in your respective country.

Geneva, 15 February 2008.

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply